By Pareasa Rahimi
The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program remains a top nursing program in the country, placing No. 7 in the U.S. News & World Report 2024 “America’s Best Colleges” rankings. The School climbed two spots from last year’s listing in the “Best Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs.”
“We are so proud to continue to be recognized for excellence in undergraduate nursing education,” said Dean and Fay B. Ireland Endowed Chair in Nursing Maria R. Shirey, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, ANEF, FNAP, FACHE, FAAN. “This recognition is a direct reflection of the work of our faculty and staff who are committed to providing first-rate education and support to the upcoming generations of nurse leaders. It also is a testament to the quality and commitment of our students who consistently exceed national benchmarks for NCLEX pass rates.”
U.S. News evaluates programs based on a combination of factors, including accreditation, peer institutions and more. The School’s MSN and DNP programs also are consistently highly ranked by U.S. News, and boast eight graduate specialties ranked in the Top 10 for 2024.
“The School’s continued rise in rankings is an indication of our efforts to provide a comprehensive nursing education to develop practice-ready nurses,” said Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Undergraduate and Prelicensure Education Gwendolyn Childs, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Because the UAB School of Nursing is located at Alabama’s flagship academic health science center and has robust clinical education partnerships with on-campus and community health care providers, we are able to provide students with broad and unique clinical experiences that prepare them to enter the workforce and immediately make a difference in their communities.”
More than one out of five nursing graduates in the state of Alabama across all programs—bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral—have graduated from the UAB School of Nursing since 2016. The School also has the distinction of being a National League for Nursing Center of Nursing Excellence, which recognizes schools that have demonstrated a commitment to excellence and invested resources over a sustained period to distinguish themselves in a specific area related to nursing education. The UAB School of Nursing is specifically cited for its sustained efforts to enhance student learning and professional development.
