How Schools are Selected
Degree-seeking nursing students—especially working adults—bring complex responsibilities to higher education. They need programs that fit demanding schedules, maintain rigorous clinical standards, remain financially responsible, and meaningfully support long-term career advancement.
At Abound, we evaluate nursing programs through a structured framework built around four principles: Accessibility, Affordability, Acceleration, and Advancement. These “Four A’s” guide both our data review and our qualitative editorial assessment.
Building Our Nursing Cohort
For the 2026 recognition year, Abound evaluates institutions for two nursing distinctions: Best Master’s in Nursing and Best Bachelor’s in Nursing. Institutions earning one or both distinctions are included in our Best Nursing Programs cohort.
We do not rank programs from top to bottom. Instead, we curate a focused cohort of institutions that meet our accreditation standards and demonstrate sustained commitment to nursing education. The final cohort reflects a range of institutional types, sizes, geographic regions, and student populations.
All programs considered must be accredited at the bachelor’s or master’s level by either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), and offered by public or private nonprofit institutions.
Programs are screened using publicly available data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, followed by qualitative review of program structure, clinical design, and student support infrastructure.
Best Master’s in Nursing Evaluation
For our Master’s in Nursing recognition, we review public and nonprofit institutions reporting meaningful graduate nursing activity. Data indicators include:
- Faculty credentials and instructional investment
- Graduate student-to-faculty ratios
- Program size and scope within the institution
- Median earnings data for nursing graduates (when available)
- Median federal graduate loan debt levels
We also review program structure, flexibility, clinical coordination expectations, and graduate-level student support services to assess alignment with the Four A’s.
Best Bachelor’s in Nursing Evaluation
For our Bachelor’s in Nursing recognition, we evaluate undergraduate nursing programs with sufficient enrollment and graduation volume to assess performance indicators. Data reviewed may include:
- Faculty qualifications and instructional ratios
- Six-year graduation rates (overall and Pell-eligible students)
- Program structure and availability of online or flexible pathways
- Median earnings data for graduates
- Median federal student loan debt levels
As with our graduate review, we assess program design clarity, clinical transparency, pathway options (traditional, accelerated, RN-to-BSN), and evidence of support for working or nontraditional students.
The Four A’s Framework
Accessibility
We look for programs that make nursing education realistically accessible through flexible scheduling, online or hybrid options when appropriate, and student services that extend beyond traditional business hours.
Affordability
Recognized programs demonstrate transparency in tuition, fees, and financial aid information. We consider debt outcomes, cost structure, and evidence of responsible pricing.
Acceleration
Programs should offer structured, efficient pathways to degree completion, including clear sequencing, predictable timelines, and support systems that reduce unnecessary barriers.
Advancement
We evaluate how effectively programs prepare students for licensure, clinical excellence, and long-term professional advancement. This includes faculty expertise, experiential learning, and institutional investment in continuous improvement.
Institutional Review Process
Abound maintains a focused, selective nursing cohort. Institutions that believe their nursing programs align with our accreditation and evaluation standards may request consideration for a future review cycle through our institutional review process.
Institutions requesting review are evaluated using the same data-informed and qualitative standards applied to all recognized programs. Submission does not guarantee inclusion.
Institutions may request review here:
Request Institutional Review