CWRU School of Medicine maintains Tier 1 position; other programs climb in 2025 graduate school rankings
U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools rankings, which were released today, list Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in “Tier 1” for medical schools for research. And while some graduate-level programs in Case School of Engineering, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Weatherhead School of Management and the School of Law slipped in the 2025 rankings, several specialty programs ranked higher than last year—including high scores in categories measured by U.S. News for the first time.
Following widespread critiques of the criteria used in developing such rankings, the publication last year shifted its methodology in many areas to focus more on research, scholarship and student outcomes with less emphasis on reputation and selectivity/student quality.
“We are pleased that programs across each of our graduate and professional schools continue to be recognized for excellence,” said Case Western Reserve President Eric W. Kaler. “However, these rankings represent just one viewpoint. Led by our exceptional faculty and staff within our schools, we will continue to enhance our high-quality academic experiences and research opportunities in ways that benefit our graduates’ professional outcomes.”
Below are some of the rankings of our graduate/professional schools and programs.
School of Medicine
Using the methodology approach the publication introduced last year, medical and osteopathic schools were again placed in four tiers rather than by numerical rankings—and CWRU School of Medicine again placed in Tier 1 nationally for medical schools for research.
Case Western Reserve was one of just 16 schools included in this category, out of more than 100 measured, placing it among the top 15% of medical schools for research.
Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing
Among nursing schools, Case Western Reserve’s master’s program ranked #20, down from #17 last year.
However, in special categories, several graduate programs at the nursing school ranked higher than the previous year:
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): #14, up from #17;
- DNP Leadership: #6 (a new U.S. News ranking);
- Family Nurse Practitioner: #11, up from #12; and
- Nursing Administration (new ranking): #6.
The school’s nurse anesthesia program, which is ranked solely based on peer review, is #33—up three from last year—while its partner program with Cleveland Clinic is #15, down four.
Case School of Engineering
In the best graduate engineering schools category, Case School of Engineering ranked #52, down one position from last year. But the school’s biomedical/bioengineering (#19) and computer engineering (#53) graduate programs each jumped two positions.
Other graduate program rankings include:
- Aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical engineering: #32 (down three);
- Chemical engineering: #44 (down two);
- Civil engineering: #51 (no change);
- Electrical/electronic/communications engineering: #51 (down one);
- Industrial/manufacturing/systems engineering: #50 (down six);
- Materials engineering: #43 (down nine); and
- Mechanical engineering #47 (unchanged).
School of Law
The School of Law ranked #107 overall, down 18 spots—a number that was disappointing but not unsurprising for the school, based on the data submitted for bar pass rates and career placement. These areas have been a core focus for Dean Paul Rose since arriving at Case Western Reserve last July, and enhancements to the student experience in these and other areas is expected to be reflected in future rankings.
Still, several of the law school’s specialty programs ranked the same as or higher than last year:
- Business/corporate law (#55, up 9 spots);
- Contracts/commercial law (#56, up 2);
- Environmental law (#30, up 6);
- Healthcare law (#13, up 2); and
- International law (#13, unchanged); and
- Law Schools with Most Grads in Public Interest Law: #39 (new ranking).
Weatherhead School of Management
Among graduate business schools, Weatherhead School of Management ranked #82, down from #66. This ranking is based solely on graduates of the full-time MBA program, which constituted only 5% of the school’s graduate-level enrollment in the period measured. For part-time MBA programs, Weatherhead ranked #58, down from #40.
Other rankings
The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Sciences was not assessed this year, as U.S. News ranks schools of social work at most biannually. Other programs in a variety of areas, including engineering, arts and sciences, and health, were only ranked based on peer assessments and were not included here.
U.S. News & World Report announces undergraduate rankings in the fall; the 2025 rankings (released fall 2024) are available online.
To see the full graduate/professional school rankings, visit the U.S. News & World Report website.