Accredited
Hybrid
On-campus
Online
Public
BSN DNP MSN RN-to-MSN RN-to-BSN LPN-to-BSN Entry-Level BSN MSN-to-DNP CRNA NP Post-grad Certificate Other
- Accreditations ACEN COA
- Location(s) Nebraska
- Telephone 1-402-552-3100
- Request Information
Clarkson College, founded in 1888, is a private health care science college. There are several degree programs from an undergraduate level to a graduate and beyond.
Undergraduate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing curriculum will prepare the aspiring nurse to become a well-rounded student by learning in an environment that focuses on hands-on practice in the on-campus skills lab and simulation lab as well as practice in the hospital and other healthcare settings. Unlike many programs, students are in the healthcare setting in the first year of the program. Most of the classroom lectures are conducted in the classroom.
After successful completion of the program, students are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX).
LPN to BSN
The Clarkson College Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to BSN program is for active LPNs who are interested in furthering their career and become an RN. The program is available at a full- or part-time option including on-campus. Some coursework will be available online. Students, like the traditional BSN students, will have clinical hours in the hospital or different healthcare settings. After graduation, students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX RN exam and then be eligible for state RN licensure.
RN to BSN
The Clarkson College online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program offers, for active RNs who hold an associate's nursing degree or nursing diploma, an opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree.
Graduate
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
There are Post-MSN Certificate tracks that are available for the RN who holds a graduate degree in nursing and seeks academic preparation in one of the following specialty areas of advanced nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Education, and Nursing Health Care Administration.
RN to MSN
For applicants holding a Diploma or Associate's Degree in Nursing, the online RN to MSN option is available for graduate level degree advancement and includes an additional 21-29 credit hours of study in a specialty area.
In order to qualify, students must complete all RN to BSN requirements, as well as graduate level courses. After the undergraduate requirements are met, students can advance from the RN to BSN curriculum to the RN to MSN path. The program includes a challenging evidence-based project to analyze an issue in an approved clinical setting.
The online program is designed to accommodate schedules but does require one visit for Nursing Health Care Administration and Nursing Education majors and up to four visits for Nurse Practitioner majors. The online platform allows connections with classmates and faculty 24/7.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
New as of Spring 2015, the 31-credit hour DNP curriculum is offered in a part-time study. Those who are interested in full time can continue into the accelerated degree plan.
The DNP program includes a rigorous dissertation and residency experience that demonstrates his or her ability to translate scientific research into evidence-based, client-centered health care practice.
Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Nurse Anesthesia program is full-time and front-loaded, beginning with a 20-month, on-campus didactic phase, followed by a 16-month clinical practicum. The combined theory coursework and hands-on clinical experiences provide students with a well-rounded education to become a full-service nurse anesthesia practitioner.
Upon completion of the program requirements, graduates are eligible to take the National Certification Examination administered by the National Board on the Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA).
Admission Criteria (not all-inclusive)
- Unencumbered RN and/or APRN license (the United States or its territories/protectorates)
- BSN from an accredited program
- Cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 from all colleges/universities attended
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in Anatomy, College Mathematics, Pharmacology, Microbiology, Pathophysiology, Chemistry, Physical Assessment, Physiology
- At least one year recent full-time critical care RN experience prior to application
- Acceptable critical care areas post-degree (not all-inclusive): Cardiac Care Unit, Intensive Care Unit, Medical Intensive Care Unit, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Surgical Intensive Care Unit
Accreditation and Approval
The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) accredited the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice (Doctor of Nursing Practice in candidacy) programs.
Clarkson College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The Clarkson College Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program option in Nurse Anesthesia is fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Programs. The program will submit a substantive change application to the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) in the fall of 2019.
The Nebraska State Board of Nursing approved the Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Rankings
US News & World Report (2019)
- #77 (tie) in Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs
- #81 (tie) in Nursing-Anesthesia
Affordable Colleges Online ranked Clarkson College No. 28 in the nation in the category of Best Online Nurse Practitioner Programs for 2016-2017.
The Best Master's Degrees ranked the Clarkson College online Master's degree in Nursing Health Care Administration (NHCA) program 14th in the nation out of 96 accredited schools in the category of the most affordable online MSN in Nursing Leadership programs (2016).
Affordable Colleges (AC) Online ranked Clarkson College 3rd in the category of Best Online Master's degrees in Nursing for 2015-2016.
College Values Online ranked Clarkson College 17th in the nation in the category of most affordable certified nurse anesthetist programs (2015).
Bestcolleges.com ranked the Clarkson College RN to BSN program 19th in the nation on the basis of acceptance, retention, graduation, and enrollment rates (2015).
