Websites rank SDSU nursing programs among best in state, nation

South Dakota State University has claimed the top spots in three rankings of South Dakota's best, most affordable and fastest online RN to B.S.N. — registered nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing — programs. 

The rankings are from RNtoMSN.org. The RNtoMSN.org team publishes annual nursing school rankings and recently announced its 2024 awards recipients. 

“Our RN to B.S.N. was built with accessibility in mind to include flexibility, short courses and completely online availability for working registered nurses. This ranking validates the quality proposition students achieve through this program,” SDSU College of Nursing Dean Mary Anne Krogh said. 

In the ranking of best programs, the website reported, “SDSU’s 100% online RN to B.S.N. comes from a regional powerhouse. The College of Nursing produces around one-third of newly licensed RNs in South Dakota, and it has a long track record of quality. It runs a Rural Nurse Fellow Program for B.S.N.-level nursing students. It plays host to the Native American Nursing Education Center. It achieves excellent (licensure) pass rates, and it offers a number of nursing scholarships. 

For the “most affordable” recognition, the website reported, “Prospective RN to B.S.N. students have much to consider when researching nursing schools, and affordability often becomes the deciding factor. These rankings, determined through meticulous research into RN to B.S.N. costs at every South Dakota nursing school, showcase SDSU's dedication to providing affordable and high-quality education to RNs statewide. 

“For the 100% online RN to B.S.N., SDSU offers discounted tuition rates to South Dakota RNs and anyone who lives in a South Dakota Advantage state (e.g. Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Minnesota, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Illinois and Wisconsin),” the website reported. 

To qualify for the “fastest” rankings, South Dakota online RN to B.S.N. programs had to be less than three semesters/one year in length. On a full-time schedule, SDSU’s 100% online RN to B.S.N. can be completed in 10 months. 

RNtoMSN.org writers and researchers manually review every school offering RN to B.S.N. and RN to M.S.N. programs, compiling data on program options, costs, length and more along the way. 

Outside data includes accreditation groups like the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, as well as government resources including the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard. 

Learn more about the SDSU program rankings on the RN to M.S.N. website. 

Master of Science in Nursing program 

TFE Times has ranked South Dakota State University at No. 66 on its list of best Master’s of Nursing programs in the United States. 

TFE Times ranks programs based on mean Graduate Record Exam scores, mean starting salary and bonus, mean undergraduate GPA, acceptance rate, full-time graduates employed at graduation and full-time graduates employed three months after graduation. 

The rankings can be found on the TFE Times website.