The 小蝌蚪APP has one of the top-10 online M.S. in Nursing degree programs and one of the top-50 online bachelor小蝌蚪APP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小蝌蚪APP檚 degree programs.
Among its peers nationwide, the 小蝌蚪APP is ranked:
- No. 10 for Best Online Master小蝌蚪APP檚 in Nursing Program.
- No. 49 for Best Online Bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 Program.
- No. 66 for Best Online Bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 in Business Program.
- No. 45 for Best Online Master小蝌蚪APP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小蝌蚪APP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小蝌蚪APP檚 top university for online bachelor小蝌蚪APP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 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 commitment to providing quality educational opportunities, accessible to active, working adults, said Provost and VP for Academic Affairs Dr. Jaimie Hebert.
小蝌蚪APP淥ur goal in offering online undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs is to allow students in the state of Louisiana 小蝌蚪APP and across the country 小蝌蚪APP to earn their degrees and access career opportunities they may not be able to otherwise,小蝌蚪APP Hebert said.
The 小蝌蚪APP 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.
小蝌蚪APP淲e have international students, students in other states, and students from here in Lafayette who just can小蝌蚪APP檛 make a schedule work on campus,小蝌蚪APP she said. 小蝌蚪APP淭hey小蝌蚪APP檙e parents, they小蝌蚪APP檙e working professionals 小蝌蚪APP they need a graduate degree program when they need it. That小蝌蚪APP檚 what an online graduate degree program provides, and we provide it really well.小蝌蚪APP
Educational Access Supports Healthcare Access
Degree programs, like the master小蝌蚪APP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.
小蝌蚪APP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 小蝌蚪APP all variables considered by agencies like US News & World Report,小蝌蚪APP said Broussard. 小蝌蚪APP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.小蝌蚪APP
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小蝌蚪APP檚 seen those issues first-hand through his Washington, La., clinic.
小蝌蚪APP淲ithout this clinic, these patients would be in the ER, which they have been, or neglecting their care,小蝌蚪APP he said.
Myers grew up near the area where he now practices and is familiar with the geographic obstacles in accessing primary care services.
小蝌蚪APP淣o question about it, that小蝌蚪APP檚 the primary role of this clinic, to address the shortage of primary care physicians,小蝌蚪APP he said. 小蝌蚪APP淚小蝌蚪APP檓 here for that reason. We小蝌蚪APP檙e filling a need, a major need.小蝌蚪APP
Learn more about the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 accredited online degree and certificate programs at .