One of the things most experts tell you to consider when choosing a nursing school is to look at the nursing school rankings. These ranking lists quantify each school based on its facilities, faculty, student-teacher ratio, average GPA, employer feedback, and student feedback, so that prospective students can make more informed choices when selecting the right program for them.
Although there are dozens of different nursing school ranking lists put out by varying organizations, the top two are the ones put out by the U.S. News and World Report and the National Institute of Health. And while these lists can be a very good guide for those caught between two choices or simply exploring their options, it is important to look beyond the numbers to find the right fit.
Facilities: Where the nursing school is located and the level of technology available to them are important factors. After all, going to a school affiliated with a major research hospital or that has the latest in computer programs is going to give you a competitive advantage. However, the way these are ranked might have more to do with the amount of research money the nursing school has at its disposal rather than a focused look on how that money is spent.
Faculty: The rankings for faculty typically have less to do with the quality of the teachers and more to do with their credentials. The number of Ph.D’s on staff or the cumulative amount of research they’ve contributed to the field might count more than how much time the teachers have available for office hours or how willing they are to provide one-on-one assistance. You may want to find a nursing school that has the kind of faculty you will learn from best.
Student-Teacher Ratio: Class size is an important factor, and in almost all cases, the lower the number of students in class, the better your chances for success. However, small classes can be found in many different nursing schools, some of which aren’t part of the regular lineup of top-ranked nursing schools.
Average GPA: In theory, the higher the average GPA, the better the nursing program, right? After all, students who are succeeding in their programs are probably learning more, learning faster, and looking forward to a brighter future. Beware, though, of programs that simply don’t grade on a very difficult scale. It’s easy to give everyone a 4.0 to boost ratings; it doesn’t necessarily mean all the students earned it.
Employer Feedback: Employer feedback is a bit tricky when it comes to selecting a nursing school. On the one hand, of course you want to attend a program that employers recognize and value; it will boost your chances of post-graduation employment. On the other hand, you have to ask yourself if employers hire nurses from the program because they are the best, or because they have an affiliation with the school. A little research and a few questions should set the record straight.
Student Feedback: Student feedback is a great way to find a good nursing school, regardless of rankings. There is perhaps no better way of determining if the program is a good one than talking to present and past students.
Although these are the factors that nursing school rankings are based on, there are additional considerations. These include things like accreditation, program length, graduation rate, cost, and location. Be sure and look at all the factors before you make a decision—even if the nursing school always hits the top five list.
Related Topics:
Top-Ranked Nursing Schools in the U.S.
Unless their last name happens to be Trump, collecting enough money for a college education is a challenge that all high school students face. During the current economic downturn, when one or both parents may be unemployed or at risk for it and budgets are tight, fund raising for the future is more difficult than ever. In addition to the rising cost of tuition, aspiring nursing students need to budget for more and costlier textbooks than most other majors, lab and clinical fees, uniforms, a stethoscope and all the other requirements of a program comprised of both clinical and hands-on training segments.
