The University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Nursing and Health Studies ranked No. 23 among the nation’s best online graduate nursing programs of 2021 by U.S. News & World Report, giving it at least a Top 30 ranking for the ninth year in a row.
The UMKC ranking, released Jan. 26, is the highest of any university in Missouri or Kansas. UMKC climbed three spots from last year’s No. 26 ranking.
The UMKC School of Health Studies takes pride in the continuing recognition of its online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program as one of the best in the nation, said Joy Roberts, interim dean. This past year, it has meant more than ever.
“The pandemic has demonstrated the value and the need for high-quality online nursing education,” Roberts said. “Our May and December 2020 online MSN graduates went right to work on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19 in hospitals locally, regionally and nationally.”
The UMKC School of Nursing and Health Studies is a pioneer in distance-learning programs, offering online advanced degree programs since 2002. The programs offer busy professionals a high-quality but convenient way to further their careers and meet the needs of an evolving health care system.
Online students are expected to participate in online discussions as if they are present in the classroom. Technology offers two-way communication in real time via multiple modes. Students also experience on-site learning through summer institutes where they are required to attend clinical training or dissertation work sessions, and deliver presentations to classmates and faculty.
UMKC offers a variety of online graduate nursing tracks, including Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and other options:
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP)
- Nurse Educator (NE)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) Primary Care and Acute-Care (AC PNP)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
- Ph.D.
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
U.S. News began ranking online education in 2012. The categories include faculty credentials and training; student engagement; admissions selectivity; peer reputation; and student services and technology. U.S. News began their data comparisons with more than 550 institutions that had accredited graduate degree programs in nursing. Among the ones that replied, more than 194 said they offered online graduate nursing programs. The number of online nursing programs is continually growing nationwide.