A significant contributor to this problem is the nursing shortage in the Palmetto State and particularly the dearth of primary care nurses and nurse practitioners. The best nursing schools for master’s degrees have programs that focus on patient care and case management. To make the process easier first look for a school that supports students towards licensure and beyond. Over the past decade, prelicensure BSN students have averaged an 86% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure examination. The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is the one new entrant in the top 10, moving up seven places to sixth. Courses include Community-Focused Nursing, Human Experience of Disability, and Leadership in Nursing Practice. A great way to measure this is through NCLEX-RN "pass rates." The MSN program emphasizes the importance of holistic assessment, cultural congruency, and consumer inclusion in healthcare. The RN-BSN program is a good option for non-West-Virginia students as well because the price per credit hour is the same for both in-state and out-of-state applicants. Nurses graduate with the preparation to become leaders in healthcare, apply multidisciplinary approaches to solving problems, and take on a broader range of responsibilities. The college will validate up to 30 hours of nursing credit. Applicants may be admitted in either fall or spring and will increase their current knowledge and skills by taking courses in areas such as community health, legal and ethical aspects of professional nursing, and nursing research. During the past decade, the school’s BSN graduates exceeded a 90% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN national licensure examination. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) says that in 2020 nearly 25,000 students across the United States were … Best 20 Accelerated Nursing Programs in 2021 [Updated] Read More » Traditional undergraduates can complete the nursing curriculum in five semesters, while students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree can prepare for licensure in just four semesters. These students have posted consistently excellent scores on the NCLEX licensure exam, with a cumulative 96% pass rate since 2008. Full-time and part-time options are available. See full address and map. Some of these schools have yet to receive recognition from national publications, yet deserve consideration from aspiring nurses looking for a more affordable or accessible nursing school option. Graduates of the traditional and accelerated BSN programs have achieved a phenomenal 98.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. NSU’s MSN program offers ten distinct areas of specialization, and its DNP curriculum has concentrations in both advanced practice nursing and organizational systems leadership. #19: Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond, VAThe VCU School of Nursing boasts a state-of-the-art Clinical Learning Center with a skills lab and two intensive care simulation suites. The school’s traditional BSN program has more than 250 graduates annually, and they are well prepared for their licensure exams, tallying a 93% NCLEX pass rate over the past eight years. Prospective students can choose from courses including evidence based care, gerontology, and transcultural health care. #99: Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, GAKennesaw State University is home to the WellStar School of Nursing, the largest nursing school in northern Georgia. The school’s online MSN program has a Family Nurse Practitioner track that educates students to become advanced practice registered nurses. The school offers a breadth of nursing programs including a traditional BSN, an RN-to-BSN pathway, an MSN degree with three tracks, post-master’s certificates in family nurse practitioner and nurse educator, and a DNP program that launched in the summer of 2018. It is not too big and not too small. The school, which also offers RN-to-BSN, DNP, and post-master’s certificate programs, consistently ranks among the top ten in the nation on two separate U.S. News & World Report lists (best MSN programs, best DNP programs). The MSN program has specialty tracks in family nurse practitioner, nurse educator, and nursing leadership, with the final two options offered online. The College of Nursing also educates approximately 300 graduate nursing students, providing BSN and MSN entry points to both its DNP and PhD programs. Coursework covers topics like cultural diversity, nursing informatics, and evidence-based practice that are critical to success in today’s healthcare environment. As is the case across the QS World University Rankings by Subject, the US is especially well represented, claiming almost a third (32) of the 100 top nursing schools. #45: AdventHealth University | Orlando, FLAdventHealth University (AHU) works closely with AdventHealth Orlando, one of Central Florida’s largest hospitals, to give students the clinical experience and world-class facilities that only a major medical center can provide. After rating the colleges in each category, we determined the top 30 and listed them below. In fact, AdventHealth Orlando is the largest of more than 590 healthcare facilities operated worldwide by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The school partners with Baptist Memorial Health Care to extend the learning environment beyond the classroom, with clinical experiences in a broad range of common healthcare settings. The ranking compares the top nursing schools in the U.S. Read more on how this ranking was calculated. Nowadays, British nursing schools rank at the top of the world. FranU also has skills laboratories that employ high-fidelity manikins in a realistic setting designed to mirror the actual clinical arena. