Students who complete their bachelor’s in nursing at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette choose it again for their Master of Science in Nursing and again for their Doctor of Nursing Practice.
Alumni consistently cite the same reasons for their choice:
- Quality
- Flexibility
- Culture
- Recognition
In the last year alone, the College of Nursing and Health Sciences’ graduate programs have climbed in rankings for their quality as online graduate nursing programs as well as overall graduate nursing programs.
In January, U.S. News & World Report ranked the online Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs at 65 in the nation, up from No. 84 in U.S. News’ 2018 survey.
A few months later the rankings agency released its 2020 Best Graduate Schools national rankings, with the MSN climbing to No. 156 from No. 172 in this list.
In September, The Best Schools ranked the MSN program at number 26 among "The Best Online Nursing Practitioner Master’s Programs."
The college’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program also made the list but did not receive a numerical ranking. U.S. News & World Report often cites noteworthy programs without assigning a number.
Dr. Melinda Oberleitner, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, attributed the college’s strong showing to dedicated faculty members who “deliver rigorous and high-quality programs of study.”
“As national shortages of nurses with master’s and doctoral degrees — such as nurse practitioners and nurse educators — persist, the college remains committed to training graduates in a range of disciplines who are qualified to help fill workforce needs,” Oberleitner said.
Louisiana registered nurses looking for the opportunity to improve the health of diverse populations as advanced practice nurses or shape future nurses as nurse educators can apply to begin the online program in either the fall or spring semesters — no GRE required.
Advanced practice nurses can then apply for the Doctor of Nursing Practice online to become leaders in a constantly changing and complex health care system. The curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice, organizational and systems leadership, health policy, and theoretical foundations for advanced practice nursing.
Learn more about our graduates and how they’re impacting their communities, as well as the future of nursing:
Blog: Online MSN Grad Talks Cardio Nursing Tech
Blog: UL Lafayette Graduates Meet Rural Primary Care Shortage
Blog: Nurse Practitioner Finds Balance, Advancement Through Online Programs
