Flexibility and top-notch faculty set the Online Master’s in Nursing program at Arizona State University’s Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation apart from others.

“Our faculty truly care about each student and want them to not only be successful in the program but to find purpose, passion and power in their role as a graduate-prepared nurse,” Clinical Associate Professor and Program Director Natalie Heywood said.

In the newly released U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Programs rankings, Edson College’s Master of Science in nursing degree through ASU Online earned the No. 41 spot ahead of the Texas A&M University Health Science Center and Drexel University, placing it in the top 21% of programs nationwide.

The same program was also ranked No. 13 for veterans.

Heywood says that student veterans bring incredible value to the program, and from a personal standpoint, she loves the opportunity to work with them.

“Student veterans often have experience and skills that translate well into their educational journey, and they tend to be leaders in the classroom,” she said. “In my experience, they are incredibly hard-working, dedicated to improving the lives of others in a variety of ways, and bring a wealth of experience that benefits their peers.”

The ranking represents a significant jump over last year, recognizing not only the program’s flexibility and faculty but also the exceptional curriculum, the student experience, and graduates’ impact on health care.

“As our system grows more complex and our population’s health needs increase, our role has expanded. Nurses are not just health care providers, they are advocates, case managers, interprofessional collaborators, educators, and so much more,” said Heywood.

Earning a master’s degree equips program graduates to step into any of those roles and succeed as leaders, clinicians and educators. In fact, graduate-prepared nurses are extremely valuable to the future of nursing education as they are needed to teach future nurses.

“One of the ways to address America’s nursing shortage is through increasing the number of nurse educators,” said Edson College Dean Judith Karshmer. “Right now some colleges have to turn qualified students away because there are not enough faculty. Our accessible and exceptional online master’s nursing program empowers graduates to tackle this challenge and make a meaningful impact in the profession.”

To learn more about the program and coursework, visit the degree homepage.

By Amanda Goodman | January 21, 2025 | Original Post