Top Schools For Online Nursing Master's Degree Programs

For those looking to pursue a master's degree in nursing (MSN) remotely, the University of South Carolina is the top place to do so, according to the latest "Best Online Master's in Nursing Programs" rankings from U.S. News & World Report.

This university in Columbia, South Carolina held the No. 1 spot in the overall rankings by itself this year, after also placing first via a three-way tie last year.

Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, Ohio State University in Columbus, and the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa tied for second place this year.

Explaining the methodology used to determine these rankings, U.S. News noted that such a degree can "pave the way for more advanced roles in administration and leadership."

This year, the outlet ranked schools using five categories: engagement (30%); faculty credentials and training (20%); peer assessment (20%); services and technologies (20%); and student excellence (10%).

Of the schools surveyed in September and October 2022, 203 schools (35%) said they offer online nursing master's degree programs, with the remainder either saying they do not offer such programs or choosing not to respond. This year's number was up slightly from the previous year, when 194 schools reported that they offered these programs.

U.S. News also collected additional information from the 203 schools, which was then scored based on ranking indicators under each of the five main categories.

The sole change for this year's rankings involved student indebtedness, with the average amounts that graduates borrowed now weighted twice as highly as the proportion who borrowed, instead of both being weighted 50-50. "This change was made to further emphasize the breadth of each program's affordability for borrowers with different financial circumstances," U.S. News noted.

These latest rankings were released amid Harvard Medical School's decision to withdraw from the outlet's rankings, which garnered media attention last week. Stanford University in California, Columbia University in New York City, and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia quickly followed suit. The extent to which other healthcare institutions will also withdraw from the rankings remains to be seen. (Previously, a number of law schools pulled out of the rankings.)

In announcing its "Best Online Programs" rankings, U.S. News noted that they "should be just one element" of a prospective student's search. A directory that contains important characteristics, such as academic offerings, requirements, and costs of attending, are paired with the rankings, the outlet said.

Below are this year's top 10-ranked schools for the overall "Best Online Master's in Nursing Programs," and their scores out of 100. Multiple schools tied in the No. 2, 5, 8, and 10 spots with the same scores. The top three schools in additional MSN categories -- nursing administration and leadership, nursing education, and nurse practitioner-family categories, as well as programs for veterans -- are also highlighted below. The full rankings are available here.

Best Overall Online MSN Programs

1. University of South Carolina (100)

2. Duke University (99)

2. Ohio State University (99)

2. University of Alabama (99)

5. Saint Xavier University, Chicago (98)

5. The Catholic University of America Conway School of Nursing, Washington, D.C. (98)

7. University of Pittsburgh (97)

8. George Washington University, Washington, D.C. (96)

8. Stony Brook University-SUNY, Stony Brook, New York (96)

10. Boise State University, Idaho (92)

10. Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis (92)

10. Rush University, Chicago (92)

10. University of Central Florida, Orlando (92)

10. University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora (92)

10. University of Louisiana-Lafayette (92)

10. University of Nevada-Las Vegas (92)

10. University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston (92)

Best Nursing Administration/Leadership Programs

1. Duke University

2. Ohio State University

3. Rush University

Best Nursing Education Programs

1. Duke University

2. Duquesne University, Pittsburgh

3. Ohio State University

Best Nurse Practitioner-Family Programs

1. Duke University

2. Ohio State University

3. Frontier Nursing University, Hyden, Kentucky

Best Programs for Veterans

1. University of Alabama

2. Duke University

3. George Washington University

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