‘U.S. News’ Recognizes Nursing School, University Online Programs

Duquesne and its School of Nursing have been recognized by U.S. News and World Report in its 2013 Best Online Education Program Rankings.

The School of Nursing’s graduate offerings were ranked No. 7 in the Best Online Nursing Programs category for its graduate nursing offerings. The University overall was ranked No. 125 of 160 schools ranked in the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs list.

“Online education is becoming an essential part of the higher education landscape,” writes editor Brian Kelly in U.S. News. “Students and employers are increasingly finding value in the way subjects can be mastered in a digital environment. Schools are responding with a proliferation of course offerings. And U.S. News is responding with data rankings to help our readers sort out the best options for them.”

This marks the second year that U.S. News has ranked the Best Online Education Programs.

“This honor is particularly rewarding since this is the first time that there is a ranking for overall quality for graduate nursing programs,” said Nursing Dean Dr. Mary Ellen Glasgow. “Duquesne’s graduate online nursing programs national ranking of No. 7 is certainly a testament to the faculty’s innovation and concern for student learning.

“We were the first nursing program to go online in 1997 and it is gratifying to know that we are still seeking to improve and excel in this area,” Glasgow said. “This accolade positions us well for the future of our online programs.”

Among the factors considered in the nursing program rankings were student engagement, such as graduation rate, class size and one-year retention rates; faculty credentials and training, including Ph.D. and tenured faculty and continuing faculty education; admissions selectivity, such as GPA scores, acceptance rate and experience; and student services and technology, including student debt upon graduation and accessible technology.

For the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs Rankings, U.S. News considered student engagement, faculty credentials and training, and student services and technology. Duquesne offers various degrees and certificates at the undergraduate and graduate levels through its Online Campus.

“Online education lends itself to output measures that are more rigorous than what we see from traditional brick-and-mortar programs. Educators specializing in the online space have been eager to help develop and publish those output measures,” added Kelly.

Only degree-granting programs offering courses that are 100 percent online were considered by U.S. News for the rankings.