SXU Graduate Nursing Program Ranked In Top 10 By US News & World

CHICAGO – Saint Xavier University ranked No. 2 in the nation for U.S. News & World Report’s "Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs." The ranking marks the eleventh consecutive year of being ranked within the Top 10 programs.

“These rankings highlight SXU’s School of Nursing's continued legacy of distinction in nursing education. Graduates of our program have a stellar reputation in the nursing community. The strong rigor of the program aligned with implementation of best practice in our curriculum prepares our students to make meaningful and innovative contributions in a variety of health care roles.This acknowledgement is demonstrative of the dedication,” said Charlene Bermele, DNP, RN, CNE, associate dean of SONHS.

Rankings are based on five main categories: an institution's engagement, faculty credentials and training, peer assessment, services and technologies, and student excellence. Within those categories, the methodology considers graduation rate, best practices, class size, retention rates, time to degree deadline, and the student experience.

The course content for SXU's graduate nursing program is regularly assessed to ensure it aligns with both current health care trends and the needs of its students. The School of Nursing recently began the process of aligning the MSN curriculum with the new AACN Essentials and incorporating the competency-based guidelines set by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF).

SXU's expert graduate nursing faculty comprise a dynamic and committed team bringing extensive years of clinical experience to the classroom. Experienced faculty impart their vast knowledge to prepare MSN students for advanced practice roles. Small class sizes allow for individualized strong interaction between students and faculty, who are deeply invested in student success and provide mentorship that goes far beyond traditional teaching.

The online MSN program at SXU is ideal for nurses who want to continue to work directly with patients while gaining tools and techniques that support superior patient care. Nursing students can choose from two tracks: Nurse Educator (NE) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). The program is designed to help students refine their leadership skills, engage in high-impact learning practices and build experience in a practicum.

Upon graduation, FNP students take on advanced clinical practice roles and make meaningful impacts on patients' lives by providing high-quality, compassionate care across the lifespan. NE graduates often pursue roles as faculty members in academic institutions to shape the next generation of nurses, or as hospital educators who support the growth of dedicated nursing staff.