U.S. News & World Report best graduate schools: Here's how Long Island colleges ranked

Several Long Island higher learning institutions feature prominently on this year’s U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of graduate school programs.

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory saw its graduate biological sciences studies ranked sixth in the nation, one of the highest rankings for an Island-based institution this year, according to the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking released Tuesday.

The ranking ties the lab with several schools including Cornell University, Johns Hopkins University and Princeton University. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology and The Scripps Research Institute in California tied for first place, according to U.S. News.

Stony Brook and Hofstra universities were also highlighted on the list, with each earning at least 10 rankings across a broad swath of categories from medical school to occupational therapy. Other universities in the region, such as Molloy, Adelphi and LIU Post, were also listed among the best graduate programs. Touro University's Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center in Central Islip was ranked 164th.

U.S. News’ Best Graduate Schools rankings, which cover an array of disciplines including the law and education, are often seen as a means for prospective students to gauge programs, though some have cast doubt on the methodology in categorizing what schools are the best, Newsday has reported.

Still, LaMont Jones, managing editor of education at U.S. News & World Report, said in a statement Tuesday, “These rankings are a powerful tool for prospective students, offering clarity and confidence as they approach their most critical educational choice.”

This year’s ranking of graduate programs was compiled using factors such as statistical surveys along with expert review of programs, U.S. News said. Institutions that chose not to send in data were not included in the listing, except for law schools. Some programs tied for the same place in the rankings.

Here’s how U.S. News ranked universities with a Long Island presence:

Hofstra University

Hofstra, located in Hempstead, has more than 10,000 students and roughly a dozen schools and colleges, according to the university. In U.S. News’ graduate school ranking, the university clinched several spots, including a ranking of 117 for its law school and 87 for its nursing program.

The university’s graduate education training was listed at 210, while its health care management programs were ranked at 63, according to the listing. The Long Island AuD Consortium, which includes Adelphi, Hofstra and St. John's universities, was placed as the 49th best audiology program.

One of the university’s highest positions came from its rehabilitation counseling program, which was ranked number 18, U.S. News said. 

Hofstra provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, Charlie Riordan, said in a statement that the university’s “graduate programs are distinguished by a strong foundation in research, experiential learning and strategic partnerships that prepare our students for impactful careers."

Specifically, Riordan said, its rehabilitation counseling studies program reflects "our deep commitment to social justice and advocacy, preparing professionals to advocate for individuals with disabilities and dismantle systemic barriers to access and opportunity.”

Stony Brook University

At Stony Brook, its graduate physics studies program received a ranking of 28 — one of the highest rankings for the university. Its nursing-midwifery programs were listed at 30, U.S. News said. Its mathematics program was placed at 31.

Other programs that received a ranking include engineering (62), occupational therapy (41), speech-language pathology (123) and public health (74).

The university’s graduate fine arts program was ranked 106, according to the listing. 

Molloy University

The university, which has its main campus in Rockville Centre, saw its nursing program rise to 83rd place, up 18 positions from last year, U.S. News found. Its speech pathology studies were classified at 244, while its education program was positioned at 202.

LIU Post

LIU Post in Brookville had its speech-language pathology studies ranked at 244, while its clinical psychology trainings were ranked 196, according to the tabulation. 

Adelphi University

Adelphi University’s nursing program was placed at 87, while its clinical psychology studies were positioned at 127, marking a 49-position jump, the ranking showed. 

Susan Dinan, the Garden City university’s interim provost, said in a statement to Newsday the rankings are “a testament to the exceptional caliber of our faculty, the dedication of our students and the profound impact our alumni are making, particularly in healthcare and clinical settings.”

She said, “The dramatic rise in our health program rankings, which are driven by peer assessment, demonstrates that our commitment to academic innovation and clinical excellence is recognized by our academic peers across the country."

Touro University

The Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center in Central Islip was ranked 164 in the country. It’s occupational therapy studies, which are taught on Long Island and in New York City, was listed at 98.

By Tiffany Cusaac-Smith

tiffany.cusaac-smith@newsday.com@T_Cusaac

Tiffany Cusaac-Smith is a general assignment reporter for Newsday. She previously worked at USA TODAY and is an alum of Howard University.