UMKC online graduate nursing highly recognized by U.S. News & World Report

The University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Nursing and Health Studies has been ranked in the Top 10 of the nation’s best online graduate nursing programs by U.S. News & World Report.

UMKC’s No. 10 ranking, released Wednesday, is the highest of any public university in Missouri or Kansas. Last year, UMKC also ranked high at No. 15.

“This is wonderful recognition that UMKC online graduate nursing programs are consistently among the best in the country,” said Ann Cary, dean of the UMKC School of Nursing and Health Studies. “UMKC was a pioneer in distance learning in nursing because we saw the need to offer busy professionals a high-quality but convenient way to access advanced degree programs to further their careers and meet the needs of an evolving health care system. This ranking is further proof UMKC is delivering high-quality health care through nurse practitioner graduates who treat patients and through doctoral graduates who are leading the science and the translation of research to practice.”

The UMKC School of Nursing and Health Studies has been offering online graduate programs since 2002. The school’s pioneering program is designed to offer classroom-quality instruction with the reach and convenience of web-based learning. Online students are expected to participate in online discussions as if they are present in the classroom. Technology allows two-way communication in real time via multiple modes, including webcams, microphones and/or simply typing their comments. Students also experience on-site learning through summer institutes where they are required to attend clinical training or dissertation work sessions, and deliver presentations to classmates and faculty.

UMKC offers a variety of online graduate nursing tracks, including:

• Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
• Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse Educator
• PhD
• Doctor of Nursing Practice

U.S. News began ranking online education in 2012. This year, it added peer reputation to its rankings along with student engagement, faculty credentials and training, student services and technology, and admissions selectivity. U.S. News began their data comparisons with more than 400 institutions that had accredited graduate degree programs in nursing. Among the ones that replied, 130 said they offered online graduate nursing programs. The number of online nursing programs is continually growing nationwide.

To read more about the rankings, go to www.usnews.com/online.