SXU's MSN Program Ranked No. 2 Best Online Graduate Nursing Program by U.S. News & World Report
Saint Xavier University (SXU) ranks No. 2 in the nation for U.S. News & World Report's "Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs." The ranking marks the 11th consecutive year of being ranked within the Top 10 programs.
"These rankings highlight the School of Nursing's continued legacy of distinction in nursing education. We uphold a standard of academic excellence, offering a curriculum that is both rigorous and innovative," said Colleen O'Hearn, DNP, CPNC-PC, RN, director of Graduate Nursing. "Graduates of our program have a stellar reputation in the nursing community. The strong rigor of the program aligned with implementation of best practice in our curriculum prepares our students to make meaningful and innovative contributions in a variety of health care roles."
The 2025 ranking methodology is based on five main categories: engagement, faculty credentials and training, peer assessment, services and technologies, and student excellence. U.S. News & World Report considers how accessible and responsive instructors are and how adept they are at creating a rewarding experience; how online faculty's academic credentials mirrors those of campus-based instructors and the resources they use to teach distance learners; how well programs incorporate diverse online learning technologies coupled with strong support structures that provide learning assistance, career guidance, and financial aid resources; and how well students can handle the demands of rigorous coursework. SXU scores highly among U.S. News' ranking indicators.
The course content for SXU's graduate nursing program is regularly assessed to ensure it aligns with both current health care trends and the needs of its students. The School of Nursing recently began the process of aligning the MSN curriculum with the new AACN Essentials and incorporating the competency-based guidelines set by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF).
SXU's expert graduate nursing faculty comprise a dynamic and committed team bringing extensive years of clinical experience to the classroom. Faculty impart their vast knowledge to prepare MSN students for advanced practice roles, and small class sizes allow for individualized strong interaction between students and faculty, who are deeply invested in student success and provide mentorship that goes far beyond traditional teaching.
The online MSN program at SXU is ideal for nurses who want to continue to work directly with patients while gaining tools and techniques that support superior patient care. Nursing students can choose from two tracks: Nurse Educator (NE) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). The program is designed to help students refine their leadership skills, engage in high-impact learning practices and build experience in a practicum.
Upon graduation, FNP students take on advanced clinical practice roles and make meaningful impacts on patients' lives by providing high-quality, compassionate care across the lifespan. NE graduates often pursue roles as faculty members in academic institutions to shape the next generation of nurses or as hospital educators who support the growth of dedicated nursing staff.
"The innovative and relevant education we provide to our students through a supportive environment allows for personal and professional growth, emphasizing the importance of scholarship, compassion and lifelong learning. We focus on improving patient outcomes and empowering our nurses to make a significant difference in the health care field. The U.S. News ranking reflects our mission to foster excellence in education as well as SXU's Mercy mission, which inspires our nurses to be compassionate servant leaders," said O’Hearn.
For more information about U.S. News & World Report’s rankings, visit U.S. News & World Report's website. For more information about SXU's School of Nursing, visit SXU’s website.