Among Duquesne University's ranking and honors, the School of Nursing is consistently recognized for its academic excellence, including:

  • Designated the #1 Military Friendly graduate school for 2023-24.
  • A high NCLEX-RN exam first-time pass rate - 100% (2024)
  • Re-designation as a Center of Excellence in Enhancing Student Learning and Professional Development by the National League for Nursing (designation has been held since 2008)
  • Multiple online graduate programs ranked among the top 10 nationally in the 2025 U.S. News Best Online Programs Rankings.

2024-2025 National Rankings

U.S. News & World Report School of Nursing Rankings for 2024-2025

Your pathways to nursing

#1MSN Nursing Education Program

Best Online Master's in Nursing Education Program 2025

Nursing Education Program

#8MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Program

Best Master's in Family Nurse Practitioner Program 2025

Family Nurse Practitioner Program

#7MSN Executive Nurse Leadership and Health Care Management Program

Best Online Master's in Executive Nurse Leadership and Health Care Management Program 2025

Executive Leadership Program

#11Graduate Nursing Programs for Veterans

Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs for Veterans 2025

Veteran Pathways

#37Online Graduate Program

Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs 2025

Online Graduate Pathways

#39BSN Program

Best Bachelor of Science in Nursing 2024

BSN Program

#85DNP Program

Best Doctor of Nursing Practice 2024

DNP Program

Other Rankings

College Factual | Best Colleges 2024
#5 Undergraduate Nursing program out of 50 in the state of Pennsylvania

Fortune | Education, Top Graduate Schools 2024
#5 Online MSN Program in the United States

Nursing Schools Almanac 2024
#22 Nursing School in the United States
#10 Private Nursing School
#8 Overall in the Mid-Atlantic Region
#4 Overall in Pennsylvania
#2 Overall in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area

CollegeChoice.net
#11 Best Online MSN Programs

GraduateNursingEDU.org
#9 of the 100 Most Social Media Friendly Nursing Schools

Intelligent.com
#5 of the Top 50 Online Nurse Practitioner Programs (rated as Best Faculty)
#16 of the Top 50 Nursing Programs (rated as Best Catholic University)
#36 of the Top 50 Online MSN Programs

MilitaryFriendly.com
#1 Military Friendly School

NursingProcess.org
#9 Top Online PhD in Nursing Program

Accreditations and Approvals

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program and the post-graduate APRN certificate program at Duquesne University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Duquesne University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Nurse Anesthesia program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA):

Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs
10275 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 906
Rosemont, IL  60018-5603
Telephone number: (847) 655-1160 or (224) 275-9130
URL: http://coacrna.org

  • Accreditation status: pending COA approval May 2025
  • Specific academic program covered by accreditation status:  Duquesne University School of Nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Nurse Anesthesia
  • Attrition for the most recent graduating class: pending graduation of our first DNP in Nurse Anesthesia cohort, anticipated August 2028
  • Employment of graduates within six months of graduation (see Glossary: "Graduate employment rate"). Pending graduation of our DNP in Nurse Anesthesia cohorts
  • Certification examination pass rate for first time takers: pending graduation of our DNP in Nurse Anesthesia cohorts
  • Program length, in accordance with the Council's definition: our DNP in Nurse Anesthesia program is 36 months in length

Allegheny School of Anesthesia's Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) program, a partnership established with Duquesne University, is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA):

Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs
10275 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 906
Rosemont, IL  60018-5603
Telephone number: (847) 655-1160 or (224) 275-9130
URL: http://coacrna.org

  • Accreditation status: extended through August 31, 2026
  • Specific academic program covered by accreditation status:  Allegheny School of Anesthesia is the COA-accredited anesthesia program, which is voluntarily closing, effective August 31, 2026
  • Attrition for the most recent graduating class: pending graduation of our DNAP cohorts
  • Employment of graduates within six months of graduation (see Glossary: "Graduate employment rate").  Pending graduation of our DNAP cohorts
  • Certification examination pass rate for first time takers: pending graduation of our DNAP cohorts
  • Program length, in accordance with the Council's definition: our DNAP program is 36 months in length

Duquesne University, School of Nursing is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation (ANCC).

Our programs are fully approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, available for contact at:

P.O. Box 2649
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649
Telephone Number: (717) 783-7142

Duquesne University
Duquesne University is accredited by:

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education
3624 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Telephone Number: (267) 284-5000

The State Board of Education of the Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17126
Telephone Number: (717) 783-6788