Schools and colleges of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus are again ranked among the best in the country on the 2023 U.S. News & World Report annual ranking of higher education programs.
CU School of Medicine Remains in top 10 for Medical Schools; pediatrics, family medicine, and surgery also listed among nation’s best
The University of Colorado School of Medicine continues to rank among the top 10 medical schools in the country for primary care, according to numbers released today by U.S. News and World Report.
In its annual Best Medical Schools report, the magazine ranked the CU School of Medicine number 6 for primary care and number 27 in research. CU School of Medicine’s rankings in these categories are unchanged from last year.
Each year, U.S. News compiles listings of medical schools in two general categories — primary care and research — based on surveys and data reviews of accredited medical schools in the United States. Using the survey responses and data, the magazine then assigns rankings.
The magazine also ranks specialty programs based on ratings by medical school deans and senior faculty. In this year’s rankings, three specialties at the CU School of Medicine are listed among the best: Pediatrics ranked number 7; family medicine ranked number 10; and surgery ranked number 23.
“The School of Medicine is pleased to be recognized for the high quality of its programs,” says Dean John J. Reilly Jr., MD. “Our faculty and staff are leaders in education, research, and clinical care, and we are committed to setting a standard of excellence for our students, patients, colleagues, and community.”
For its rankings, U.S. News surveyed 192 medical and osteopathic schools accredited in 2021 by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, known as the LCME, or the American Osteopathic Association. This data, along with the results from peer assessment surveys, were used to calculate the overall rankings and eight medical field specialty rankings and populate each medical school’s profile in the usnews.com directory.
In addition to the specialty and general rankings, U.S. News also examines data related to diversity and measuring the number of graduates practicing in rural areas and in health professional shortage areas.
With 22% of its students from underrepresented minorities, CU School of Medicine ranked number 27 in the country in terms of the percentage of students from underrepresented minorities enrolled in 2021. CU ranked number 44 based on the percentage of its 2013–15 graduates practicing in rural areas, with 6.76%. On the measure of graduates in health professional shortage areas, CU ranked number 50, with 39% of 2013–15 graduates in such areas.
The Colorado School of Public Health ranks among the top 20 schools and programs of public health in the nation
ColoradoSPH and nine other schools are ranked and tied for 19th out of 195 Master of Public Health programs accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
ColoradoSPH moved up one space from No. 20 in 2021, when all schools and programs of public health were last ranked. The rankings are the result of peer assessment surveys sent to deans, other administrators, and faculty of CEPH-accredited public health degree programs or schools.
“I am delighted by this new ranking and our growing recognition,” said ColoradoSPH Dean Jonathan Samet, MD, MS. “I am proud of the role that the Colorado School of Public Health has played with many partners during the COVID-19 pandemic, and of all the work our school is doing in multiple areas of public health regionally, nationally, and worldwide.
The school, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2018, is now among the top 20 of all accredited MPH schools and programs in the country. ColoradoSPH has MPH and certificate programs at three Colorado universities including the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Colorado State University, and the University of Northern Colorado. The school also includes MS, PhD and DrPH programs at CU Anschutz.
Since its inception in 2008, ColoradoSPH has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report in its last four rankings of graduate programs in public health as follows:
- 2014: No. 31 out of 50 graduate schools of public health (it was the first year ColoradoSPH was eligible after the school was established and accredited);
- 2019: No. 23 out of 177 accredited schools and programs in public health (tied for 23rd with 8 others);
- 2021: No. 20 out of 188 accredited schools and programs in public health (tied for 20th with 3 others);
- 2022: No. 19 out of 195 accredited schools and program in public health (tied for 19th with 9 others).
“Our faculty, staff, and students are pushing us forward as an institution and our alumni are filling critical public health roles in Colorado and beyond,” added Dean Samet. “I have no doubt that we will continue to move up in rankings as we develop new programs, advance our research, and find innovative ways to train our students.”
Also ranked this year, the school's Biostatistics graduate program is now ranked 26th in the nation out of 65 graduate schools and programs in biostatistics.
University of Colorado College of Nursing ranks as top nursing master’s program
The University of Colorado College of Nursing’s master’s in nursing program was tied for 23rd with three other schools among 594 total programs. Additionally, the College ranked 35th in best Doctor of Nursing Practice out of 343 schools, tied with five other programs.
Additionally, earlier this year, CU Nursing was ranked as the 26th best online master’s program out of more than 200 programs. CU Nursing’s MSN administration and leadership program, called iLEAD, was also ranked 13th best out of 61 online programs.
“This is a wonderful recognition for our college, faculty and students who work hard every day to ensure patients will get the best health care possible. This just further enhances our reputation as a leader and pioneer in nursing education. We appreciate the U.S. News & World Report for this honor,” said Dean Elias Provencio-Vasquez, PhD.
Full list of CU Anschutz rankings for 2023:
School of Medicine:
#6 in Primary Care
#7 in Pediatrics
#7 in Physician Assistant Programs
#10 in Family Medicine
#13 in Physical Therapy Programs
#22 in Most Diverse Medical Schools
#23 in Surgery
#27 in Research
#44 in Most Graduates Practicing in Rural Areas
#50 in Most Graduates Practicing in Medically Underserved Areas
#57 in Most Graduates Practicing in Primary Care Fields
Public Health:
#19 in Public Health Schools and Programs
#26 in Biostatistics PhD programs
Nursing:
#13 in Best Online Master's in Nursing Administration Programs
#23 in Best Master’s in Nursing Programs
#26 in Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs
#35 in Best Doctor of Nursing Practice
Contributors include Greg Glasgow, Tonya Ewers and Dana Brandorff
April 19, 2024