We're proud to announce that Northeastern University ranks 49th on the U.S. News and World Report's "National Universities" list, released as part of the Best Colleges edition for 2014!
First published in 1983, the Best Colleges initiative provides data points to help prospective students and their parents compare institutions and make educated decisions about where to go to school. Those data points include tuition, average freshmen retention rate, SAT/ACT scores and graduation rates. Limited information is available for free on the U.S. News website. (To see full rankings, you must sign up for the U.S. News College Compass.)
While much of the "National Universities" information is relevant to first-time college students, those of you considering Northeastern's Direct Entry-Hybrid Nursing Program can glean important insights as well. Direct Entry-Hybrid gives you the education you need to become a licensed registered nurse and qualify for advanced positions in the healthcare industry. Designed for those with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing, the program results in a master’s degree, but you receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) after 16 months.
Here are two points you can take away from Northeastern's place on the Best Colleges list:
Northeastern students are happy with their education.
One of the highest indicators of student satisfaction is a school's retention rate. Freshman retention rate is especially important; it means that the experience promised to students in marketing collateral and admissions interviews lines up with the reality of campus and academic life. Our average freshman retention rate is 93.8 percent! Direct Entry-Hybrid students enjoy a similar experience. Our second cohort, which graduates this month, has a 94 percent retention rate. We believe this is results from the quality of our education and the level of preparation students receive before starting the program. We make it very clear there's a big-time commitment required for nursing school; the BSN portion combines online coursework, nursing skills labs, simulations, on-site proctored exams and assigned clinical hours in a variety of healthcare organizations. We don't pretend the program is easy, but we can tell you that earning a BSN and a master's degree in nursing will position you well for a number of jobs both in and out of the hospital.
Hands-on experience is irreplaceable.
Classroom learning is essential, but nothing can replace hands-on experience. For traditional undergraduate students, co-ops are a unique way to work in your field of interest within the framework of your baccalaureate curriculum. Northeastern students can either finish their degree in four years, with the potential for two co-ops, or five years, building in time for three co-ops. In Direct Entry-Hybrid, co-ops are replaced with nursing skills labs and simulations so you can practice your bedside skills in a safe environment. To learn more about what goes on in the sim lab, read our Q&A with the nursing simulation facilitator for Direct Entry-Hybrid students.
Begin 2014 on a path to a new career! To learn more about the Direct Entry-Hybrid Nursing Program at Northeastern, call us at 866.892.3819.
