The Indiana University School of Nursing has climbed to No. 13 in the nation for undergraduate nursing programs in the new 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings—up 26 spots from last year.
The ranking also places IU as the only nursing school in Indiana ranked in the top 20.
News at IU
U.S. News ranks 2 IU undergrad programs No. 1 in Indiana, among leading national programs
"Being recognized among the top 15 nursing schools in the country is both an honor and a reflection of our community’s unwavering commitment to excellence,” said Janet S. Carpenter, PhD, RN, FAAN, interim dean of IU School of Nursing. “This achievement speaks to the dedication of our faculty and staff, the passion of our students, and the impact of our alumni and partners who advance healthcare every day.”
The rise in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual list of the nation’s best programs comes as the School of Nursing welcomed its largest-ever first-year nursing class for the 2025-26 academic year. With 477 new undergraduates across campuses in Bloomington, Fort Wayne, and Indianapolis, the School of Nursing now enrolls 1,952 undergraduate students, the highest in its history.
The School of Nursing offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program with three tracks—traditional, accelerated second degree, and RN to BSN. Each track offers a cutting-edge pathway to a rich and rewarding professional nursing career, whether a student is a traditional undergraduate, a working RN, or an individual with a bachelor’s degree in a different field who wants to pursue nursing.
“This recognition is about momentum,” Carpenter added. “We are building on our strengths to ensure that IU nurses continue to improve healthcare for generations to come.”
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Founded in 1914, Indiana University School of Nursing is one of the largest nursing programs in Indiana that offers programs from the BSN through the doctorate. The school is composed of campuses in Bloomington, Fort Wayne, and Indianapolis.
Media Contact: Glenda Shaw | 317-278-2048 | glenshaw@iu.edu