Programs Ranking Methodology

Where possible, Nurse.org's rankings are determined by a proprietary ranking algorithm that uses the latest and most robust U.S. government data sets, specifically the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and College Scorecard. We make every effort to keep statistics up-to-date with the most recent information published from each data source across our website.

For programs not identified in IPEDS or College Scorecard, we compare programs based on a set of metrics that identify the best programs for nurses, including NCLEX pass rate, tuition, acceptance rate, student-to-faculty ratio, and accreditation. Only ACEN or CCNE-accredited schools are eligible for our rankings. 

We then have a minimum of 2 experienced registered nurses review the program rankings to ensure that they meet our standards and expectations.