2023 2023: College of Nursing & Health Sciences' undergraduate nursing program jumps to top 8% of the nation’s best

The college's standing in the most recent U.S. News & World Report rankings attributed to "supportive and inclusive" student learning

UMass Dartmouth's College of Nursing & Health Sciences' (CNHS) undergraduate nursing program has moved up 41 spots to rank #52— in the top 8%—among the nation's 656 undergraduate nursing programs, according to data released this week by U.S. News & World Report.

The new ranking also raises the college's stature among its local competitor nursing schools to the:

• 5^th highest-ranked undergraduate nursing program among all universities in Massachusetts
• 3rd highest-ranked undergraduate nursing program among public universities in Massachusetts
• 6^th highest ranked undergraduate nursing program among all universities in New England
• 4^th highest-ranked undergraduate nursing program among public universities in New England

Thrilled by the new ranking, College of Nursing & Health Sciences Dean Kimberly Christopher said, "This is a strong external validation of the excellent nursing educational offerings in the college. We have so much to be proud of in our nursing programs—especially our students—as well as our faculty and staffs' commitment to students' educational experience."

The significant ranking increase is attributed to "the commitment of our faculty and staff to supportive and inclusive student learning and their deep commitment to partner with students to ensure their strong academic development and to prepare them to become nurses with solid professional values," Dean Christopher added.

"This is a strong external validation of the excellent nursing educational offerings in the college. We have so much to be proud of in our nursing programs—especially our students—as well as our faculty and staffs' commitment to students' educational experience."

College offers several degrees and updated laboratories

The College of Nursing & Health Sciences offers nationally recognized, comprehensive programs in nursing and medical laboratory science (MLS) with a combined total of nearly 570 students. Some 97% of nursing majors are employed or enrolled in graduate school six months after graduation.

The college's updated, state-of-the-art nursing laboratories prepare nursing students for clinical practice and real-world patient care beginning during their sophomore year. The realistic, hands-on learning laboratories include the Clinical Therapeutics Skills Lab, a Therapeutic Health Assessment Lab, and the Elizabeth Pennington Simulation Laboratory and Debriefing Suite.

In addition to its strong undergraduate nursing program, the College of Nursing & Health Sciences offers an online RN-BS degree, a hybrid accelerated BSN degree for those who hold a bachelor’s degree in another major (ABSN), and a minor in global health. Graduate programs are offered for MS, PhD, and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees and certificates of advanced graduate study. Several programs are offered online.

UMass Dartmouth’s MLS program, a university-based clinical medical laboratory science program, is one of the largest in the U.S. and one of the most diverse science programs on campus. A $750,000 grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center has enabled the College of Nursing & Health Sciences to update its MLS laboratories and purchase cutting-edge equipment to prepare students for careers that meet the needs of the in-demand life sciences workforce. 

MLS majors hold a 100% graduation and employment rate and a 97% 3-year pass rate on the ASCP exam for MLS professionals.

In other rankings, UMass Dartmouth moved up 24 spots to #209 among 436 national universities and is the 3^rd highest-ranked public university in Massachusetts and the 7^th highest-ranked among public universities in New England.