Day: October 27, 2015

Students Before Profits Award: Best Online Doctorates in Nursing Ranked by NonProfit Colleges OnlinernrnRALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — NonProfit Colleges Online, a resource promoting nonprofit colleges and universities offering online degree programs, has released the second doctorate ranking in their "Students Before Profits Award" ranking series. The ranking can be viewed here: http://www.nonprofitcollegesonline.com/rankings/best-online-doctorates-in-nursing/ rnrnThe award was created to recognize colleges and universities that put "education before the bottom line," especially in the wake of much bad publicity surrounding online programs and the exposure of exploitative practices of for-profit education institutions. The Online Doctorates in Nursing Students Before Profits Award ranks the top 50 colleges and universities offering fully online or hybrid doctoral level programs in nursing according to their affordability. This ranking was limited to schools that are regionally accredited by one of the six regional accrediting bodies for colleges and schools, and that have lower than average tuition rates.rnrnThe ranking highlights both programs leading to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and programs leading to a PhD in Nursing. Both doctoral degrees are terminal, but differ in a few key ways. Both degrees are suitable for pursuing faculty positions at universities, though the PhD may provide more marketability for these positions, especially at research-intensive universities.rnrnThe lead editor of this ranking, Brett Gershon, says that, "the field of nursing has a very high demand due to a record high in shortage of nurses. Many positions are available in a wide variety of settings and these openings are only expected to grow in the coming years." Gershon goes on to state, "additionally, nurse educators at the college and university level are needed now more than ever. Because of the record shortage in nurses throughout the US, an estimated one million new and replacement nurses will be needed by the year 2020. Yet, nursing programs are turning qualified nursing candidates away each year because there aren't enough nursing educators to maintain strong training programs." Nurses with a terminal degree should have no trouble finding work as educators or administrators in healthcare settings, so pursuing a DNP or PhD can be a very smart move for practicing nurses. This ranking should serve as a valuable resource for locating flexible and affordable, quality programs of study which don't require practicing nurses to stop working or relocate to pursue a degree.rnrnComing in first in the ranking is the University of Arkansas with a low tuition of $14,500 – $15,600 for its MSN to DNP track. Indiana State University holds the second position in the ranking with a $15,132 estimated tuition for its DNP program. The University of South Alabama comes in third with a total estimated tuition of $15,630.rnrnOther colleges and universities that made the ranking are listed below in alphabetical order.rnrnBradley University – Peoria, IllinoisrnrnChatham University – Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniarnrnCollege of Saint Scholastica – Duluth, MinnesotarnrnConcordia University – Mequon, WisconsinrnrnDrexel University – Philadelphia, PennsylvaniarnrnDuquesne University – Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniarnrnGeorgia Southern University – Statesboro, GeorgiarnrnGraceland University – Lamoni, IowarnrnHampton University – Hampton, VirginiarnrnIdaho State University – Pocatello, IdahornrnLa Salle University – Philadelphia, PennsylvaniarnrnLiberty University – Lynchburg, VirginiarnrnLoma Linda University – Loma Linda, CaliforniarnrnLoyola University – Baltimore, MarylandrnrnMaryville University – Saint Louis, MissourirnrnMedical University of South Carolina – Charleston, South CarolinarnrnMercer University – Macon, GeorgiarnrnNew Mexico State University – Las Cruces, New MexicornrnNortheastern University – Boston, MassachusettsrnrnNova Southeastern University – Fort Lauderdale, FloridarnrnPennsylvania State University – State College, PennsylvaniarnrnRegis University – Denver, ColoradornrnSaint Louis University – St. Louis, MissourirnrnTexas Womanís University – Denton, TexasrnrnUniversity of Alberta – Edmonton, AlbertarnrnUniversity of Central Florida – Orlando, FloridarnrnUniversity of Colorado-Colorado Springs – Colorado Springs, ColoradornrnUniversity of Colorado Denver – Denver, ColoradornrnUniversity of Kansas – Lawrence, KansasrnrnUniversity of Maryland – Baltimore, MarylandrnrnUniversity of Massachusetts-Amherst – Amherst, MassachusettsrnrnUniversity of Michigan-Flint – Flint, MichiganrnrnUniversity of Mississippi Medical Center – Jackson, MississippirnrnUniversity of Missouri-Kansas City – Kansas City, MissourirnrnUniversity of Nevada-Las Vegas – Las Vegas, NevadarnrnUniversity of North Dakota – Grand Forks, North DakotarnrnUniversity of Northern Colorado – Greeley, ColoradornrnUniversity of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniarnrnUniversity of Texas Medical Branch – Galveston, TexasrnrnUniversity of Texas-Tyler – Tyler, TexasrnrnUniversity of Utah – Salt Lake City, UtahrnrnUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee – Milwaukee, WisconsinrnrnUniversity of Wisconsin-Oshkosh – Oshkosh, WisconsinrnrnWalsh University – North Canton, OhiornrnWashington State University – Pullman, WashingtonrnrnWest Virginia University – Morgantown, West VirginiarnrnWilkes University – Wilkes-Barre, PennsylvaniarnrnContact:rnBrett GershonrnEditor, NonProfit Colleges Online rnhttp://www.nonprofitcollegesonline.com rn763.503.0162rnrnSOURCE NonProfit Colleges OnlinernrnRelated Linksrnrnhttp://www.nonprofitcollegesonline.com