U.S. News Ranks UMSON No. 1 in Nation for Online Master’s Program in Nursing Leadership Among Public Schools of Nursing

Baltimore, Md. -  In U.S. News & World Report’s newly released “2024 Best Online Programs” for Graduate Nursing Programs, the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) was ranked No. 1 in the nation among public schools of nursing – and third among all nursing schools – in the Nursing Administration/Leadership category for its Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Health Services Leadership and Management (HSLM) specialty.

The HSLM specialty – which is being re-envisioned with an updated curriculum aligned with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s new Essentials and will be renamed Nursing Leadership and Management as of spring 2025 – offers leading-edge courses, personalized mentorship, and individual placements in a practicum that supports students’ career goals and takes them beyond their current place of employment to opportunities that refine advanced nursing leadership and nursing administration skills. Placements are with leaders at hospitals and health care systems, universities and community colleges, national and state agencies, and more.

In 2023, UMSON ranked fourth among all nursing institutions and tied for second among public institutions in this category. 

“We are thrilled to be recognized nationally for our Master of Science in Nursing Health Services Leadership and Management specialty,” said Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD ’11, MS ’05, BSN ’04, NNP, FNAP, FAAN, the Bill and Joanne Conway Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing. “Our faculty are committed to supporting students’ career goals with great teaching, cutting-edge coursework, and personalized mentoring. We are extremely proud of our many graduates who go on to become health care system leaders, particularly at a time when nurse leadership is so vitally important.”

The U.S. News rankings represent the most respected and in-depth evaluation of U.S. graduate programs that are designed to be administered online. UMSON is among the 186 schools ranked, out of 200 that provided enough data to participate in the survey. The magazine ranked UMSON’s overall online Master of Science in Nursing program among the top 70 schools.

The publication’s rankings are based on indicators such as student and faculty engagement, faculty credentials and training, student services and technology, student excellence, and peer assessment, using data collected directly from each institution. Only degree-granting programs that are offered primarily online by regionally accredited institutions are considered, and the programs that score the highest are those applying educational best practices specific for distance learners.

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The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.