By Jennifer Henderson

For those looking to pursue a graduate degree in nursing, a list of the best places to do so were released in March.

Johns Hopkins University took the top spot on the 2023 lists for both master's and doctoral degrees. It was followed by Duke University and Emory University in a tie for second in the master's rankings, and Duke, Rush University, and the University of Washington tied for second in the DNP rankings.

Both lists evaluated schools on research and faculty resources, including the percentage of faculty members with important achievements, faculty credentials, and faculty participation in nursing practice. They also looked at the number of master's or DNP degrees awarded, enrollment in the respective graduate programs, mean undergraduate grade point average (GPA), and acceptance rate.

U.S. News noted that a new requirement to be ranked in both the master's and DNP lists this year was to have enrolled in fall 2021 at least 10 total students in those programs, up from one student in previous rankings.

Below are the lists of the top 10 nursing schools for master's and DNP degrees.

2023 Best Nursing Schools: Master's

1. Johns Hopkins University (MD)

Overall score: 100/100

2021 master's acceptance rate: 52%

2021 mean full-time average undergrad grade point average (GPA): 3.6

2021 master's program enrollment: 488

Tuition: $1,790 per credit (full-time); $1,790 per credit (part-time)

2. Duke University (NC) (tie)

Overall score: 93/100

2021 master's acceptance rate: 36%

2021 mean full-time average undergrad GPA: 3.6

2021 master's program enrollment: 471

Tuition: $1,910 per credit (full-time); $1,910 per credit (part-time)

2. Emory University (GA) (tie)

Overall score: 93/100

2021 master's acceptance rate: 50%

2021 mean full-time average undergrad GPA: 3.4

2021 master's program enrollment: 808

Tuition: $1,963 per credit (full-time); $1,963 per credit (part-time)

4. University of Pennsylvania

Overall score: 90/100

2021 master's acceptance rate: 61%

2021 mean full-time average undergrad GPA: 3.7

2021 master's program enrollment: 480

Tuition: $47,408 per year (full-time); $1,985 per credit (part-time)

5. University of Washington

Overall score: 89/100

2021 master's acceptance rate: 89%

2021 mean full-time average undergrad GPA: 3.7

2021 master's program enrollment: 128

Tuition: $17,817 per year (in-state, full-time); $30,999 per year (out-of-state, full-time)

6. Columbia University (NY)

Overall score: 88/100

2021 master's acceptance rate: 31%

2021 mean full-time average undergrad GPA: 3.6

2021 master's program enrollment: 339

>Tuition: $89,862 per year (full-time); $17,500 per year (part-time)

7. Ohio State University

Overall score: 87/100

2021 master's acceptance rate: 53%

2021 mean full-time average undergrad GPA: 3.5

2021 master's program enrollment: 471

Tuition: $973 per credit (in-state, full-time); $2,447 per credit (out-of-state, full-time)

8. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (tie)

Overall score: 86/100

2021 master's acceptance rate: 67%

2021 mean full-time average undergrad GPA: 3.6

2021 master's program enrollment: 171

Tuition: $1,383 per credit (in-state, full-time); $2,831 per credit (out-of-state, full-time)

8. University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (tie)

Overall score: 86/100

2021 master's acceptance rate: 49%

2021 mean full-time average undergrad GPA: 3.7

2021 master's program enrollment: 150

Tuition: $20,409 per year (in-state, full-time); $43,565 per year (out-of-state, full-time)

8. Vanderbilt University (TN) (tie)

Overall score: 86/100

2021 master's acceptance rate: 45%

2021 mean full-time average undergrad GPA: 3.7

2021 master's program enrollment: 756

Tuition: $1,793 per credit (full-time); $1,793 per credit (part-time)

2023 Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice

1. Johns Hopkins University (MD)

Overall score: 100/100

2021 DNP acceptance rate: 63%

2021 mean full-time average undergrad GPA: 3.3

2021 DNP program enrollment: 569

Tuition: $1,863 per credit (full-time); $1,863 per credit (part-time)

2. Duke University (NC) (tie)

Overall score: 92/100

2021 DNP acceptance rate: 40%

2021 mean full-time average undergrad GPA: 3.

2021 DNP program enrollment: 306

Tuition: $1,910 per credit (full-time); $1,910 per credit (part-time)

2. Rush University (IL) (tie)

Overall score: 92/100

2021 DNP acceptance rate: 73%

2021 mean full-time average undergrad GPA: 3.6

2021 DNP program enrollment: 865

Tuition: $1,224 per credit (full-time); $1,224 per credit (part-time)

2. University of Washington (tie)

Overall score: 92/100

2021 DNP acceptance rate: 50%

2021 mean full-time average undergrad GPA: 3.7

2021 DNP program enrollment: 326

Tuition: $29,802 per year (in-state, full-time); $42,450 per year (out-of-state, full-time)

5. Columbia University (NY)

Overall score: 88/100

2021 DNP acceptance rate: 35%

2021 mean full-time average undergrad GPA: 3.6

2021 DNP program enrollment: 334

Tuition: $68,144 per year (full-time); $36,246 per year (part-time)

6. Emory University (GA)

Overall score: 86/100

2021 DNP acceptance rate: 19%

2021 mean full-time average undergrad GPA: 3.5

2021 DNP program enrollment: 124

Tuition: $1,671 per credit (full-time); $1,671 per credit (part-time)

7. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (tie)

Overall score: 83/100

2021 DNP acceptance rate: 73%

2021 mean full-time average undergrad GPA: 3.7

2021 DNP program enrollment: 171

Tuition: $1,383 per credit (in-state, full-time); $2,831 per credit (out-of-state, full-time)

7. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (tie)

Overall score: 83/100

2021 DNP acceptance rate: 39%

2021 mean full-time average undergrad GPA: 3.6

2021 DNP program enrollment: 398

Tuition: $27,486 per year (in-state, full-time); $27,486 per year (out-of-state, full-time)

7. University of Pittsburgh (PA) (tie)

Overall score: 83/100

2021 DNP acceptance rate: 35%

2021 mean full-time average undergrad GPA: 3.7

2021 DNP program enrollment: 198

Tuition: $943 per credit (in-state, full-time); $1,126 per credit (out-of-state, full-time)

7. Vanderbilt University (TN) (tie)

Overall score: 83/100

2021 DNP acceptance rate: 83%

2021 mean full-time average undergrad GPA: 3.7

2021 DNP program enrollment: 156

Tuition: $1,793 per credit (full-time); $1,793 per credit (part-time)