US News Rankings

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Feb 25, 2009

The US News rankings of graduate nursing programs is not really supported by extensive research nor does it guarantee that the highly-ranked programs produce better graduates. The methodology for the rankings was based on peer evaluations sent to deans and other administrators in schools that offer a master's degree in nursing and are accredited by either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the National League of Nursing Accreditation Commission.

On one end, school reputations are affected by local perception of which schools are good. For instance, a specific geographical area may be home to a college or university whose graduates represent a significant number of practicing NP's in the area. Employers in that particular area may view this school as excellent in this instance because of the reputation established by the graduates. On the other hand, some well known national programs have more widespread name recognition which any graduate can carry with them regardless of which part of the country they may end up working in.

While there are a host of many factors that affect the future NP's likelihood of being hired among competition as well as their prospects of commanding higher salaries than peers in the long run, I personally feel that the program where one graduated from can not be totally ignored in the equation. However, it surely isn't the most important thing that makes a difference in every situation.

jnd1213 · Feb 25, 2009

The US News rankings of graduate nursing programs is not really supported by extensive research nor does it guarantee that the highly-ranked programs produce better graduates. The methodology for the rankings was based on peer evaluations sent to deans and other administrators in schools that offer a master's degree in nursing and are accredited by either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the National League of Nursing Accreditation Commission.
On one end, school reputations are affected by local perception of which schools are good. For instance, a specific geographical area may be home to a college or university whose graduates represent a significant number of practicing NP's in the area. Employers in that particular area may view this school as excellent in this instance because of the reputation established by the graduates. On the other hand, some well known national programs have more widespread name recognition which any graduate can carry with them regardless of which part of the country they may end up working in.
While there are a host of many factors that affect the future NP's likelihood of being hired among competition as well as their prospects of commanding higher salaries than peers in the long run, I personally feel that the program where one graduated from can not be totally ignored in the equation. However, it surely isn't the most important thing that makes a difference in every situation.

Thanks for the input. I'm struggling on deciding where to go to grad school. One school is very well recognized in nursing (esp for the specialty I'm going for) and the other is well-respected in the city of Boston. The smaller program is going to be about 30-35k cheaper in the end (though I will have substantial debt with both programs). If money was not an issue, I believe deep down I would choose the more recognized school (and that's not solely for the name/reputation). So I've been basically losing sleep trying to see if that difference in debt is a life changer or if the program I like more is a life changer....

ANPFNPGNP · Feb 25, 2009

Do the US News rankings have any substantial meaning? For example, does going to a top-ranked school for graduate nursing school significantly alter ones career path? Will one be more competitive for jobs coming out of school...make more money in the long run, etc? I'd love to hear people's input...

I'm here to tell you that graduating from a "name brand" school makes a difference. Graduating from a top NP program from a state school doesn't necessarily mean anything, even though it should. I have a MS from Vanderbilt and a post-Master's from UT-Houston and both are ranked in the top 20 NP programs in the country. However, none of the doctors I've worked with have ever cared anything about UT, but they've all been impressed with the Vanderbilt name. I've been able to make more money than graduates from the local NP program in the outpatient setting strictly b/c of the Vanderbilt name. However, in the ER setting, it doesn't matter where you went to school or how many years of experience you have, we all get paid the same.

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Feb 25, 2009

Thanks for the input. I'm struggling on deciding where to go to grad school. One school is very well recognized in nursing (esp for the specialty I'm going for) and the other is well-respected in the city of Boston. The smaller program is going to be about 30-35k cheaper in the end (though I will have substantial debt with both programs). If money was not an issue, I believe deep down I would choose the more recognized school (and that's not solely for the name/reputation). So I've been basically losing sleep trying to see if that difference in debt is a life changer or if the program I like more is a life changer....

I had the exact dillemma as you did when I was planning my future NP career. One program I was looking at is well-known nationally and is ranked in the top 5 by US News but cost four times the price tag of the other program that is well-respected locally with lots of practicing NP alumni in the area. Incidentally, the less expensive program is also ranked by US News in the 40th slot, but obviously lower ranked than the other program.

I ended up choosing and graduating from the less expensive program and had no trouble finding jobs locally. Some of the physicians I've worked with during clinicals as well as some of those I've interviewed with for future jobs were alumni of this university's medical school and I felt that this actually worked in my favor. I guess the true test is when I leave the state and work somewhere else and get asked where I received my NP degree from. When this time comes, I am banking on the years of experience I have in the field of specialization I currently work in.

Carefully weigh your choices and good luck in whatever you decide.

jnd1213 · Feb 25, 2009

I think if I were dealing with a price tag that was 4x's less I'd choose the cheaper school in a heartbeat! Unfortunately my difference in price is, although considerable, is not close to 4x's (though I wish it was because the choice would be much more black and white for me).

Seeing as the both of you are NP's, has it been tough paying of all the student loans (if you had any...)? I'm looking at a range, roughly speaking, of 70-100k (yikes)....

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Feb 25, 2009

...because I chose the much cheaper state university, I actually incurred no student loans and even got funded for part of my program's cost . If there's not a great difference in the cost of the two programs you're considering, I would probably choose the more well-known program if I were in your shoes.

ANPFNPGNP · Feb 25, 2009

I think if I were dealing with a price tag that was 4x's less I'd choose the cheaper school in a heartbeat! Unfortunately my difference in price is, although considerable, is not close to 4x's (though I wish it was because the choice would be much more black and white for me).
Seeing as the both of you are NP's, has it been tough paying of all the student loans (if you had any...)? I'm looking at a range, roughly speaking, of 70-100k (yikes)....

