By David West
11/06/2014
NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University’s online Bachelor of Science in Nursing program has been ranked among the top 50 in the country by two higher education websites.
The program was ranked 24th in the U.S. by CollegeChoice.net. The RN to BSN program received the “Students before Profits Award” from the website nonprofitcollegesonline.com and ranked as the 41st most affordable program in the country among non-profit public and private institutions.
“Northwestern State University has prided itself in preparing excellent nurses and helping nurses extend their education,” said Dr. Pamela Simmons, director of the Department of Nursing at Northwestern State. “The RN to BSN Program was the first fully online program in the state and has, since its inception, had faculty who’ve worked diligently maintaining high standards in a very student-friendly online environment. The program is designed to meet the needs of the working nurse, that is promoting flexibility, but in no way does that omit the rigor of a traditional classroom setting. Our RN to BSN program remains a premier program, one that we are definitely proud to have among the many excellent programs at NSU.”
Simmons credited program director Vicki Wissing with continuing to develop the RN to BSN degree.
CollegeChoice.net rankings were compiled based upon factors including faculty credentials, technology and student support, accreditation, cost, as well as the national and regional reputations of each school. The site cross-referenced a variety of data sources to measure the factors, including the National Center for Education Statistics, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, individual program websites and U.S. News & World Report.
Other top 25 schools include Penn State, Arizona State, Villanova and the University of Arkansas.
The “Students Before Profits” rankings were created to recognize colleges and universities with online programs committed to putting the interest of students first. Also listed among the top 50 ranked institutions in the country were the University of Alabama, the University of Cincinnati and the University of Louisville.
Nonprofit Colleges Online is an online resource devoted to promoting online colleges and universities that put students before profits and education before the bottom line. The site publishes rankings, reviews and other resources to help prospective students learn about and connect with schools where they can get a quality online education that puts their needs and success first.
For more information on Northwestern’s RN to BSN program please go to nursing.nsula.edu/rn-to-bsn or ensu.nsula.edu/bachelor-degree-registered-nurse-to-b-s-in-nursing.
