Top nursing schools in the US (thought this was interesting)

LadyinScrubs, ASN, RN · Aug 10, 2011

You are absolutely right - my error.

elkpark · Aug 14, 2011

The annual rankings are the result of a simple popularity contest. Per their website, the methodology involves sending out peer assessment surveys to deans, other administrators, and/or faculty at accredited degree programs or schools in each discipline. Respondents rated the academic quality of programs on a 5-point scale: outstanding (5), strong (4), good (3), adequate (2), or marginal (1). They were instructed to select "don't know" if they did not have enough knowledge to rate a program. No SAT scores, NCLEX pass rates, NP/CNS certification pass rates, employment success rates, number of faculty experts in their field, NINR grants, etc were used or factored in the determination of rankings.
As such, it's no wonder the same schools are ranked in essentially the same position year after year.

It's even worse than that ...

I'm sure that's what they say on the website, but it has been explained to me by individuals who have first-hand experience with this that USN&WR sends out these survey instruments to schools all over the US every year but, because the deans and top administrators of schools typically feel that they don't have enough information/experience to have a valid opinion on the quality of other schools and are v. reluctant to comment in a definitive way, they simply don't complete or return the surveys. The magazine gets v. few surveys back each year, and the final rankings are based on the rather limited and arbitrary information that is publically available. Factors that would have v. little to do with the quality of teaching, clinical experiences, etc., a student could expect to encounter, and other things a prospective student would actually care about.

Given how little weight or respect is given to the USN&WR school rankings within academia, I'm surprised that they continue to be taken so seriously by the general public. :)

ErinRN2B · Aug 14, 2011

Glad to see Purdue on there. :) It's 5 minutes away from my house. I go to a local CC, but hopefully I'll complete my bachelor's at Purdue.