Muskegon Community College’s Nursing Program has been ranked second among all the schools within the State of Michigan as the best institutions to pursue an associate degree in nursing in 2020.
The rankings, conducted by nursingprocess.org, were the result of a thorough analysis using a well-defined methodology of the 72 schools approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing.
“The presence of several nursing schools makes it a daunting task for students and their families to choose the right school,” noted nursingprocess.org in announcing this year’s top programs. “Some schools offer quality education, while some provide affordability, and others are known for their high NCLEX-RN pass rates. As such, there is no sure shot formula to tell us which school is the best.”
“So then, how did we come up with our ranking list? Well, to start with we have evaluated all nursing schools within a given state that are approved by their State Board of Nursing. We then ranked these schools based on indicators we believe are important in defining a nursing student’s preparedness for success in personal and professional life. We have considered only state board-approved nursing schools for our rankings as these schools adhere to strict guidelines and meet high education standards.”
The rankings were based on four weighted factors – academic quality (30%), the NCLEX-RN First Time Pass Rate for the past four years (30%), affordability (20%), and the nursing school’s reputation (20%).
Academic quality was measured using acceptance rates, graduation rates, retention rates, and student-to-faculty ratio. The NCLEX-RN, the licensure exam that tests professional knowledge and skills as a nurse, is required to practice as a registered nurse in Michigan. A consistently high NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate is an important indicator of a school’s curriculum delivery, program quality, and teaching practices. The rankings of affordability were based on average net price. Several components, e.g. faculty credentials, industry partnerships, were used to determine a nursing school’s reputation.
“What makes this second place ranking special is that, unlike other schools in Michigan, MCC admits all students who meet the basic entrance requirements,” noted Chris Patterson, the Director of Nursing and Health Programs at MCC. “We do not use competitive admission practices. Our high NCLEX pass rates over the past several years speaks to the commitment of our faculty and the college in maintaining a quality program that is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Our graduates work in a multitude of clinical agencies in West Michigan and throughout the country.”
A complete list of the nursingprocess.com rankings of Michigan’s best nursing schools for associate degrees, as well as for BSN and graduate degree programs, can be found at https://www.nursingprocess.org/nursing-schools/michigan/.