NursingSchoolsAlmanac.com, a web-based resource providing rankings of nursing schools in the U.S., recently selected University of Portland as one of the top 50 nursing schools in the Western United States. The nursing program at UP is ranked at no. 4 in Nursing School Almanac’s inaugural national rankings. The University was also ranked at no. 46 in the almanac’s top 100 nationally ranked nursing schools.
The almanac collected data on more than 3,200 nursing schools in Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Each school was evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Academic prestige and perceived value
- Breadth and depth of nursing programs offered
- Student success, particularly on the NCLEX national licensure exam.
Academic prestige and perceived value make up 50 percent of a school’s score, and are indicated by graduates’ ability to repay student loans; professional designations; grant funding from the National Institutes of Health; and rankings by U.S. News & World Report and others.
Breadth and depth of nursing programs offered (15 percent of score) are determined by offerings of baccalaureate, graduate and doctoral nursing programs as well as program size, which plays a role in combatting the U.S. nursing shortage.
The NCLEX national licensure exam is required for any RN or LPN licensure, and results are reported annually by most state boards or nursing.
Nursing School Almanac’s mission is to provide an accurate, complete, and powerful online resource for aspiring nurses. See the report at http://tinyurl.com/gtqwyv4.