Loyola Nursing DNP climbs in latest rankings

April 7, 2026

 

The Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program ranks among the top third of DNP programs nationally, climbing 25 spots in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings. 

“This significant jump is a sign of recognition that a Loyola Nursing DNP degree is a marker of excellence,” said Dean Lorna Finnegan. “Our DNP program is preparing exceptional nurse practitioners whose competence and compassion is widely recognized.”  

Loyola Nursing’s DNP program now ranks #51 among 154 programs at nursing schools across the country.  

Based at Loyola’s Health Sciences Campus, the DNP curriculum emphasizes academic rigor, transformative scholarship, and a commitment to health equity grounded in Jesuit values. 

Melissa Murphey, assistant dean for graduate clinical programs, said the rise in the DNP ranking is a testament to the dedication of faculty and the emphasis Loyola Nursing places on robust clinical offerings, which provide real-world experiences for students.

The new DNP ranking comes amid expanding enrollment at Loyola Nursing and the planned opening of a new building at the Lake Shore Campus to house the school’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. That program is now ranked 13th nationally by U.S. News, its highest-ever ranking.