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), while the MSN and DNP programs are fully approved by the Kentucky Board of Nursing - great news for students who want to continue on to graduate study. Find out which Nursing Colleges and Schools in South Africa are the best to study at. Over the past decade, HCCN’s BSN graduates have posted a 91% cumulative pass rate on the NCLEX licensure exam, including several recent years with a perfect 100% pass rate. The Citadel, a top-ranked and highly competitive military college of South Carolina, offers its students a superior nursing curriculum for its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. At the graduate level, AU offers MSN concentrations in executive leadership, family nurse practitioner, nurse educator, and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. #53: Frontier Nursing University | Hyden, KYFrontier Nursing University is home to the nation’s first family nurse practitioner (FNP) program, as well as the largest and oldest continually operating nurse-midwifery program. Courses offered include Nursing Ethics, Management, and Community Health. At the graduate level, FAU offers both DNP and PhD programs, plus a rich breadth of MSN specializations including administration, holistic nursing, education, clinical nurse leader, and two nurse practitioner roles. The Princeton Review has consistently ranked the University of North Carolina Wilmington as a "Best Value" school, and the cost of the RN-BSN program for in-state students is less than $5000. This concludes our listing of the top 10 up and coming nursing schools in the west. Students at the University of Central Florida are afforded the flexibility of an RN-BSN program that may be attended completely online or face-to-face, full-time or part-time, with admits in both fall and spring. Among these programs are multiple education pathways for aspiring nurses. The DNP program is specifically tailored towards rural care scenarios. You have hung your college diploma proudly on your wall. Western Carolina University also has an Early Entry option for students who want to proceed into a Masters of Science in Nursing or Nursing Anesthesia program after completing their BSN. The online track is open to any active RNs licensed in their home state, while the on-campus track is open only to nurses licensed in Florida. The school provides several unique opportunities for veterans, Peace Corps volunteers, and nurse practitioner students who plan to provide primary care in one of Alabama’s rural counties upon graduation. Programs are offered in a hybrid combination of online delivery and monthly in-person classes at PBA’s West Palm Beach campus. The best 10 Nursing Colleges 2021. The DNP program is conducted online with only three required visits to campus, allowing working students to continue their careers in clinical practice. #50: Florida International University | Miami, FLThe Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Florida International University offers a variety of degree pathways. Students begin coursework in the fall, meet on campus one day per week, and can expect to complete their studies in only nine months after completing RN to BSN general education course requirements. Even with a 3.5 GPA. For BSN-educated nurses, Francis Marion offers an MSN degree with tracks in family nurse practitioner (hybrid format) and nurse educator (fully online). Explore the top 100 nursing schools in the US. #42: Florida Gulf Coast University | Fort Myers, FLFlorida Gulf Coast University’s School of Nursing sits within the Elaine Nicpon Marieb College of Health & Human Services. The school has achieved a 90% first-time pass rate over the past five years, which far exceeds the Council on Accreditation’s preferred pass rate of 81% during that time period. Students and graduates of The W’s nursing programs have received numerous local, state, and national awards. #30: Covenant School of Nursing | Lubbock, TX Covenant School of Nursing (CSON) is the oldest nursing school in the South Plains. THE World Ranking: 251. 99517. #57: Gardner-Webb University | Boiling Springs, NCThe Hunt School of Nursing at Gardner-Webb University is part of the College of Health Sciences. Nurse practitioner candidates from both tracks have scored a 100% pass rate on their certification exams since the program’s inception. The DNP program has two levels of entry: post-BSN and post-MSN. The RN-BSN program requires 49 credits of general education course work and 30 credits of nursing course work, with 41 additional credits awarded to licensed RNs. Several of these tracks are also offered to DNP students. It takes into account the most recent NCLEX pass rates and acceptance rates. Graduates have also excelled in healthcare systems leadership positions throughout the state of Kentucky. Students are required to complete experience hours at a community agency as well as attend nursing conferences and civic meetings. The RN-BSN program at James Madison University teaches students how to be comfortable with and take advantage of advancements in the nursing field, while also emphasizing care of underprivileged patients. Classes include Global Health, Genetics in Health Care, and Spanish for Health Care Professionals. The Top 100 nursing schools for 2021 rankings below represent those nursing schools in the US that have consistently demonstrated a superior level of dedication to excellence in nursing education. Hampton, VA, 5 nursing programs. Undergraduates can pursue five pathways to a BSN degree: traditional, accelerated, LPN-to-BSN, RN-to-BSN, and a unique First Step to BSN program which helps adult students with few college credits earn their degree. Figuring out where to apply? Durham, NC, 27 nursing programs. The rest are enrolled in MSN, DNP, and doctorate in nursing education (EdD) programs. With graduates achieving a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX exams, the Lakeland-based college ranks among the best nursing schools in Florida. That’s up from... As technology becomes an ever-increasing part of our lives, the demand for information systems security experts grows, and with it, the need for online Ph.D. information security programs. The undergraduate program has two distinct pathways: a traditional BSN and an accelerated second degree BSN. 2. At the graduate level, UofM offers an MSN degree, post-master’s certificates, and a post-master’s PhD in nursing. Graduates have scored a stellar 94% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure exam, including a perfect 100% pass rate in 2018. #83: Loyola University New Orleans | New Orleans, LAThe School of Nursing at Loyola University New Orleans is home to more than 650 students. Howard University. Prospective students must have completed either 1,000 practice hours or completion of an RN refresher course within 24 months of enrolling, or be about to graduate from an accredited nursing program. ODU’s prelicensure BSN graduates have consistently earned high marks on the NCLEX-RN exam, with 90% passing on the first attempt over the last decade. This highly competitive program is accredited by the Virginia State Board of Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Selecting the best nursing school in South Dakota can be difficult. 