Report: N.C. A&T Boasts Top Public HBCU Nursing School for 2022

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Oct. 26, 2021) – North Carolina Technical and Agricultural State University has the best nursing school at a public historically Black college or university (HBCU) for 2022, according a report by Top RN to BSN, an online information source for current and prospective nursing students.

North Carolina A&T’s School of Nursing in the John R. and Kathy R. Hairston College of Health and Human Sciences ranks only behind Howard University, a private HBCU, on Top RN to BSN’s Top 15 list.

It offers a BSN program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Students can pursue their BSN through three entry options: traditional BSN, accelerated (ABSN) for those who hold a bachelor’s degree and meet all other nursing prerequisites, and registered nurse completion for those who already hold an associate nursing degree.

A&T nursing programs boast a 91% National Council Licensure Examination (NCEX) three-year average pass rate and 100% job placement for graduates.

To rank the top HBCU nursing schools for 2022, Top BSN to RN editors examined HBCUs with nursing programs, ranked them according to cost, reputation and alumni salary, and evaluated data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, College Scorecard and Niche.

“The top ranking of our nursing programs reflects the hard work of the faculty and students,” said Elimelda Moige Ongeri, Ph.D., interim Hairston College dean.

Nursing programs at A&T, which have experienced significant growth over the last six years, equip nursing students to meet the needs of underserved communities and thus alleviate health disparities which have been illustrated most recently by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

In 2020, the School of Nursing established a partnership with Cone Health to pilot test the health equity toolkit created by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AARP and AARP Foundation.

It also received a five-year $3.25 million grant award from the Health Services and Resources Administration (HRSA) in 2020 to support scholarships for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The HRSA award further elevates A&T’s nationally-recognized commitment to both education and health equity.

“We are honored that the hard work and dedication to nursing by students, faculty and staff is recognized,” said Amelia D. Davis, Ph.D., RN, interim nursing director of the School of Nursing. “We look forward to continuing serving the nursing profession in excellence.”

A&T’s School of Nursing was founded in 1953 based on nursing workforce equity. It was first accredited by the National League of Nursing in 1971 and has maintained continuous accreditation ever since.