UArizona Nursing Soars in First-Ever U.S. News & World Report Best Bachelor of Science in Nursing Rankings

“Our Tucson-based BSN program is the first academic program offered by the College of Nursing and garners a long-standing record of excellence...I am so proud that nursing leaders across the U.S. recognized the exceptional quality of these two programs and the faculty who are dedicated to preparing the next generation of ‘practice-ready’ graduates," ~ Ki Moore, PhD, RN, FAAN, UArizona Nursing Dean  

The strong ranking is only UArizona Nursing’s latest success with U.S. News & World Report. Earlier this year the College’s online Master of Science in Nursing in Clinical Systems Leadership was ranked No. 32 in the organization’s Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs rankings (39^th overall), and UArizona Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program was ranked 33. The latest ranking for UArizona Nursing’s undergraduate program solidifies the College’s standing as a superior school for a variety of academic disciplines.

“It is gratifying to see the hard work of faculty and students recognized by the College’s recent US News & World Report rankings,” said UArizona Nursing Dean Ki Moore, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Our Tucson-based BSN program is the first academic program offered by the College of Nursing and garners a long-standing record of excellence. The BSN-Integrative Health program is located at the Gilbert campus with doors opening in 2019.  I am so proud that nursing leaders across the U.S. recognized the exceptional quality of these two programs and the faculty who are dedicated to preparing the next generation of ‘practice-ready’ graduates.”

“It is wonderful to get this recognition for our BSN program – both our conventional BSN pathway in Tucson and our newest, and first-of-its kind, integrative health pathway in Gilbert, Arizona,” said Connie Miller, DNP, RNC-OB, CNE, Chair General Nursing and Education Division. “Adding this new pathway allows us to admit an additional 216 students per year to accommodate our ever-growing number of pre-nursing students and help address the nursing shortage in Arizona.  Nursing is a rewarding career, but the pandemic has added many new challenges for nurses and requiring enormous strength and resilience.  We are proud of our programs that offer outstanding instruction, learning resources, clinical experiences, simulations, as well as student-centered faculty and staff to support student success while in the program and best prepare them to enter the workforce resilient and ready to care for individuals, families, and communities through caring/healing relationships.” 

U.S. News & World Report’s BSN nursing program rankings arrive as enrollment in nursing programs has been steadily increasing, and amid widespread concern about COVID-19-fuelled nursing staff shortages. Rankings are determined by the average of scores received from surveys of top academics and administrators at nursing schools or departments. Schools are included and ranked in the standalone peer assessment survey if they have bachelor’s-level accreditation by either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Additionally, these regionally accredited institutions must have recently awarded at least 35 BSN degrees.

The surveys for the new rankings were conducted in the spring and summer of 2021. Deans and faculty members were tasked with rating academic quality of peer institutions' BSN programs on the following scale: outstanding (5), strong (4), good (3), adequate (2) or marginal (1).

UArizona Nursing’s nationally renowned and highly ranked BSN degree program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. It is also approved by the Arizona State Board of Nursing and is affiliated with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the Western Institute of Nursing. Students graduate prepared for a diverse range of jobs, from bedside nurses in medical settings, nurse educators, health policy nurses, nurse recruiters, nurse informaticists, forensic nurses, clinical research nurses, or nurse health coaches.

UArizona Nursing offers two distinct BSN pathways, a conventional pathway located on the Health Sciences Campus in Tucson, Ariz., and an integrative health pathway located in Gilbert, Ariz. Both programs utilize advanced technology and cutting-edge didactic curriculum to prepare students for the working world.