RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — NonProfit Colleges Online, a resource promoting nonprofit colleges and universities offering online degree programs, has released the second doctorate ranking in their "Students Before Profits Award" ranking series. The ranking can be viewed here: http://www.nonprofitcollegesonline.com/rankings/best-online-doctorates-in-nursing/
The award was created to recognize colleges and universities that put "education before the bottom line," especially in the wake of much bad publicity surrounding online programs and the exposure of exploitative practices of for-profit education institutions. The Online Doctorates in Nursing Students Before Profits Award ranks the top 50 colleges and universities offering fully online or hybrid doctoral level programs in nursing according to their affordability. This ranking was limited to schools that are regionally accredited by one of the six regional accrediting bodies for colleges and schools, and that have lower than average tuition rates.
The ranking highlights both programs leading to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and programs leading to a PhD in Nursing. Both doctoral degrees are terminal, but differ in a few key ways. Both degrees are suitable for pursuing faculty positions at universities, though the PhD may provide more marketability for these positions, especially at research-intensive universities.
The lead editor of this ranking, Brett Gershon, says that, "the field of nursing has a very high demand due to a record high in shortage of nurses. Many positions are available in a wide variety of settings and these openings are only expected to grow in the coming years." Gershon goes on to state, "additionally, nurse educators at the college and university level are needed now more than ever. Because of the record shortage in nurses throughout the US, an estimated one million new and replacement nurses will be needed by the year 2020. Yet, nursing programs are turning qualified nursing candidates away each year because there aren't enough nursing educators to maintain strong training programs." Nurses with a terminal degree should have no trouble finding work as educators or administrators in healthcare settings, so pursuing a DNP or PhD can be a very smart move for practicing nurses. This ranking should serve as a valuable resource for locating flexible and affordable, quality programs of study which don't require practicing nurses to stop working or relocate to pursue a degree.
Coming in first in the ranking is the University of Arkansas with a low tuition of $14,500 – $15,600 for its MSN to DNP track. Indiana State University holds the second position in the ranking with a $15,132 estimated tuition for its DNP program. The University of South Alabama comes in third with a total estimated tuition of $15,630.
Other colleges and universities that made the ranking are listed below in alphabetical order.
Bradley University – Peoria, Illinois
Chatham University – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
College of Saint Scholastica – Duluth, Minnesota
Concordia University – Mequon, Wisconsin
Drexel University – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Duquesne University – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Georgia Southern University – Statesboro, Georgia
Graceland University – Lamoni, Iowa
Hampton University – Hampton, Virginia
Idaho State University – Pocatello, Idaho
La Salle University – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Liberty University – Lynchburg, Virginia
Loma Linda University – Loma Linda, California
Loyola University – Baltimore, Maryland
Maryville University – Saint Louis, Missouri
Medical University of South Carolina – Charleston, South Carolina
Mercer University – Macon, Georgia
New Mexico State University – Las Cruces, New Mexico
Northeastern University – Boston, Massachusetts
Nova Southeastern University – Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Pennsylvania State University – State College, Pennsylvania
Regis University – Denver, Colorado
Saint Louis University – St. Louis, Missouri
Texas Womanís University – Denton, Texas
University of Alberta – Edmonton, Alberta
University of Central Florida – Orlando, Florida
University of Colorado-Colorado Springs – Colorado Springs, Colorado
University of Colorado Denver – Denver, Colorado
University of Kansas – Lawrence, Kansas
University of Maryland – Baltimore, Maryland
University of Massachusetts-Amherst – Amherst, Massachusetts
University of Michigan-Flint – Flint, Michigan
University of Mississippi Medical Center – Jackson, Mississippi
University of Missouri-Kansas City – Kansas City, Missouri
University of Nevada-Las Vegas – Las Vegas, Nevada
University of North Dakota – Grand Forks, North Dakota
University of Northern Colorado – Greeley, Colorado
University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
University of Texas Medical Branch – Galveston, Texas
University of Texas-Tyler – Tyler, Texas
University of Utah – Salt Lake City, Utah
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh – Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Walsh University – North Canton, Ohio
Washington State University – Pullman, Washington
West Virginia University – Morgantown, West Virginia
Wilkes University – Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Contact:
Brett Gershon
Editor, NonProfit Colleges Online
http://www.nonprofitcollegesonline.com
763.503.0162