VCU School of the Arts is ranked No. 2 in the nation among graduate schools

By Brian McNeill

In U.S. News & World Report's new rankings of 2026 Best Graduate Schools, the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts has tied for No. 2 among the best fine arts programs in the country.

"For nearly a century, VCUarts has stood at the forefront of creative education, producing artists, designers, thinkers and leaders who shape culture and solve the most pressing challenges of our time," said Carmenita Higginbotham, Ph.D., dean of the School of the Arts. "Being ranked No. 2 in the nation is a tremendous achievement that reflects the excellence of our faculty, the talent of our students and the strength of our institution. We are proud of this recognition and will continue to push the boundaries of what creative research can accomplish."

The School of the Arts is one of 18 graduate programs at VCU that are listed among the nation's top 50 in their fields, according to the new rankings released today.

"Our new rankings are a direct reflection of the innovative and interdisciplinary efforts of our faculty, students and staff," said Art Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., interim executive vice president and provost. "Ultimately, it's not the rank that drives us, but the positive outcomes we create every day that makes VCU a national leader. This recognition is a byproduct of that success, and it gives us the platform we need to expand our reach and continue to improve lives and communities."

Five programs of VCU's College of Health Professions ranked among the top 50, including three in the top 10:

• No. 3 (tie) for best rehabilitation counseling programs.
• No. 8 (tie) for best health care management programs.
• No. 8 for best nurse anesthesia programs.
• No. 15 (tie) for best occupational therapy programs.
• No. 31 (tie) for best physical therapy programs.

"Our programs consistently remain among the top in the nation by delivering academic excellence, cutting-edge and impactful research, and preparing students to become future leaders in the most in-demand health care roles," said Amy R. Darragh, Ph.D., dean of the College of Health Professions. "These rankings reflect our commitment to innovation and impact, and our dedication to providing our learners with high-quality, exceptional experiences."

VCU's L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs also had five programs ranked among the top 50:

• No. 44 (tie) for best public affairs programs.
• No. 8 for homeland security and emergency management programs.
• No. 21 (tie) for local government management programs.
• No. 22 for social policy programs.
• No. 25 (tie) for public management and leadership programs.

"These rankings highlight the Wilder School's strength across key areas of public affairs, including a top 10 program in homeland security and emergency management," said Susan Gooden, Ph.D., dean of the Wilder School. "Collectively, the school remains among the nation's leading public affairs programs, reflecting our commitment to preparing leaders to meet complex challenges and serve with integrity and impact."

In other rankings of VCU programs:

• The School of Education moved up five spots to tie for No. 19 on the overall list of best education schools.
• The School of Pharmacy also ranked among the top 20, tying for No. 20 on the list of best pharmacy programs.
• The College of Engineering ranked No. 19 (tie) on the list of best nuclear engineering programs.
• Two programs in the School of Business ranked among the top 50: best real estate programs (tied for No. 38) and best information systems programs (tied for No. 50).
• The School of Public Health tied for No. 49 on the list of best biostatistics programs.
• The Department of Psychology in the College of Humanities and Sciences ranked No. 44 (tie) on the list of best clinical psychology programs.

Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report released its 2026 list of best online programs. On that list, two programs of the College of Engineering were ranked, including No. 18 for best online master's in engineering and No. 10 for best online master's in mechanical engineering. The School of Education tied for No. 36 in the ranking of best online master's in education.