By Alex Wilson,
March 29, 2022
WARRENSBURG, MO – A testament to quality leadership and faculty in two University
of Central Missouri graduate programs, the 2023 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings include the Master of Science in Nursing and the part-time Master of Business Administration (MBA). Selections were partially based on factors that included high enrollment rates and
high average test scores for UCM students.
U.S. News & World Report is a premier source for collegiate information, resources
and rankings that students can use to help them in making decisions about which college
or university is the best fit for their educational needs. Working alongside field
professionals, the organization publishes annual rankings for esteemed programs across
the nation. In addition to access to resources provided by professionals, the organization
utilizes data conducted from surveys, peer reviews and information directly from institutions
of other relevant content.
The statistical data that colleges report to U.S. News are used to compare factors
such as enrollment; acceptance rates, test scores, diversity, student-faculty ratios,
starting salaries and job placement. Additionally, a peer assessment system is implemented
to further examine universities. For all disciplines ranked, U.S. News surveyed deans
or program directors, department chairs or faculty members, and field practitioners,
asking them to rate the quality of each program in their field on a scale from one
to five. These results were collected and averaged to compile a total peer assessment
score to be used to further weigh the rankings.
Well-suited for individuals who can’t attend college full time for family or financial
reasons, institutions that were recognized for their part-time MBA, in particular,
received rankings that heavily utilized these peer review scores. The average peer
assessment score accounted for 50% of the program’s overall score while other factors
such as average GMAT score, average GRE scores, average GPA, student work experience
and enrollment affected the ranking on a lesser scale. The peer assessment score also
heavily affected the Nursing ranking, accounting for 40% of the ranking. From there,
the nursing ranking was measured with data regarding university grants, research activity
and healthcare professional input.
"The Best Graduate Schools rankings evaluate schools across nearly 200 different areas,
such as law, business and nursing," said Robert Morse, chief data strategist at U.S.
News. "We regularly update the methodology and add new programs to keep the rankings
relevant and valuable for prospective students."
The Master of Science in Nursing at UCM is no stranger to awards and rankings, including
being the subject of national rankings published by organizations such as the Princeton
Review. The online nursing program also was recognized by U.S, News and other rankings
organizations for flexible study options for students wanting to participate in a
state-of-the-art degree program.
The MBA program at UCM is also considered as an outstanding program being included
in rankings conducted by organizations such as Fortune and business and industry magazine
giant and digital content producer Forbes, which recently cited UCM as a top university
in its 2021 ranking.
For more information about the MBA program at UCM, visit the program website or contact Dr. Dan Jensen, MBA director, at 660-543-8039 or via email at mba@ucmo.edu. Information about the Master of Science in Nursing at UCM can also be found online
through the program website or by contacting Dr. Nicole (Nic) Webb, chair of the School of Nursing, at 660-543-4775
or via email at nursing@ucmo.edu.
About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers,
business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about
important issues affecting their lives. A multifaceted digital media company with
Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News
provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S.
News Live events. More than 40 million people visit UNews.com each month for research
and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.