UConn's excellence in graduate education is being recognized nationwide
(Sydney Herdle/UConn Photo)
UConn's excellence in graduate education is being recognized nationwide, with U.S. News & World Report granting high rankings for 2026 to several online programs for their quality, affordability, and flexibility for distance-learning students.
The Elisabeth DeLuca School of Nursing at UConn was a particular standout, continuing its swift rise in nationwide prominence as its application numbers keep rising each year and construction on its new building is slated for completion this fall.
For 2026, U.S. News named UConn's online graduate nursing program as the No. 1 choice nationwide for veterans wishing to pursue distance-learning studies in that field, the second consecutive year in that top spot.
The program was also ranked No. 4 this year for students from all backgrounds, up one spot from 2025. As recently as 2020, it was ranked No. 82, then skyrocketed one year later into the top 20 with a No. 14 ranking.
It has continued its ascent since then, reaching No. 5 last year and now achieving the new No. 4 ranking for 2026.
"As we continue to build a new state-of-the-art nursing facility, we are expanding enrollment and strengthening hands-on and technology-enabled learning opportunities to prepare highly educated nurses who are ready to lead, innovate, and meet the evolving health care needs of our communities," says Victoria Vaughan Dickson, dean of the Elisabeth DeLuca School of Nursing.
UConn's School of Business also ranked highly in this year's U.S. News review, listed as No. 8 nationwide in non-MBA online master's degrees in such fields as business analytics, accounting, and supply chain management.
"This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to academic excellence and validates the strong market demand for graduate business education," says Meghan Hanrahan, executive director of specialized master's programs in the School of Business.
"Our programs in accounting, human resources, supply chain management, business analytics, and financial technology are intentionally designed to align with workforce needs and to prepare graduates for leadership and career advancement in a rapidly changing economy," she says.
Hanrahan says that in Connecticut and across New England, UConn is seeing strong and growing demand for its student talent.
"Our region's robust financial services, manufacturing, and insurance ecosystem, in particular, are seeking talent with the advanced analytical, strategic, and data skills our students gain," she says. "Employers tell us they value the way our graduates combine deep discipline with applied experience and leadership."
The UConn College of Engineering was also well represented in the U.S. News rankings, with a No. 25 spot for its online programs in relation to serving veterans and a No. 44 ranking for students of all backgrounds. The latter rank is 18 spots higher than five years ago.
Notably, the Master of Engineering ranked No. 8 out of 111 engineering colleges in student excellence. The degree is offered through the UConn College of Engineering and the Center for Advanced Engineering Education.
With 14 concentrations offered from biomedical engineering to digital design and manufacturing, students learn the skills in a flexible and accessible program to advance as engineers in their respective fields.
"Our students are employed by some of Connecticut's most highly regarded organizations," says Nora Sutton, director of the Center of Advanced Engineering Education. "This ranking demonstrates their academic distinction and strong ties to industry. We're extremely proud."
Additional UConn programs represented in the new U.S. News rankings included the online MBA degree in the School of Business, which was No. 56 for veterans and No. 93 for students from all backgrounds.
In addition to reviewing the quality and access of online graduate programs for students from all backgrounds, U.S. News specifically assesses how they meet the special needs and experience of veterans and active military duty students.
At UConn, the Office of Veterans Programs & Military Affairs works closely with the schools and colleges and supports military-affiliated students by helping them and their dependents navigate the programs and services available for their circumstances.
It also creates an open and welcoming community for veterans who are UConn employees and alumni, including people serving as mentors to others.
The support extends not only to students taking classes in person on UConn campuses, but also those learning via online programs such as those that ranked highly in the most recent U.S. News overview.
Students who are veterans, on active duty, or in reserve status often have unique circumstances when deciding to enroll in graduate study and tend to benefit from the flexibility that online programs can offer.
When determining which online programs best serve veterans, U.S. News assessed their quality, affordability, and accessibility in light of the special circumstances of that student population, including having access to federal GI Bill benefits and often needing the flexibility of distance learning.
In assessing how online graduate programs fit veterans' needs, U.S. News selected offerings that incorporate predominantly internet-based coursework; are housed in regionally accredited institutions; and have strong reputations, faculty credentials, and retention rates.
U.S. News & Report also only included programs in their rankings with a critical mass of students with military backgrounds.
Programs included in the rankings must be in colleges of universities certified for the GI Bill, while also either participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program or charging in-state tuition - which can fully covered by the GI bill - for all veterans applying from out of state.
At UConn and throughout Connecticut, a state tuition waiver and several other financial benefits are available for active duty and veteran students based on their particular circumstances, and other assistance is also available through scholarships and VA Work Study.
