The Master of Science program in Nursing Education-Advanced Role offered online by
Ferris State University's College of Health Professions has been honored with a top
20 rating for 2019 by Top Education Degrees, a clearinghouse on educational programs
and student resources.The Ferris State University College of Health Professions’ online Master of Science degree in Nursing Education has earned a Top 20 rating in the 2019 assessment published by Top Education Degrees.
Ferris’ 17th place ranking is based on a five-category assessment of program stature, including cost per credit hour, student-to-faculty ratio and whether program accreditation was conferred by regional entities or nationally-recognized nursing education commissions. Also considered in this finding was the U.S. News and World Report ranking for the university’s online Master of Science program in Nursing Education.
Nursing Administration Professor Sharon Colley is program coordinator for Ferris’ MSN. She said student feedback indicated appreciation of the supportive nature of the program’s faculty to help participants reach goals by setting high standards and providing quality feedback.
“They speak to faculty who are engaged, who are current in the healthcare field, and they share that they are immediately able to apply what they are learning to their current roles,” Colley said. “Students can progress at their own pace, taking one to three courses at a time, and they are able to start the MSN program without declaring a particular specialty role.”
Top Education Degrees’ release of its top 20 rankings indicated “the nursing profession is currently experiencing a shortage of qualified staff, and the same problem exists for faculty in nursing schools, where the average age is 55.”
Beyond the Nursing Education concentration, Ferris MSN students can specialize in
Nursing Administration or Nursing Informatics. Colley said that their program flexibility
and manageability might be critically important factors when students consider what
school they will attend as a post-graduate.
“Employers also tell us our students are well prepared for their specialty roles,”
Colley said. “That is incredibly important to supporting our mission of preparing
graduates who can directly or indirectly influence healthcare outcomes and advance
the profession of nursing.”
Twenty students are accepted in Ferris’ online MSN program each fall and spring semester.