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Three PSC students from the nurse pinning ceremony
Pensacola State College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree has placed No. 48 overall among all public and private institutions nationwide in the 2026 Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs ranking by U.S. News & World Report.
The U.S. News evaluation is based on a variety of factors and demonstrates the strength of PSC’s online BSN program across multiple dimensions of academic excellence. Among Florida’s public institutions, including both universities and colleges, PSC ranks 6th overall and stands as the state’s 2nd-ranked public college for online bachelor’s programs.
The BSN program has also achieved notable recognition in categories that directly impact student success. PSC has earned 1st place statewide in Student Services & Technology among all Florida institutions, public and private, and 2nd place nationally. In the Faculty Credentials & Training category, PSC tied for 4th place among Florida’s public institutions and 2nd among the state’s public colleges.
Additionally, the program tied for 5th in Student Engagement among Florida public institutions and 3rd among Florida public colleges, metrics that reflect PSC’s commitment to creating meaningful connections and support structures for students pursuing their BSN degrees entirely online.
Ed Meadows, Ed.D., PSC president, remarked, “These rankings reflect the quality of our faculty and staff, the depth and breadth of our student support services, and our unwavering commitment to excellence — above all, to student success.”
PSC’s BSN program holds dual accreditation from both the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) — a distinction held by few nursing programs nationwide. This dual accreditation underscores the program’s dedicated commitment to the highest standards of academic quality, clinical excellence and student success.
Upon graduation, nurses from the PSC program are earning average annualized wages of $86,837 as reported by the Florida Department of Education for program completers from academic years 2021-22 through 2023-24.
In its 14th year, the U.S. News Best Online Programs ranking is designed for individuals looking to complete or further their education. This year’s edition evaluates more than 1,800 online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs using metrics specific to online learning. The rankings include only degree-granting programs offered primarily online by regionally accredited institutions.
“This recognition highlights the RN to BSN program’s excellence in education, clinical practice and research, made possible through dedicated faculty, flexible schedules and robust learning resources,” said Dusti Sluder, D.N.P, R.N., PSC Dean of Health Sciences. “Pensacola State College is committed to preparing compassionate, skilled and knowledgeable nurses ready to make a meaningful impact on the healthcare community.”
Prospective students can see how Pensacola State College compares to other institutions and how the rankings are calculated on USNews.com.