The W ranked No. 1 in Mississippi for nursing by Niche
Mississippi University for Women is the top-ranked nursing school in the state, according to Niche.com, which placed the university at No. 22 among 796 nursing programs nationally in its Best Colleges for Nursing rankings.
The ranking places The W among the top 3% of nursing programs in the nation. Among public universities with nursing programs, The W ranked No. 5.
“We’re proud to be recognized as the top nursing school in the state,” Interim President Scott Tollison said. “This recognition affirms that we are moving the region’s health care workforce forward and making a critical difference in one of the areas that matter most to Mississippians: the health and well-being of their families.”
Among spring 2026 associate and bachelor’s degree nursing graduates of the college, 97% have found jobs, and 92% of all graduate have obtained Mississippi nursing licensure.
“These rankings are a tribute to our outstanding faculty, staff and students. They show up every day committed to nursing excellence,” said Dr. Brandy Larmon, dean of the Vandergriff College of Nursing and Health Sciences. “Our mission has always been to prepare nursing professionals to serve their communities with excellence. These recognitions speak to that success.”
The college also earned recognition from NursingProcess.org, which in 2026 ranked The W’s associate, bachelor’s and registered nurse to bachelor of science in nursing (RN-to-BSN) programs No. 1 in Mississippi. All three programs ranked among the top five in the Southeast region.
Niche’s Best Colleges for Nursing rankings are based on an analysis of academic, admissions, financial and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education, along with millions of reviews from students and alumni. The most heavily weighted factor is the Overall Niche Grade, which incorporates statistics and student surveys covering academics, value, professors, diversity, local area, campus quality, safety and student life. The full rankings are available at Niche.com.
The Vandergriff College of Nursing and Health Sciences serves more than 1,000 students. It is comprised of the departments of Associate of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Graduate Nursing, Health and Kinesiology and Speech-Language Pathology.