Shenandoah Top-Tier
Shenandoah Leads and Ranks
Among the Nation’s Best
An array of recent rankings, across disciplines, reveal something that we at Shenandoah University already know – Shenandoah is a powerhouse.
We’re not about to slow down. Keep up with us.
Shenandoah Programs Receive Top Rankings
U.S. News & World Report
#1 Nurse-Midwifery Program
Shenandoah’s Nurse-Midwifery program is first in Virginia and 32nd nationwide by U.S. News & World Report.
#1 Physician Assistant Studies Program
Shenandoah’s Physician Assistant Studies program ranked tops in Virginia and 21st in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 2025.
#1 Pharmacy Program
Shenandoah’s School of Pharmacy ranked tops among private colleges in Virginia and 86th nationwide according to rankings by U.S. News & World Report for 2025.
#1 Occupational Therapy Program
Shenandoah’s Occupational Therapy program is ranked first among private colleges in Virginia and 95th in the country by U.S. News & World Report for 2025.
#1 Physical Therapy Program
Shenandoah’s Physical Therapy Program is first among private colleges in Virginia, 2nd among all Virginia colleges and 65th nationwide for 2025 according to U.S. News & World Report.
#1 Part-time MBA Program
Shenandoah’s Part-time MBA program ranked tops in Virginia and 294th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 2025.
#2 Master’s-level nursing
Shenandoah’s Master’s-level nursing ranked #2 among private universities in Virginia, and #109th in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report for 2025.
#2 B.S. in Nursing
Shenandoah’s Bachelors of Science in Nursing ranked second among private colleges in Virginia and 294th nationwide according to U.S. News & World Report for 2025.
#3 Private National University in Virginia
Shenandoah ranked third in Virginia and 301st in the nation as a Private National University by U.S. News & World Report for 2025.
Best Nursing Schools in Virginia
Shenandoah’s Nursing School is listed among the best in Virginia by U.S. News & World Report for 2025.
Best Business Schools in Virginia
Shenandoah’s Business School made the list of the best in Virginia by U.S. News & World report for 2025.
#3 Private University Graduate Education Program in Virginia
Shenandoah’s Graduate Education Program is ranked #3 in Virginia by U.S. News & World Report.
Understanding The Methodology
Among the metrics used by U.S. News & Report for their college rankings are graduation rates, first-year retention rates, graduation rate performance, Pell graduation rates, Pell graduation performance, first-generation graduation rates, first-generation graduation rate performance, college grads earning more than a high school grad, borrower debt, peer assessment, financial resources per student, faculty salaries, full-time faculty, student-faculty ratio, standardized tests, citations per publication, fiield-weighted citation impact, publication share in the Top 5% of journals by CiteScore, publication share in the Top 25% of journals by CiteScore.
For more information about U.S. News & World Report ratings calculations as updated for 2026, visit their ratings calculations page.
Niche.com
#1 Music College in Virginia
Shenandoah Conservatory’s Music programs are ranked first in Virginia and 50th in the nation by Niche.com for 2026.
I LOVE their conservatory and their amazing music program. It is a private school, so when it comes to music, they will definitely give you that one-on-one experience.”
– From reviews on Niche.com
Top Private University for Public Health
Shenandoah’s Public Health program is tops in Virginia as rated by Niche.com for 2026.
Public health was something I did not know about when I came to SU, but after taking one class and loving the course content I knew it was something I wanted to major in!”
– Mackenzie “Mac” Watkins ’26
#2 Physical Therapy Program in Virginia
Shenandoah’s Phyiscal Therapy program is second in Virginia as rated by Niche.com for 2026.
The physical therapy program at Shenandoah University fosters a supportive learning environment that challenges students and molds us into top-tier clinicians. We are not a number, and we have the opportunity to form strong relationships with peers and faculty.”
– Natalie Nichols ’24
#2 Sport Management program in Virginia
Shenandoah School of Business Sport Management program ranks second in Virginia in 2026.
My favorite part of my major is learning about the different aspects of the sports world that I could only dream of. Also, all of the sport management and business professors have been of great help in my journey.”
– Aymar Bisseck ’24
Understanding The Methodology
The Best Colleges for Music ranking is based on key statistics and student reviews using data from the U.S. Department of Education. The ranking compares the top music schools and performing arts colleges in the U.S.”
Colleges of Distinction
Shenandoah University is a 2025-26 College of Distinction, with additional recognitions in the areas of Business, Education, Nursing, Career Development, Equity & Inclusion, and Military Support.
Other Rankings
Shenandoah’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at a private university in Virginia is #1, according to RNCareers.org.
Nursing has challenged me to change the way I think about daily tasks and I have become passionate about helping people in any way I can.”
