Two CSU graduate programs ranked among top three in the country by U.S. News
Colorado State University has two graduate programs ranked among the top three in the nation in U.S. News & World Report rankings released today.
CSU’s occupational therapy program and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine programs both came in at number three in the country.
The occupational therapy program jumped to third after being ranked seventh in last year’s U.S. News list. The program has gained distinction in many ways in recent years, including converting its master’s program into a professional doctorate in OT three years ago. That OTD program was recently accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education for seven years, the maximum period possible for new programs.
As one of the only community-based OT programs in the country, it exhibits CSU’s land-grant mission by placing students in the community for experiences they can take anywhere. The program’s faculty have received several prestigious awards and grants in recent years as well.
“CSU’s world-class Occupational Therapy program is truly worthy of this leap in reputation, due to its outstanding degree programs, groundbreaking researchers, dedicated faculty, strong community connections, and students and alumni who are motivated to make a difference in people’s lives,” said Lise Youngblade, dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences.
Vet school ranking
CSU’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine has been ranked at number two or three in the nation for more than two decades.
“CSU has been a leader in veterinary medical education for nearly 120 years, and we continue to support cutting-edge programs that serve Colorado, the nation and the world,” said Dr. Sue VandeWoude, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “In addition to world-class veterinary education and clinical programs, we have a vibrant biomedical research portfolio. It includes critical work on highly relevant diseases, from avian influenza and tuberculosis to Alzheimer’s disease and impacts of wildfire smoke inhalation.”
To meet the evolving needs of the veterinary industry, the college is in the process of growing its D.V.M. class size, which has traditionally been around 140. Beginning in 2026, the college will admit 168 students. The expanded class size will be made possible by a significant construction project, a $230 million expansion of the veterinary medicine and education facilities on the university’s South Campus. The college is also in the process of updating its D.V.M curriculum to correspond with the opening of the new facilities, known as the Veterinary Health and Education Complex, or VHEC.
Honors for CSU
The rankings come on the heels of a host of other honors for CSU as it continues on an upward trajectory, including being the only higher ed institution in Colorado appearing on a national “Top Colleges for Affordability” ranking. Forbes magazine recently named CSU the top educational employer in Colorado, and CSU was also the only university in the state to be included on Forbes’ 2024 list of “America’s Best Employers for Women.” And CSU was second only to Colorado School of Mines in the state on Money magazine’s “Best Colleges in America” list, tied with Colorado College.