Monmouth University’s Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies ranked as the No. 4 best nursing school in New Jersey in the annual 2020 Nursing Schools Almanac report. The University also ranked among the top 100 best private nursing schools nationwide at No. 99 and was No. 40 for the best nursing schools in the Mid-Atlantic region.
According to the report, released on the Nursing Schools Almanac’s website, data was collected on more than 3,000 institutions throughout the United States. The research team evaluated all nursing schools by the institution’s academic prestige and perceived value; the depth of nursing programs offered; and student success, particularly first-time National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) pass rates. Scores were combined and ranked by overall scores.
“Our nursing faculty are extremely honored to be recognized nationally and regionally,” said Dr. Rose Knapp, chair of the Department of Nursing, director of the MSN program, and coordinator of the nurse practitioner program. “Our dedication to offering individualized nursing instruction to our student population has resulted in positive program outcomes. We continue to work to assure that our graduates are prepared in our BSN, MSN, and DNP programs to deliver quality care to a diverse patient population.”
About the Methodology
Criteria for gauging academic prestige and perceived value was measured by graduates’ ability to repay their student debt in a timely manner, professional designations (e.g. NCLEX), grant funding received for nursing research from the National Institutes of Health, and the number of years in operation, particularly at the graduate nursing education level.
Depth of nursing programs were measured by evaluating undergraduate and graduate programs, including degrees, diplomas, and certifications offered. Graduate programs were weighed more heavily, in addition to program enrollment size.
Final criteria relied heavily on the first-time success rates of the NCLEX licensure exam, as well as accreditations from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
About Monmouth University School of Nursing and Health Studies
Monmouth University is home to the Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies. The school’s Department of Nursing offers a number of degree options, including two Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) pathways, two Master of Science in nursing pathways (MSN), and an online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with a leadership focus. Monmouth also offers seven unique MSN tracks; graduate certificates in forensic nursing and school nursing; post-master’s certificates in nursing education; and several popular nurse practitioner fields such as adult-gerontology, family, and psychiatric-mental health. All nursing students are members of the Monmouth University Professional Nurses Association. Top BSN and MSN performers can also apply for membership in the Lambda Delta chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau nursing honor society. The University also offers a Physician Assistant (M.S.) graduate program, and a new three-year Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program launching in the summer of 2021.
The full 2020 Nursing Schools Almanac report is available online.