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BISMARCK, ND — University of Mary’s nursing program in Bismarck, ND, continues to receive the highest accolades — this time its online program is in the national spotlight as America’s best. EduMed, a highly regarded healthcare research firm in the U.S., has ranked University of Mary’s online Bachelor of Science in Nursing to Doctorate of Nursing Practice (BSN to DNP) program as the No. 1 program in the country for 2020, out of over 7,700 post-secondary schools across America.

To be the best of the best, EduMed cites the University of Mary’s rigorous and comprehensive curriculum, training standards, continued oversight, and assessment.

“The University of Mary extends a fully accredited doctor of nursing practice to working professionals with a BSN,” stated EduMed. “The program offers an accelerated path to full-time work as a family nurse practitioner. The University of Mary administers the program in an online format punctuated by weeklong residential experiences at the school’s main campus in Bismarck, North Dakota. Students complete coursework in advanced health assessment and healthcare policy along with supervised clinical rotations. The program concludes with a competency assessment and skills examination. Qualified applicants need an accredited BSN, an unencumbered registered nurse license, a resume, and two professional references.”

According to EduMed, their data scientists also analyze five primary factors: the percentage of students who receive financial aid from the institution; career placement; academic counseling; online program availability; and the cost compared to the hundreds of peer schools on the list based on tuition and fees per academic year.

University of Mary’s BSN to DNP program is 86 credits, taught online — with several visits to campus for training and instruction — takes as little as 2.7 years to complete, and remains one of the most affordable offerings in America.

“The University of Mary Family Nurse Practitioner program is recognized as a premier program in the country because our faculty and students are dedicated to excellence,” said Dr. Billie Madler, University of Mary’s Graduate Nursing chair and the recipient of the 2020 Outstanding Rural Educator and Mentor Award. “At the University of Mary our values, ethics, and heritage undergird comprehensive learning experiences that equip our graduates to be ready for real life encounters in the practice setting. Online learning paired with concentrated campus visits for development and validation of advanced practice nursing skills makes the University of Mary FNP program stand out among other online programs.”

Currently, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, they project a 31 percent growth in jobs over the next 10 years for nurse practitioners with DNPs earning an average annual salary of $125,440.

This degree is for nurses who hold a BSN and want to become a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) with the leadership of a DNP. The program prepares individuals for a career path as a certified family nurse practitioner and offers formation in leadership skills positioning graduates for additional career path options such as chief nursing executive officer, vice president of patient services, chief clinical officer, educator, health system consultant, and health policy specialist.

Most recently, EDsmart, the nationally recognized publisher of college resources and independent researchers ranked University of Mary’s MSN/MBA in Healthcare Administration Dual Degree program as one of the best online programs in America at 26th overall among hundreds of colleges and universities.

Similarly, in February of this year, University of Mary’s graduate nurse practitioner program was ranked No. 1 in the U.S. for its immersive student learning opportunities that allow students to practice clinical skills and complete in-person physical assessments — categorized as intensives — by the national ranking firm Intelligent.com.

Also, just over a year ago, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing exam results, along with nursing’s national benchmarking service, Mountain Measurements, ranked the University of Mary’s nursing program as No. 1 in the region, and No. 1 of 2,061 nursing programs nationwide in 2019. That ranking report is based on Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduates who took the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). At the University of Mary, 100 percent of its graduates passed their NCLEX-RN licensure exam on the first try.

Nursing, along with education, is one of the original academic programs the school offers dating back to 1959, when its founders, the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery, began what was then Mary College.

Students interested in learning more about the nation’s No. 1 ranked BSN to DNP program at the University of Mary can visit .