Cumberlands nurse practitioner program ranks No. 1 in KY

The online Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) program at University of the Cumberlands (UC) was ranked No. 1 in Kentucky, No. 8 in the nation, by NurseJournal.org. Among the other colleges ranked in the top 10 for 2024, Cumberlands had one of the highest acceptance rates as well as the lowest tuition rate – not to mention that UC offers free textbooks.

NurseJournal used datasets from sources like the National Center for Education to inform their rankings. They also accounted for metrics such as retention rate, number of students enrolled, admission requirements, and minimum time commitments. Overall, the focus was on pinpointing which programs met high standards of academic quality, affordability, and program offerings.

NurseJournal also ranked Cumberlands as having the most affordable Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program for 2024 in Kentucky, fifth most affordable in the nation.

“We are very pleased with these high rankings for our online MSN-FNP program,” said Kyra Gambrel, FNP, the family nurse practitioner online program coordinator at Cumberlands. “Our faculty and staff remain committed to providing education in a student-first approach, and rankings like these are a testament to the importance and effectiveness of that mentality. Society is constantly in need of additional healthcare professionals, especially in Appalachian regions. By making this program so accessible and providing quality instruction, not only are we enriching our students’ lives, we’re also impacting communities throughout the U.S. and potentially around the globe.”

Per NurseJournal, the website “serves as a hub of up-to-date information on higher education as well as expert-driven content on news and industry trends that affect nurses and other healthcare workers.” In addition to nursing program rankings, the site offers financial aid guides, news and advice from nursing experts, and an “Ask a Nurse” tool.

Cumberlands’ Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner program is fully accredited and offers students the chance to complete their degree in as little as three years. Its first cohort graduated in 2019. With a curriculum tailored to registered nurses (RNs), the program covers a variety of nursing topics, including implementation of evidence-based plans to improve health outcomes, application of leadership skills and decision making in nursing, integration of research and interprofessional perspectives to improve practice, effective communication strategies, and more. Learn more at www.ucumberlands.edu/academics.