Top U.S. News Rankings for Seton Hall Graduate Programs in Health Professions

Programs in Seton Hall’s School of Health and Medical Sciences (SHMS) rose in the latest edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate School rankings, highlighting the institution’s national leadership in health professions education. Occupational Therapy led the way with a ranking of 53, followed by Physical Therapy at 74 and Speech Language Pathology at 91.

"The new rankings underscore Seton Hall’s tradition of excellence in educating workforce-ready healthcare professionals," said Vikram N. Dayalu, Ph.D., CCC-S.L.P., interim dean of the School of Health and Medical Sciences. "Our programs equip graduates with exceptional academic and clinical training, as well as a commitment to compassionate care in the communities in which they serve —a cornerstone of Seton Hall’s Catholic Mission."

Occupational Therapy

Seton Hall’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (M.S.O.T.) program rose 26 places to achieve its ranking of 53rd in the nation—and maintained its position as the highest-ranking, fully-accredited M.S.O.T. program in New Jersey. According to U.S. News, its survey ranked the top 198 doctoral and master's degree programs in occupational therapy accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. Seton Hall’s position at 53 places it among the top 27 percent of all programs in the United States.

"The professional and academic reputation of our faculty, students and alumni speaks volumes in this ranking," said Department Chair Ruth Segal, Ph.D., O.T.R., "For twenty-four years, Seton Hall’s M.S.O.T. program has set the standard for occupational therapy education in New Jersey, offering outstanding experiential learning opportunities in our classrooms and our communities. It’s no wonder our well-prepared students have consistently high licensure exam pass rates and excellent job outcomes," she added.

Physical Therapy

Seton Hall’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) program likewise rose in the U.S. News rankings this year, reaching 74 from its prior ranking of 83 – a rise of nine places among the 239 doctoral programs in physical therapy accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. The ranking of 83 positions Seton Hall among the top third of all D.P.T. programs in the nation. 
"This ranking is an acknowledgment of the hard work and dedication of our faculty and our students, who are our greatest ambassadors," said Department Chair Richard Johnson, P.T., Ed.D., "Seton Hall’s D.P.T. program prepares students with 32 weeks of clinical internships at more than 200 clinical affiliate sites in the NY Metro-NJ region. As a result, our licensed graduates have a 100 percent employment rate within six months of graduation," he added.

Speech Language Pathology

Seton Hall’s Master of Speech Language Pathology (M.S.S.L.P.) program continues to be top ranked in the state, moving up one spot this year to 91 out of 261 master's programs in speech-language pathology accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. The ranking places the program in the top 35 percent in the United States. 

"Our SLP graduates are systematically supported to develop into competent, compassionate clinicians, thanks to Seton Hall’s state-of-the-art healthcare simulation program and emphasis on experiential learning at our Interprofessional Health Sciences (IHS) campus," said Department Chair Caryn Grabowski, MS, CCC-S.L.P. "Our faculty encourage interprofessional collaboration among Seton Hall's five graduate programs in the health professions. As a result, our SLP graduates are team-oriented practitioners who are prepared to holistically serve their clients. Our graduates thrive in a range of healthcare and education settings – and enjoy a 96 percent employment rate within one year of graduation."

SHMS Rising

In addition to the rise in rankings that places these programs in the School of Health and Medical Sciences within the Top Third in the nation, since 2023 the School’s faculty have received six competitive research grants from public and private agencies totaling more than $2.9 million.

Categories: Health and Medicine