The University of Rhode Island College of Nursing undergraduate program is again ranked among the top 100 of nursing colleges in the country, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings.
The College’s B.S. in Nursing program is tied at number 67 in the country for the second year in a row, according to the rankings released Sept. 17. The College has made an impressive rise in the rankings, climbing from number 96 just two years ago, the first year the publication ranked undergraduate programs, to 67 last year.
“We as a college have worked very hard to continually improve our educational programs, research projects and service to the community,” Interim Dean Betty Rambur said. “It is very rewarding to be recognized nationally for those efforts, as our faculty and staff members, students and alumni continue to make major impacts on health care on campus and beyond.”
U.S. News & World Report, among the leading authorities in college and university rankings, surveyed deans and senior faculty members at each of the 656 colleges that qualified for the list. The rankings are determined by the average of scores received from surveys of top officials at nursing schools or departments. The officials rated the overall quality of undergraduate BSN programs they were familiar with on a 1-5 scale. Schools are included and ranked in this standalone peer assessment survey if they have bachelor’s-level accreditation by either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. In addition, these regionally accredited institutions must have recently awarded at least 40 BSN degrees.
The URI College of Nursing met and exceeded the standards as it continues to increase its offerings at the undergrad and graduate level. 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. Dozens of URI students were inducted in the Sigma Theta Tau honor society for nursing this year, and a handful were inducted into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. 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 have major impacts on health and health care.
The advancements the College has made are obvious not only in the undergrad programs, but in its graduate offerings as well. The master’s degree program, already among the best in the country, has been ranked in the top 50 in the country for the second year in a row. The College’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program is also recognized among the nation’s best, slotting in at 86. Visit the URI College of Nursing Academics website for more information on all its graduate and undergrad offerings.