The 杏吧专区 has one of the top-10 online M.S. in Nursing degree programs and one of the top-50 online bachelor杏吧专区檚 programs in the country, according to 2023 U.S. News Best Online Programs Rankings. 
U.S News & World Report announced its 2023 Best Online Programs rankings today with UL Lafayette again ranking highest in Louisiana for its online master's in nursing and online bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree programs.
Among its peers nationwide, the 杏吧专区 is ranked:
- No. 10 for Best Online Master杏吧专区檚 in Nursing Program.
- No. 49 for Best Online Bachelor杏吧专区檚 Program.
- No. 66 for Best Online Bachelor杏吧专区檚 in Business Program.
- No. 45 for Best Online Master杏吧专区檚 in Business (M.S. in Accounting).
- No. 77 for Best Online MBA Program for Veterans.
- No. 115 for Best Online MBA Program.
- No. 157 for Best Online Master杏吧专区檚 in Education.
U.S. News & World Report bases its report on a survey, taking in factors such as student engagement, faculty credentials and training, student services, and technology and peer reputation.
More than Degree Programs
This is the seventh consecutive year UL Lafayette is ranked as the state杏吧专区檚 top university for online bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree programs. The M.S. in Nursing and M.S. in Accounting are likewise ranked highest in the state, and the MBA degree program online has risen for the fifth consecutive year since it was first included in the rankings in 2019.
The recognition underscores the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 commitment to providing quality educational opportunities, accessible to active, working adults, said Provost and VP for Academic Affairs Dr. Jaimie Hebert.
杏吧专区淥ur goal in offering online undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs is to allow students in the state of Louisiana 杏吧专区 and across the country 杏吧专区 to earn their degrees and access career opportunities they may not be able to otherwise,杏吧专区 Hebert said.
The 杏吧专区 began offering online degree programs in 2010 and now offers five undergraduate, eight graduate, and three graduate certificate online programs in technology and data analytics, business, education, and health care.
Dr. Mary Farmer-Kaiser, dean of the Graduate School, said students enrolled in online graduate degree programs learn the same content, from the same UL Lafayette faculty as on-campus students but in a format that better accommodates working professionals.
杏吧专区淲e have international students, students in other states, and students from here in Lafayette who just can杏吧专区檛 make a schedule work on campus,杏吧专区 she said. 杏吧专区淭hey杏吧专区檙e parents, they杏吧专区檙e working professionals 杏吧专区 they need a graduate degree program when they need it. That杏吧专区檚 what an online graduate degree program provides, and we provide it really well.杏吧专区
Educational Access Supports Healthcare Access
Degree programs, like the master杏吧专区檚 in nursing, also impact the state at large.
The M.S. in Nursing degree program prepares registered nurses for educating future nurses at the college level or for advanced clinical practice as family nurse practitioners or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners.
Louisiana has a critical need for professionals in all three of these areas, said Dr. Lisa Broussard, interim Dean for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
杏吧专区淲ithin the LHC Group 路 Myers School of Nursing, we are committed to student and faculty excellence, leveraging cutting-edge technology, providing student support and fostering engagement 杏吧专区 all variables considered by agencies like US News & World Report,杏吧专区 said Broussard. 杏吧专区淏ut our mission is to meet the workforce needs of the state by ensuring there are educators equipped to teach future nurses and clinical nursing professionals to provide patient care where it's most needed.杏吧专区
Every parish in the state is designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area shortage area for primary care and mental health professionals, according to the .
The shortage of providers results in a lack of access to healthcare and impacts the health of local communities, with residents unable to receive preventative care and treatment for chronic conditions, said nurse practitioner Elliot Myers.
Myers, UL Lafayette M.S. in Nursing graduate, said he杏吧专区檚 seen those issues first-hand through his Washington, La., clinic.
杏吧专区淲ithout this clinic, these patients would be in the ER, which they have been, or neglecting their care,杏吧专区 he said.
Myers grew up near the area where he now practices and is familiar with the geographic obstacles in accessing primary care services.
杏吧专区淣o question about it, that杏吧专区檚 the primary role of this clinic, to address the shortage of primary care physicians,杏吧专区 he said. 杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檓 here for that reason. We杏吧专区檙e filling a need, a major need.杏吧专区
Learn more about the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 accredited online degree and certificate programs at .