Master’s, doctorate programs both rise in new U.S. News & World Report rankings
The University of Rhode Island College of Nursing graduate programs, already among the best in the country, have risen again in the national rankings, according to U.S. News & World Report, which released its new rankings Tuesday, March 30.
The College’s master’s program is now ranked 53rd in the nation, placing it in the top 9 percent of 597 nursing colleges the publication reviewed. Additionally, the URI College of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program is now ranked 80th in the nation, placing it in the top 13 percent.
The rankings are an improvement over last year, when the College’s masters and DNP programs were ranked #66 and #86, respectively. This is an impressive climb from #133 as recently as 2016.
“We are committed to educating the best nurses and nurse scientists who are prepared to be leaders in health care, and the improved ranks are a credit to that dedication,” College of Nursing Dean Barbara Wolfe said. “From our dynamic faculty members, dedicated staff, and, of course, top-level students, everyone in the URI College of Nursing has played a significant role in this achievement. This only further emboldens all of us in the College to continue making a major impact on health and health care in the community locally, nationally and globally.”
For the Best Nursing Schools rankings, U.S. News & World Report surveyed nursing schools across the country with masters or DNP (doctor of nursing practice) programs accredited by either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Seven ranking indicators are used in both the master’s and DNP ranking models. These common factors are research activity indicators, faculty credentials, the percentage of faculty members with important achievements and faculty participation in nursing practice. An additional seven indicators specific to each degree type are also examined.
Both rankings take into account the ratings of academic experts. To collect this data, nursing school deans and deans of graduate studies were asked to rate the academic quality for both master’s and DNP programs at nursing schools on survey instruments.
In addition to the impressive U.S. News & World Report ranking, the URI College of Nursing has also moved up the national ranks in research funding. The College is now first in New England and 37th in the nation in schools of nursing with federal research funding from the National Institutes of Health, with its faculty members having secured nearly $2 million in funding in the past year. Several faculty members have recently been honored for their for their research, which offers students opportunities to participate in dynamic projects.
About one-third of the URI College of Nursing’s faculty members are recognized Fellows in national nursing organizations, including the American Academy of Nursing, for their distinguished academic achievements. The number of faculty publications, funded external grants and committed gifts to the College have all increased over the last five years as the College continues to impact health and health care.
In addition to the DNP program, the URI College of Nursing offers a Master’s program with several concentrations including Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner. The College’s graduate school also offers a Ph.D. program in nursing.