U.S. News Names Jefferson Graduate Programs Among Top in Nation

Numerous Jefferson programs have been named among the top in the country, according to the just-released 2021 U.S. News Best Graduate Schools Rankings.

The Department of Occupational Therapy maintained its rank as No. 6 in the nation. The department offers programs at the master’s and doctoral-entry level and post-professional level. Students have opportunities to participate in innovative clinical, educational and research experiences on their path to becoming leaders in occupational therapy and health care.

“We’re honored to be ranked among the top occupational therapy departments,” says Dr. Cathy Piersol, professor and chair of the department. “This ranking reflects the department’s high-caliber faculty who are leaders in the profession and our ambitious, creative students who keep us thinking and show their passion when they go out into the world.”

The Midwifery & Women's Health Programs at Thomas Jefferson University jumped seven spots from 24 to 17 in the latest U.S. News rankings. The Midwifery & Women's Health Programs offers students the ability to become certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board, with or without a nursing degree. It’s also the first and only program to offer a doctorate in midwifery.

“During the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, we’re excited to be recognized as midwifery leaders and to continue to grow diverse, rigorous, accessible pathways to accredited midwifery education,” says Director Dr. Dana Perlman.

The Midwifery & Women's Health Programs leads the way in midwifery education by inspiring, engaging and preparing students to provide high-quality midwifery care, conduct professionally significant research and engage in future-focused health policy advocacy, she says.

“The Midwifery & Women's Health Programs faculty does this as leaders and collaborators in the field and as experienced educators,” Dr. Perlman says. “Our students appreciate our small classes and groups, frequent communication and personal attention. The faculty and Jefferson College of Health Professions are proud of our growing reputation. We look forward to continued excellence and influence in the midwifery profession and development of exciting interprofessional educational opportunities across Jefferson.”

The Doctor of Nursing Practice program also experienced a significant leap, moving up 16 spots in the rankings.

“We’re taking the bold steps necessary to reach new heights in the areas of academics, research, clinical practice and community engagement,” says Dr. Marie Ann Marino, dean and professor of the Jefferson College of Nursing. “These rankings say as much about where we are on our journey as they do about the future we’re building. I’m so proud of our students, faculty, researchers, administrative staff and clinical partners for they represent the quality behind these rankings.” 

Jefferson recently announced the College of Nursing’s Abington-Dixon campus will be relocated to Horsham, Pa., and known as the Dixon Campus for the fall 2020 semester. Selected to provide state-of-the-art nursing educational facilities and resources for students in the region, the new location is a mile from the current campus. It will give the program the capacity to double its enrollment over the next five years.

Other Jefferson programs featured in the U.S. News rankings include medical school: primary care; medical school: research; pharmacy; physical therapy and nursing school: master’s.

Each year, U.S. News ranks professional school programs in business, education, engineering, law, medicine and nursing, including specialties in each area.

The Best Graduate Schools 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.

The data for the rankings in all six disciplines comes from statistical surveys of more than 2,081 programs and from reputation surveys sent to more than 24,603 academics and professionals, conducted in fall 2019 and early 2020.