Nursing college moves up graduate online ranks

Juliann Sebastian, PhD, dean of the UNMC College of Nursing

In the 2022 Best Online Programs rankings from U.S. News and World Report, the UNMC College of Nursing's graduate online nursing program ranked 80th out of 179 ranked schools. That places it in the top 41% of the rankings, which U.S. News and World Report released today.

The college moved up from last year’s 83rd ranking.

"The quality of our master’s of science in nursing degree program is superb, and I am delighted to see that reflected its rise in the U.S. News and World Report rankings," said Juliann Sebastian, PhD, dean of the UNMC College of Nursing. "Excellent online MSN education is an innovation that is more important to students than ever before. Seeing an increase in our ranking even after the challenges of the pandemic highlights the creativity and talent of our students, faculty, and staff."

Five categories were used to rank the programs: Engagement, faculty credentials and training, services and technology, student excellence and opinions of experts.

Lynnette Leeseberg Stamler, PhD, DLitt, professor and associate dean for academic programs in the college, said the rise in rankings affirms the excellent teamwork among faculty, students and staff. "I am delighted that even with the stresses manifested by the pandemic and nursing's response to it, we are able to continue our standard of learning to improve patient care."

The college offers a variety of master's and doctorate of nursing practice degree specialties that use online and other teaching formats. The programs prepare nurse practitioners or executives in specialty tracks of women's health, adult gerontology, pediatric, acute care, family nurse practitioner, psychiatric mental health and administration.