1 in our ranking of the Top 25 Colleges in the South. UAH also has a graduate certificate in nursing education, a post-master’s FNP certificate, and a DNP program available in on-campus, online, and hybrid delivery formats. The university maintains formal affiliations with more than 120 Tampa Bay-area healthcare facilities, providing students with a breadth of options for clinical exposure. Over the last decade, UK’s 160-200 annual BSN graduates have enjoyed an astonishing 97% NCLEX pass rate, including four consecutive years of 99% or higher. For example, BSN graduates have achieved an 88% NCLEX pass rate over the past decade, while direct-entry MSN graduates have achieved a 90% NCLEX pass rate during that timeframe. #81: Cabarrus College of Health Sciences | Concord, NCCabarrus College of Health Sciences is home to the Louise Harkey School of Nursing. Students take eight courses and will typically complete the program in 18 months to two years, with accelerated and slower-paced options available as well. The Miami campus also features a 5,000-square-foot simulation center with high-fidelity simulators. The 30-credit-hour RN-to-BSN program opened in 2010 and has a current enrollment of around 300 students. General admission to South College does not guarantee admission to a School of Nursing program. The Top 100 nursing schools for 2021 rankings below … #7: University of Miami | Coral Gables, FLThe University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS) is home to the Simulation Hospital for Advancing Research and Education (SHARE), one of the nation’s first education-based simulation hospitals. MSN students engage in primarily online learning environments. #49: Western Carolina University | Cullowhee, NCThe School of Nursing at Western Carolina University offers a breadth of nursing pathways. In certain circumstances the school may require students to take specific classes in person, in which case they can choose between the Highlands Center and Wheeling campuses. Undergraduate offerings include a traditional four-year BSN, an accelerated BSN, and an RN-to-BSN program. One of the campus’s newest offerings is an accelerated BSN program. ADN graduates have averaged a 90% pass rate on the NCLEX exam over the past seven years, while their counterparts in the BSN program have scored an exceptional 97% pass rate during that timeframe. #10: University of Florida | Gainesville, FLThe UF College of Nursing is home to Florida’s oldest doctoral nursing program. Many programs are flexible and offered in the daytime, evening, and/or online. The university’s graduate nursing curriculum includes an MSN for aspiring family nurse practitioners and a DNP in nurse anesthesia. The traditional BSN is a prelicensure program that prepares students to practice as nurse generalists in a variety of healthcare settings. In 2019, Radford University incorporated the college into its own administration to create the new Radford University Carilion. NSU also offers RN-to-BSN and RN-to-MSN bridge programs through its undergraduate nursing department. #91: King University | Bristol, TNKing University resides on 135 scenic acres nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. The school offers students up to 25 "credits by examination," which can help eager students move on to upper-level BSN classes more quickly. At the University of South Carolina Aiken School of Nursing, students will receive the education and preparation to practice professional nursing in a variety of settings and the background to continue on to graduate level studies. The college graduates 120-150 prelicensure BSN students each year, who have averaged a 93% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. Delta State’s DNP program also allows candidates to pursue FNP certification, with discrete entry points for ADN- or diploma-educated, BSN-educated, and MSN-educated nurses. The university’s relatively new School of Nursing and Human Physiology was established in 2013 and now offers a traditional bachelor of science in nurs… University of Miami nursing graduates receive $4,116 more than the standard nursing grad. With so many options it can be a challenge finding the right fit. The university offers a breadth of nursing pathways including a traditional BSN, an accelerated BSN, an RN-to-BSN completion program, a Veteran-to-BSN bridge program, four MSN specializations, the corresponding post-graduate certificates, and a DNP curriculum with both BSN and MSN entry points. A-List ratings based on standards of affordability, accessibility, quality of education, and nursing board exam pass rates. 3. Baccalaureate pathways include traditional BSN, accelerated second degree BSN, RN-to-BSN, and two co-enrollment programs. Check out her Google+ Profile. These candidates have averaged an 89% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure examination over the past decade. Just as impressively, recent MSN cohorts – including the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner track – have achieved a 100% pass rate on their certification exams. Explore the 100 top nursing schools in the US. One such program is the RN-BSN completion major – a perfect choice for aspiring nurses. The school offers several prelicensure pathways including a traditional ASN degree, an LPN-to-RN bridge program, and a recently launched four-year BSN degree. By contrast, the four-year BSN program is campus-based and graduates approximately 100 newly minted nurses each spring. Graduates of all programs enjoy some of the nation’s highest exam pass rates. The new DNP program has been fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation. 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