Graduate Online Nursing Programs Rank Best in NJ, Again Among Top 20 Percent in Nation

U.S. News World Report has again recognized Seton Hall University as having the top programs in the nation for its Online Graduate Nursing Programs.

This year the nursing programs moved up to 32nd in the nation out of 186 programs at colleges and universities across the United States that met the criteria for inclusion. This ranking places Seton Hall in the top 17 percent of all programs in the nation, 4th among all Catholic colleges and universities and makes it, again, the top-ranked program in New Jersey.  

For the past five years, Seton Hall's College of Nursing has been recognized as having top-ranked online graduate nursing programs in New Jersey and among the top 20 percent of all programs nationwide.

"It is an honor to be selected again among the nation's best online nursing programs, especially recognizing the higher-than-ever demand for well-trained, professional nurses," said College of Nursing Interim Dean and Associate Professor, Kristi Stinson, Ph.D., R.N., APN-BC. "Seton Hall’s College of Nursing remains poised to meet the challenge to educate future nurses, nurse practitioners and nursing leaders who will provide the highest quality of care and positively impact patients and their families in a global society."

NCLEX-RN Exam, Best Pass Rate

Surpassing all previous years, graduates of Seton Hall's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) program have achieved a 96.39% first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). College of Nursing students have consistently outperformed the national average on the exam, registering a 92% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN or better since 2019, with an average of 93.98% from 2019 to 2023.

This success can be attributed to the College’s comprehensive preparation strategy for the licensure exam, which is integrated throughout the B.S.N. curriculum. In addition to extensive subject matter preparation, students participate in support sessions focusing on cognitive behavioral techniques, as well as content reviews and test-taking strategies.

Seton Hall’s nursing program is known for its rigorous curriculum, active-learning strategies, clinical experiences and simulations, which are aimed at developing critical clinical judgement skills to prepare students for the complexities of today's healthcare environment. This highest ever pass rate also is a testament to the superior quality of education and training provided by our stellar nursing faculty and to the College’s commitment in preparing skilled nursing professionals, strongly positioning Seton Hall as a noteworthy institution in the field of nursing education.

U.S. News Criteria

For the 2024 Online Graduate Nursing Program ranking, U.S. News notes:

"A master's degree in nursing can pave the way for more advanced roles in administration and leadership. For the 2024 edition of Best Online Master's in Nursing Programs, U.S. News ranked schools using five categories."

Here is the criteria, relative weights and underlying rationale for the U.S. News methodology utilized for Online Graduate Nursing Programs by U.S. News & World Report:

• Engagement (30%): In a quality program, aspiring advanced practice nurses can readily collaborate with fellow students in their classes and clinical settings. In turn, instructors are not only accessible and responsive, but they are also tasked with helping create an experience rewarding enough for students to stay enrolled and complete their degrees in a reasonable amount of time.
• Faculty Credentials and Training (20%): Strong online nursing programs employ instructors with academic credentials that mirror those of instructors for campus-based programs, and they have the resources to train these instructors to teach distance learners.
• Peer Assessment (20%): A survey of high-ranking academic officials in nursing helps account for intangible factors affecting program quality that statistics do not capture. Also, employers may hold in high regard degrees from programs that academics respect.
• Services and Technologies (20%): Programs that incorporate diverse online learning technologies allow greater flexibility for students to take classes from a distance. Outside of classes, strong support structures provide learning assistance, career guidance and financial aid resources commensurate with quality campus-based programs.
• Student Excellence (10%): Student bodies entering with proven aptitudes, ambitions and accomplishments can handle the demands of rigorous coursework. Furthermore, online degrees that schools award judiciously can have greater legitimacy in the job market.

Click here to learn more about Seton Hall’s College of Nursing.

Categories: Education, Health and Medicine