I went back to school at the age of 45 and I had saved the cash to pay for it. There is NO WAY I would have considered having a debt as high as what you're mentioning - 70-100K is NUTS!

jnd1213 · Feb 26, 2009

i came out of a small undergrad college that was 45k a year with only 17k of debt. i am relatively young (25) so becoming an NP before the age of 30 will have its rewards financially. Moreover, I am becoming an NP because it is what I want to do. Originally I was working iin the business world preparing to go for an MBA (and make way more than an NP) but then changed careers in order to pursue something i genuinely enjoy. I am more than confident this investment will be well worth it. I don't see making a large investment in myself a stupid decision. I think buying a 70k car, for example, is a NUTS investment/choice.

ANPFNPGNP · Feb 26, 2009

i came out of a small undergrad college that was 45k a year with only 17k of debt. i am relatively young (25) so becoming an NP before the age of 30 will have its rewards financially. Moreover, I am becoming an NP because it is what I want to do. Originally I was working iin the business world preparing to go for an MBA (and make way more than an NP) but then changed careers in order to pursue something i genuinely enjoy. I am more than confident this investment will be well worth it. I don't see making a large investment in myself a stupid decision. I think buying a 70k car, for example, is a NUTS investment/choice.

Going 70k in debt for NP school is NOT a good idea, I don't care what age you are. Ironically, one of my peers in my post-graduate program went to Vanderbilt for her MS degree and she STILL owes 80K in school loans. She has been paying on the loan for over 5 years now. Granted, she admits that the "name" has really helped her land jobs, but she admits it hasn't benefited her to the tune of 100k! She specifically told me that if she had to do it over again, she would have gone to UT-Houston and saved all that money. PLEASE don't saddle yourself with debt while you're so young b/c you'll regret it. You'll want to buy a house some day and it's going to be difficult to get a loan if you are so far in debt.

zenman · Feb 26, 2009

Debt is not something you want to have in the current economy. Think "cash only" if you can.

And go to the cheapest school that has what you want. Big name schools usually mean something only to the" good old boy" network. The big name school and the cheapest may have the same textbook for a particular class and there may be no difference between the skill level of the professors. The real learning occurs in clinical and afterwards, anyway. Look at the cost-benefit ratio. I've yet to see a Harvard grad be able to function realistically in the real world. And a Yale grad, but I have only worked with one of those.

*RN123ABC* · Feb 26, 2009

I get where you are coming from, because I have kids who have been in the same position. I do appreciate the value of an Ivy League education. If your expensive school is one of the genuine Ivy's, I might go for it. Outside of those, I don't think it matters at all. And in nursing in particular, I think it matters very little, even if it is Yale or Harvard.

I am most familiar with my part of the country, the southeast. No disrespect to the earlier poster who attended Vandy, but in this area, East TN State U has a far better reputation for 1/5 the price tag. A few Vandy grads out our way performed poorly and pretty much ruined it for the rest. The ETSU grads dazzled everyone and it is now regarded as the best NP program ever!!! lol. I'm sure 98% of graduates of both programs come out well prepared. Point being, that it is all subjective. I applied to Duke, but I'll only go if they give me the maximum merit award. Anything less, Western Carolina here I come. And everyoe thinks I' nuts for not wanting to go to "the best NP progrm in existence," ETSU. The only reason, I have a conflict with Wednesdays that is too important to me to change. ETSU on the ground classes are all days on Wednesdays. Can't go there, very simple. My real life comes first.

I am originally an ADN from a no name coummunity college, and the BSN later from a small regionally known (for football, lol) college. In 15 years of practice, not once has anyone asked me where I went to nursing school. I could have gone to Duke for the whole undergrad right? I could have spent all that money to end up in exactly the same place. I realize prospective employeers look, but I have never not gotten a job I applied for, so I don't think it would have made any difference in my circumstances.

There are a few things about the IVY league schools that make them worth it, but it isn't really the education. I have kids in an Ivy (Dartmouth) and a Tier 1 school (U of Chicago), and the difference is who they are going to school with, i.e. the networking! My son sits beside a Kennedy in his Spanish Lit course. I didn't sit next to any Kennedys in any of my community college classes. Will my son be able to call up Hyannis Port and ask if he can drop by? I dont know, maybe, he is pretty charming. Will that translate into a better job, more opportunity, more respect? I doubt it. He may get a letter or rec some day from Ms Caroline, lol, but in the end he'll sink or swim based on his own performance.

We sent out kids to the very best schools they could get into that we could afford. We saved for almost 20 years to pay for it, they inherited money that has helped (a lot), they got some merit scholarship dollars and their granparents send them $100 bucks every week so they don't have to work. Lucky them. I wouldn't not have let them borrow the kind of money you are talking about. I understand the real value of any ivy league education, but it isn't always worth the cost. If your parents and grandparents aren't paying, I'd really think twice.

Also, IME, nursing is not really a field that puts much emphasis on that sort of thing. I bet it comes up if you want a tenure track faculty position. Yale school of nursing probably impresses more than my community college and patchwork education that followed. Then again, you dont want to be better educated than the person interviewing you, they see you as a threat and you won't get the job. Perhaps THAT is the reason I always did get the job. Mousy me from middle of nowhere community and technical college has never threated anyone. I just take the job and earn my reputation on my own.

I rant. It is a tough deicsion. Coming from a family that has traditionally gone Ivy, and aiming even to send my own kids Ivy if possible, I am someone who understands the appeal, the intrinsic value of the name. I get it. But I am also pragmatic nurse who knows, at the end ofthe day, it isn't really going tomake a differnece in your practice inthe long run. I probably would not advise you to go there were you my child, not if you had to incur that much debt.

good luck to you!