In the U.S. News and World Report rankings of top online programs released today, the UNMC College of Nursing MSN program was ranked 41st among more than 200 programs nationwide.
The ranking represents an improvement of more than 30 spots from the program’s last ranking in the magazine.
The upward trajectory not only highlights the college’s commitment of providing high-quality education tailored to the needs of future nursing leaders but also its dedication to fostering an engaging and supportive learning environment, said UNMC College of Nursing Dean Lepaine Sharp-McHenry, DNP. “By integrating innovative teaching methods and real-world applications, the MSN program is well-equipped to prepare its graduates for the evolving challenges in health care,” she said.
Dr. Sharp-McHenry pointed to the college’s commitment to students as a reason for the leap in ranking.
“Our focus on student success and academic excellence drives us to continually enhance our program, ensuring that our graduates are not only knowledgeable but also are prepared to make a meaningful impact on the health outcomes in the communities they serve,” she said.
UNMC Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, congratulated Dean Sharp-McHenry, as well as the college’s faculty, staff and students, on the ranking.
“Our programs continue to be recognized for their ability to create nurse leaders and position them for success across a spectrum of nursing opportunities,” Dr. Davies said. “Today’s rankings by U.S. News and World Report of our MSN program reflect not only the continued effort for improvement at the college, but the success of those efforts – especially as ‘student excellence’ is a factor in the rankings. This MSN ranking, combined with the top 30 ranking of the BSN program, is a testament to the hard work of our faculty and staff, and I applaud and thank Dean Sharp-McHenry and the entire college for their hard work and dedication for this tremendous accomplishment.”
U.S. News selects factors, known as ranking indicators, to assess each program in the categories outlined above. A program’s score for each ranking indicator is calculated using data that the program reported to U.S. News in a statistical survey and data collected in a separate peer assessment survey. Among categories assessed were:
- Engagement.
- Faculty credentials and training.
- Peer assessment.
- Services and technologies.
- Student excellence.