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Three graduate programs at Central Connecticut State University appear on the 2025 U.S. News and World Report annual rankings of Best Graduate Schools in the country.
U.S. News & World evaluates graduate-level academic programs to determine its Best Graduate Schools rankings. Several academic areas were ranked in 2025, including Health, Education, Law, Public Affairs, Science, and Business, among others.
Two Central programs appear in the Best Health School rankings, which recently added 11 new specialty fields to the category, including Nursing Anesthesia and Rehabilitation Counseling.
Central’s Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) program achieved strong rankings among its peers. As a practice-based program, Central’s DNAP students choose one of two affiliate hospitals with which to work toward their degree — either the Integrated Anesthesia Associates' Nurse Anesthesia Program of Hartford (IAA NAPH) or the Yale New Haven Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia (YNHHSNA). Both cohorts appear on the Best Health School ranking, with IAA NAPH at number 68 spot and YNHHSNA ranked number 33 out of 140 ranked programs.
Also among the Best Health School rankings is Central’s Rehabilitation Counseling program, which was ranked 58th out of 80 ranked programs.
Best Health School rankings were computed from the results of peer assessment surveys completed by deans, other administrators or faculty at accredited degree programs or schools.
For the specialty rankings, respondents were asked on the most recent Best Health School survey to nominate up to 15 programs noted for their excellence in each specialty area. Programs in the specialty rankings were numerically ranked based on the number of nominations they received, as long as the program received seven or more nominations in that specialty area.
In the Best Education School program ranking, Central placed 193rd out of 473 ranked programs.
“These rankings are a testament to the collaborative spirit and commitment to excellence that define our institution,” said Dr. Zulma R. Toro, president of Central Connecticut State University. “Graduate Studies at Central is thriving, and it is very affirming and exciting to see that reflected on the national stage. I applaud the exceptional faculty who lead the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice, Rehabilitation Counseling, and Education programs. They are dedicated and passionate teachers, scholars, and mentors who are ensuring Central’s graduates are among the best professionals in the country.”
Methodology in brief
In fall 2024 and early 2025, U.S. News collected statistical and reputation data directly from education schools for the rankings and school profiles. Altogether, 476 schools granting doctoral education degrees were surveyed, and 267 of them responded. U.S. News derived each school’s overall rank by scoring it on nine factors, including research activity, faculty resources, and student selectivity.
U.S. News rankings are intended as a guide for prospective graduate students, evaluate programs in a variety of disciplines, including business, education, engineering, health, nursing, public affairs, and science.