– Mackenzie Dierberg ’23
Shenandoah Conservatory’s Musical Theatre Program Earned the top spot from collegeraptor.com.
You’ll learn from some of the nation’s best teachers and industry professionals, including several Broadway veterans, in Shenandoah Conservatory’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre program.”
Shenandoah Conservatory’s Dance Programs earned the number two spot from collegeraptor.com.
I was first drawn to Shenandoah’s program because of the versatility. You didn’t have to choose an emphasis like ballet or just jazz or just modern. It was a triple emphasis.”
– Aubrey Lawrence ’15
Understanding The Methodology
rncareers.org collects institution, program and NCLEX testing data and compiles essential ADN and BSN nursing data as part of their ranking process.
Visit their ranking methodology page for a comprehensive view of their ranking strategy.
The Citizens college planning platform, College Raptor® is a FREE online platform that provides tools, tips, and advice to help college-bound students throughout their entire college planning journey and beyond.
- Learn about federal aid and calculate student loans when you need to fund the gap.
- Find the perfect college fit for you!
- Search through thousands of scholarships to help pay for college.
- Research careers and majors.
Visit collegeraptor.com for more information.
College Gazette ranks SU’s Music Therapy programs among the top 10 in the U.S.
At Shenandoah, music therapy students receive a multidisciplinary, dynamic education that has the potential to take them across the world.”
Options abound. Students can take classes in a virtual reality lab; work in teams of nursing, pharmacy, and occupational therapy students in the interprofessional education program; complete a clinical placement at INOVA hospital; or travel abroad to the World Congress of Music Therapy.
– from CollegeGazette.com
Shenandoah made the list of OnlineU.com’s 2025 Best Pharmacy Degrees Online.
(SU’s) programs are tailored to students who are beginning their pharmacy careers or licensed pharmacists who want to advance their expertise.”
Shenandoah’s School of Nursing was ranked #7 by Nursing Schools Almanac in their list of top Virginia nursing schools.
The university offers a breadth of nursing pathways including a traditional BSN, an accelerated BSN, a Veteran-to-BSN bridge program, four MSN specializations, the corresponding post-graduate certificates, and a DNP curriculum with both BSN and MSN entry points. Across its two campuses in Winchester and Ashburn, Shenandoah University produces 100-150 prelicensure BSN graduates annually.
– From nursingschoolsalmanac.com
National Top 10: DIII Student-Athlete Volunteer Hours
According to Helper Helper, Shenandoah University student-athletes have the 6th-highest number of volunteer hours of any DIII college or university in the nation.
From volunteering at local schools to organizing fundraising events for charities, student-athletes have demonstrated their commitment to making a positive impact beyond the field of play.
Gold-Level Campus
Shenandoah is recognized by Exercise is Medicine as a Gold campus in 2025 for its efforts to create a culture of wellness on campus.
Understanding The Methodology
Programs such as the Exercise is Medicine On Campus (EIM-OC ) Month Challenge, Vital Signs Assessment and Referral, and SUFiT training all helped Shenandoah earn Gold-level designation. Shenandoah also earned EIM’s COVID Conqueror badge, a new honor given to campuses that demonstrated creative adaptations to physical activity programming during the COVID-19 pandemic.
#4 Online Pharmacy School
Shenandoah’s Nontraditional Doctor Of Pharmacy Online Program is ranked 4th in the nation by CollegeAffordabilityGuide.org.
Understanding The Methodology
We look at the fundamentals first: not-for-profit status, at least 500 total students, Associate or higher degrees, and at least one non-standard way for students to earn college credits, such as AP or ROTC credit. We also require that at least 20% of students be Pell Grant recipients.”
Read more at collegeaffordabilityguide.org
#5 Online Physical Therapy
Shenandoah’s online Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy program is ranked #5 in Intelligent.com’s list of the nation’s best online programs for a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.
Understanding The Methodology
Our list features the best online Physical Therapy degree programs at top colleges nationwide. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions.
We evaluated each school’s program on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, reputation, and the student resources provided for online students. We collected data from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics, individual school and program websites, school admissions counselors, and other data sources. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100 based on the following criterion:
Academic Quality:
- Admission rate versus enrollment rate
- Retention rate of students who return after year one
- Accreditation status (regional and programmatic)
- Nonprofit status, both private and public institutions
Graduation Rate
- Overall graduation rate
- Total number of currently enrolled students, including diversity metrics
- Student-to-faculty ratio
Cost and ROI
- In-state and out-of-state per-credit tuition rates and fees
- Required credits to graduate
- Earning potential after graduation
- Availability of federal student loans, scholarships, and other financial aid options
Student Resources
- Available student services for online-only and hybrid programs
- On-campus amenities like tutoring centers and the number of libraries
Read more about our ranking methodology.