Loyola Nursing climbs to highest-ever BSN ranking
By Ashley Rowland
Sept. 23, 2025
The Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing’s undergraduate program has received its highest ranking ever from U.S. News & World Report, climbing to #13 among nursing schools nationwide.
The new ranking is a jump of 13 spots from last year and positions the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program among the top 2 percent of 686 BSN programs in country. Loyola Nursing now ranks fourth nationally among private universities.
The high ranking is a milestone for the school as it celebrates its 90th anniversary and record undergraduate enrollment.
“This reaffirms what we have always known—that Loyola Nursing’s exceptional BSN program stands alongside other top programs in the United States,” said Dean Lorna Finnegan. “We are thrilled to be recognized among the nation’s best, and the entire Loyola Nursing community—from our students to our alumni—should take immense pride in the school’s outstanding reputation.”
Loyola Nursing has risen steadily in the U.S. News rankings since they were first released, climbing from #31 in 2021 to #26 last year.
The new ranking signifies the school’s longstanding commitment to academic excellence and educating nurses in the Jesuit tradition, Finnegan added.
“Loyola Nurses are recognized across the nursing profession for delivering holistic, person-centered care that transforms the health of individuals, families, and entire communities,” she said. “Guided by our Ignatian values of justice and cura personalis—care for the whole person—Loyola Nursing graduates stand apart as compassionate leaders who advance health equity and shape the future of care.”
Provost Douglas W. Woods said the U.S. News ranking reflects Loyola Nursing’s status as a premier nursing school and the growing prominence of Loyola Nursing faculty on the national stage.
“The School of Nursing and its exceptional reputation are a source of pride across the University,” Woods said. “We congratulate the school’s faculty and staff for this well-deserved ranking and for their commitment to student success and innovation in nursing education.”
The #13 ranking also reflects the University’s ongoing commitment to the BSN program and to addressing the national nursing shortage, he noted. Earlier this year, Loyola announced plans to open a new nursing-science building in 2028 that will allow the school’s four-year BSN enrollment to nearly double.
The state-of-the-art facility will include specialized classrooms, advanced simulation and virtual reality labs, and welcoming gathering spaces.
The school recorded its largest-ever BSN class this fall and received a record number of applications this year.
Loyola Nursing offers a traditional four-year BSN and an accelerated, 16-month option. The school maintains a high National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) pass rate among first-time test takers, and its award-winning CARE (Collaboration, Access, Resources, and Equity) Pathway to the BSN has been recognized for its innovative student success strategies.