Excellence across the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s graduate and professional programs has again been affirmed by receiving multiple top rankings in the U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Graduate Schools.
A total of 17 UAB graduate and specialty programs have earned the distinction of ranking in the top 20 of their peer disciplines, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings released today.
The School of Health Professions’ Master of Science in Health Administration program retained their No. 1 ranking as best in the country for Healthcare Management.
“UAB’s continued prominence in these rankings reflects our commitment to offering world-class academic programs and research experiences, some of them the first of their kind regionally and nationally,” said Janet Woodruff-Borden, Ph.D., senior vice president for Academic Affairs and provost. “I thank our talented faculty who continue to develop and teach these innovative programs that equip our students for success, leadership and impact in their chosen fields.”
Of the main rankings included in this year’s report — curated from data submitted by schools, quality assessment from peers and professionals, and publicly available data — UAB programs that stood out include:
- The School of Nursing’s Master of Science in Nursing program ranked No. 8, up from No. 11 in 2025, maintaining its status as the highest-ranked among public institutions in the South.
- The School of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program ranked No. 9, positioning it in the top 6 percent of schools in the survey, and is the only program among Southern public institutions to rank in the top 10.
- The Collat School of Business’ part-time Master of Business Administration ranked No. 91.
- The School of Engineering was recognized as No. 125.
- The School of Education’s Graduate Education program ranked No. 133 and has the second-highest annual amount of funded research expenditure per faculty member in Alabama.
Specialty rankings recognized in the 2026 report highlighted UAB’s variety in program offerings across graduate schools on campus:
School of Engineering
- 64: Biomedical Engineering / Bioengineering
- 89: Materials Engineering
- 122: Civil Engineering
- 132: Computer Engineering
- 139: Mechanical Engineering
UAB offers over 200 graduate programs and certificates. Learn more about UAB’s Graduate School programs.
School of Nursing
- 5: Master’s Nursing Administration
- 6: Doctor of Nursing Practice, Administration
- 6: Master’s Gerontology, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- 8: Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner
- 7: Doctor of Nursing Practice Family Nurse Practitioner
- 7: Doctor of Nursing Practice Gerontology, Primary Care
- 14: Doctor of Nursing Practice Gerontology, Acute Care
- 16: Master of Science in Nursing, Nurse Midwifery
Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine
- 10: Most Graduates Practicing in Medically Underserved Areas
- 37 Most Graduates Practicing in Rural Areas
- 50 Most Graduates Practicing in Primary Care
Additional graduate lists for 2026
- 1: Healthcare Management
- 9: Nursing Anesthesia
- 12: Physical Therapy
- 13: Epidemiology
- 14: Public Health Programs
- 19: Biostatistics
- 20: Occupational Therapy
- 22: Health Policy and Management
- 40: Biostatistics Doctoral Programs
- 64: Public Affairs Programs
- 72: Biological Sciences Doctoral Programs
- 77: Clinical Psychology
- 106: Mathematics Doctoral Programs
- 118: Chemistry Doctoral Programs
- 139: Physics Doctoral Programs
- 151: Computer Science Doctoral Programs
Each year, U.S. News ranks professional school programs in business, education, engineering and nursing, including specialties in each area. The rankings in these areas are based on two types of data: expert opinions about program excellence, and statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school’s faculty, research and students.