Top BSN Schools Ratings & Rankings

There are many different types of nursing programs. There are online options, campus based programs, and specialized nursing schools. The top BSN schools are accredited through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and have consistently high educational standards. The University of Washington School of Nursing has been rated among the top schools for several years in a row. Faculty members have been honored at the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year awards and have received the American Public Health Association’s Executive Director Citation. Its program addresses many of the challenges in health care at the local level, as well as through global initiatives. It has been recognized as providing excellence through teaching, research and services.

Students who complete this program are prepared as general clinical practitioners and are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses. The clinical portion of the coursework occurs locally in a variety of healthcare environments. While enrolled, students are taught role development and decision making skills. As one of the top BSN schools, the program is highly competitive. The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing program employs Ivy League professors and methodologies to provide students with the highest level of education. They have been ranked by the National Institute of Health as being among the top BSN schools.  Classrooms utilize the latest hospital based electronic medical records (EMR) technology.

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania are the environments in which students will participate in their clinical studies. Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing has been among the top BSN schools for many years. In 2008, it ranked fourth in overall nursing programs. Located near the Johns Hopkins Hospital, if offers an unparalleled mentoring and research experience. The program offers a collaborative experience with the Bloomberg School of Public Health as well as the Carey Business School. They offer both a traditional Bachelor’s of Science degree as well as accelerated programs. The University of Michigan School of Nursing in Ann Arbor believes that “excellence makes a difference.”

Unlike most BSN programs, students begin balancing nursing courses with the humanities and liberal arts classes from the beginning, rather than loading them into the last two years of the program. The University boasts one of the largest academic health centers in the country as well as technologically advanced library systems. For students who want to see the world, study abroad programs are offered to those who qualify. Top BSN schools are competitive environments. They are accredited through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and have high academic standards. Financial aid, grants, scholarships and internships are available to help fund students’ education, enabling them to concentrate on pursuing their degrees in an environment devoted to excellence.