Southern University nursing program crowned best in the U.S. again as school marks 40 years
southern university is again at the center of a major national nursing honor, with its School of Nursing named the best nursing school in the United States for a second consecutive year. The recognition, issued by Nurse. org, comes as the Baton Rouge program marks 40 years and highlights its stated focus on student success and patient-centered care. The celebration unfolded in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with the school underscoring what leaders called a shared achievement across faculty, staff, students, alumni, and clinical partners.
Southern University honored for a second straight year
The School of Nursing at southern university has been named the best nursing school in the U. S. for the second year in a row by Nurse. org, a nursing news and education resource. The accolade spotlights academic excellence and workforce impact, with the program described as standing out among national finalists for its commitment to student success and patient-centered care.
The award arrives as the nursing program marks 40 years, a milestone the school is actively tying to the recognition as it celebrates what it calls decades of training and service. The school also held a celebration to mark being named best in the country, emphasizing the back-to-back nature of the honor.
Immediate reactions: leaders call it a shared win
Dr. Sandra Brown, Dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health, framed the moment as validation of day-to-day work across the institution’s nursing community.
“Being named Best Nursing School in the U. S. for two consecutive years is a tremendous honor, and it affirms the excellence our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and clinical partners bring to this work every day, ” Brown said.
School leaders tied the recognition to the program’s stated mission and outcomes, pointing to the school’s emphasis on patient-centered care and support for student success as core reasons the program continues to stand out.
What the honor highlights and who else was nominated
The recognition described the program as a national leader for the second straight year, with Nurse. org placing the Baton Rouge-based school at the top of the list. Other schools nominated for the honor included Capella University, Chamberlain University College of Nursing, Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, and the Lunder CareForce Institute.
The award also lands at a time when the school is described as expanding, with plans connected to a new 69, 000-square-foot building. The building is funded through donations from Our Lady of the Lake and Women’s Hospital, with each donating $5 million, and the State of Louisiana set to match those contributions.
Quick context
This is the second consecutive year Nurse. org has named the program the best nursing school in the country. The honor coincides with the school’s 40-year milestone, which has become a key part of the celebration around the award.
What’s next
In the near term, attention in Baton Rouge is likely to remain on how the school builds on the momentum of back-to-back national recognition while marking its 40th year. For southern university, the focus now turns to sustaining the standards behind the award as the program continues its work with faculty, students, alumni, and clinical partners—and as its expansion plans move forward.
