Cal State Fullerton’s nursing-anesthesia program ranked No. 1 in California and No. 3 in the nation, according to the U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Graduate Schools rankings.
CSUF held its No. 1 ranking from 2025. Nationally, CSUF’s nursing-anesthesia program rose from its previous No. 7 spot on the list and tied with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Offered in partnership with Kaiser Permanente, the doctoral program has made significant contributions to clinical practice and research in the field of anesthesia by preparing alumni to lead in clinical settings as well as national professional organizations. Program alumni have gone on to establish careers at such top health care organizations as Kaiser Permanente, MemorialCare and Providence.
“The partnership between our School of Nursing and the Kaiser Permanente School of Anesthesia is a prime example of how we engage our clinical partners so that we can provide innovative learning experiences for our students at Cal State Fullerton,” said Celestina Barbosa-Leiker, dean of the College of Health and Human Development. “This program is helping to prepare the future health care workforce, directly impacting Orange County, Los Angeles County and beyond.”
“The expertise, dedication and mentorship of Kaiser Permanente’s faculty and staff are foundational to the strength of our program and the success of our students. Being ranked No. 1 in California and No. 3 in the nation affirms our shared commitment to rigorous clinical training and to preparing highly skilled, compassionate leaders in nurse anesthesiology,” added Sadeeka Al-Majid, director of the School of Nursing.
U.S. News & World Report uses a specific methodology for each ranking category. For nursing, U.S. News ranked 148 master’s programs based on faculty resources, research activity, quality assessment, program size and student selectivity.