The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has once again been listed among the nation’s leading graduate schools, with multiple programs earning distinction in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Graduate Schools rankings released April 7.
UT was recognized for its top graduate programs in engineering, business, fine arts, law, education and nursing. Not all disciplines are ranked every year.
“Being recognized for outstanding graduate programs is a reflection of the transformational work of our talented faculty and exceptional students,” said Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor John Zomchick. “These rankings show that Tennessee’s flagship, land-grant university continues to provide pathways to prosperity and well-being for the Volunteer state.”
Nuclear Engineering, Supply Chain Management Rank in Top Two Among Public Institutions
Two of UT’s most highly regarded graduate programs ranked in the top two among public universities, with nuclear engineering holding steady at second and supply chain management rising to second place this year.
UT’s graduate program in nuclear engineering, ranked third nationally among all institutions for the second year in a row, has long been considered among the country’s best. The Tickle College of Engineering as a whole rose to 28th among public universities and 50th overall.
“The upward momentum of the Tickle College of Engineering and its programs is strong—rising seven spots in the past five years,” said Matthew Mench, dean and Wayne T. Davis Dean’s Chair, Chancellor’s Professor and Condra Chair for the college. “The college prides itself on delivering world-class educational and research programs to its students to serve the state of Tennessee and this nation. I am happy to see the USNWR ranking reflects the tremendous progress we have made.”
The Haslam College of Business remains among the country’s best in supply chain management at eighth nationwide. This is the eighth straight year the program has placed in the top five among public institutions and the 12th year it has been ranked in the top 10 overall.
“We are pleased with the supply chain graduate programs’ presence in the top two of the U.S. News ranking among public schools, signaling its status as a trusted leader in the discipline to students, alumni and peer institutions and making Haslam a destination school for prospective supply chain students,” said Stephen L. Mangum, dean and Stokely Foundation Leadership Chair for the college. “That so many of our departments are recognized in the U.S. News specialty rankings speaks both to a quality academic experience that results in superior outcomes for all of our graduates and the impact our students make in industry after graduation.”
Recognition for Fine Arts, Law, Education, Nursing and Veterinary Medicine Programs
Additional top graduate programs were honored on this year’s list. The university was recognized for its overall excellence in fine arts, ranking 7th among publics and 28th nationwide.
“This is well-earned recognition for the dynamic and creative programs in our School of Art,” said Robert Hinde, executive dean and Herbert Family Dean’s Chair of the College of Arts and Sciences. “The groundbreaking work of our art students and faculty are integral to our mission as a college of arts and sciences at a public university.”
The recognition speaks to the ongoing collaborative and interdisciplinary impact the arts have at UT.
“These rankings reflect the ways our MFA program in the School of Art is informed by scholarship in the humanities, social sciences, and the larger university as part of our rich liberal arts tradition,” said Beauvais Lyons, the college’s divisional dean for arts and humanities.
The Winston College of Law’s full-time program ranked 29th among public institutions for the second year in a row and ranked 57th nationally, while the college’s specialty program in contracts-commercial law continued its upward trajectory over the past two years, rising 10 places to rank 12th among publics and 16 spots to rank 28th nationwide. The college experienced similarly dramatic gains in Health Care Law (up 11 places overall to 21st among publics) and Legal Writing (up 25 places overall to 21st among publics).
“These rankings confirm the continued strength of Winston Law’s faculty and students, as well as the exceptional legal education that we provide,” said Lonnie T. Brown Jr., dean of the college, Elvin E. Overton Distinguished Professor of Law, and Haslam Family Professor. “We are proud of this recognition and confident about the law school’s positive trajectory moving forward.”
The College of Education, Health and Human Sciences’ graduate education program rose to 37th among public universities and 47th overall.
“We are pleased to see the rise in our ranking to 37th among public universities,” said Ellen McIntyre, dean of the college. “We prepare teachers and school leaders for tomorrow’s K12 students, and our programs and research reflect that focus.”
The College of Nursing’s nurse anesthesia concentration continued to climb in reputation, ranking 15th among public institutions and jumping 24 spots nationally to 27th. Overall, the college’s doctoral program remains in the nation’s top 50, placing 32nd among public institutions and 47th nationwide.
“Our ranking for the Doctor of Nursing Practice and nurse anesthesia programs show the critical role we play in preparing nurse leaders to meet ongoing health care challenges,” said Victoria Niederhauser, dean of the college. “As the demand for highly trained providers continues to grow, our program is providing graduates with the tools to lead and improve health care outcomes in their communities.”
UT’s College of Veterinary Medicine also earned recognition, ranking 19th among public universities.
“While we do not dwell on rankings, this recognition underscores the passion and dedication of our faculty, staff and students,” said Paul Plummer, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. “Guided by our new strategic vision, we are steadfast in transforming the future of animal, human and environmental health through knowledge, compassion and discovery. By developing practice-ready veterinarians, driving innovation and ensuring access to high-quality veterinary care — especially for our fellow Tennesseans and agricultural partners — we continue to inspire and serve all those who depend on us.”
More Top Graduate Program Rankings for Business and Engineering
Eight business graduate programs placed among the top public-university rankings:
- No. 15 Entrepreneurship
- No. 19 Full-time MBA
- No. 25 Accounting
- No. 25 Executive MBA
- No. 26 Management
- No. 28 Marketing
- No. 29 Finance
- No. 42 Business analytics
Ten graduate programs in engineering also placed among the top public-university rankings:
- No. 20 Biosystems engineering, housed in the Herbert College of Agriculture
- No. 20 Materials science
- No. 28 Industrial engineering
- No. 31 Civil engineering
- No. 32 Electrical engineering
- No. 34 Aerospace engineering
- No. 38 Environmental engineering
- No. 42 Chemical engineering
- No. 42 Mechanical engineering
- No. 45 Computer science
“We are so proud of these graduate program rankings, which are evident of the exceptional work being done at UT,” said Marieke Van Puymbroeck, vice provost and dean of the graduate school.
About the U.S. News and World Report rankings
The Best Graduate Schools rankings are designed to guide prospective students seeking to pursue advanced education beyond the undergraduate level. The rankings assess programs across a range of disciplines including business, education, engineering, law and nursing.
U.S. News’ Best Graduate Schools rankings are based on two types of data: expert opinion about program excellence and statistical data about the quality of each institution’s faculty, research and student outcomes.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Stacy Estep (865-974-8304, sestep3@utk.edu)