Auburn Nursing Shines Nationally in 2026 Rankings

Auburn University has again earned national recognition for academic excellence, securing several top rankings across its graduate online business, education, engineering and nursing programs in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs rankings.

U.S. News believes that online learning is integral to all types of education, including higher education, and that students should have as much information as possible when evaluating online degrees of interest.

The U.S. News Best Online Programs rankings assess institutions based on student engagement, faculty credentials and training, services and technology and peer assessments. This year’s results highlight strong performance across Auburn’s online graduate programs, with several colleges posting notable gains and national recognition.

“I am exceptionally proud to celebrate Auburn’s outstanding achievements in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings,” said Dean Gregg Newschwander. “The College of Nursing’s online master’s programs ranked No. 81 nationally, an eight-spot improvement from last year. In addition, securing the No. 6 spot nationally for our Graduate Nursing–Nurse Practitioner–Family program and tying for No. 4 in Graduate Nursing–Nursing Education is a testament to the dedication, innovation, and excellence of our faculty, staff, and students.

“These top national rankings affirm our unwavering commitment to preparing practice-ready nurse leaders and educators who serve communities across Alabama and the nation. Our progress reflects Auburn’s investment in technology-enhanced instruction, student engagement, and faculty expertise, all of which are crucial for success in today’s dynamic health care environment.

“We take particular pride in how these programs help address critical workforce shortages, especially in rural and underserved areas. By offering high-quality, accessible online education, we are expanding opportunities for aspiring nurse practitioners and educators to advance their careers and meet the growing health care needs of our state.

“Thank you to our exceptional faculty, students, and partners for making these achievements possible. We remain committed to continuous improvement and to delivering innovative, impactful nursing education that upholds Auburn’s reputation for academic excellence and leadership in health care,” Newschwander added.

Other Award-Winning Programs at Auburn University included the Grad Business, Veterans-Grad Business, MBA, Veterans-MBA, Grad Information Technology, Grad Education, Grad Engineering, Veterans-Grad Engineering, Grad Engineering-Electrical, and Grad Engineering-Industrial.

The rankings align with Auburn’s 10-year Strategic Plan, Grounded & Groundbreaking, which prioritizes expanding access to high quality education across Alabama through online and technology-enhanced instruction. The recognition follows Auburn’s continued performance in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, released last fall, where the university ranked No. 49 among public and No. 102 nationally, and continued to be ranked No. 1 in Alabama.

U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Ranking is an annual set of rankings of colleges and universities in the United States, which was first published by U.S. News & World Report in 1983. It has been described as the most influential institutional ranking in the country.