Nursing Schools Almanac ranks STCC 2-year program among top

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The nursing program at Springfield Technical Community College is among the top 10 two-year programs in Massachusetts, according to Nursing Schools Almanac.

The program at STCC was ranked in list of the Best Associate Degree in Nursing Programs in Massachusetts:  2020 Rankings.

“We are honored to be selected as one of the best in the state,” said Christopher Scott, Dean of the School of Health & Patient Simulation. “I’m proud of our talented faculty and staff who challenge our students to do their very best. Our graduates are prepared to start rewarding careers or transfer to four-year colleges or universities to continue their education.”

Students in STCC’s health programs get the opportunity to work on patient simulators in the SIMS Medical Center at STCC, a unique program in the region.

“It is a great program,” said Monica Aldrich of Feeding Hills, who expects to graduate in May 2020. “You have to dedicate yourself to the two-year program. It’s condensed and rigorous. They are not kidding when they tell you that you need to apply yourself.”

Aldrich praised the professors for their commitment to supporting students. “They’ve all given us their personal phone numbers. That’s not generally done, but it’s vital and important,” Aldrich said.

We are honored to be selected as one of the best in the state. Christopher Scott, Dean of the School of Health & Patient Simulation

The program has served as a launching pad for successful careers. “I came to STCC, probably not realizing how hard it was going to be,” said Carrie Morgan Eaton, who works as director of Simulation-Based Education at the University of Connecticut School of Nursing and also serves on the faculty.

“The nursing program was rigorous. It was the hardest two years of my life. In all of my education, through to my Ph.D., the two years of associate degree were very difficult. STCC prepared me well.

“I think that any student who graduates from Springfield Technical Community College’s nursing program should be incredibly proud,” Eaton added. “It is a wonderful place to receive your education.”

For its 2020 rankings of associate degree nursing programs, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac compiled an extensive database of student performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Aspiring registered nurses in the United States must pass this examination before they may commence practice. Nursing Almanac compiled data from 2009-2018 and stated the student performance on the NCLEX-RN exam provides an excellent benchmark for comparing the relative quality of associate’s degree programs.

It's not the first time STCC’s Nursing Program has been named in one of Nursing Schools Almanac’s “best” lists. In 2018, the Almanac ranked STCC’s program as one of the top 75 in New England.

Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.

About Springfield Technical Community College

Founded in 1967 and located on 35 acres of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, STCC is a major resource for the economic vitality of Western Massachusetts. As the only technical community college in Massachusetts, STCC offers a variety of career programs unequalled in the state. STCC’s highly regarded transfer programs in business, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, liberal arts, and STEM fields continue to provide the most affordable options for students pursuing a four-year degree. With an annual enrollment of about 7,000 day, evening, weekend, and online students, STCC is a vibrant campus rich in diversity.

For more information about STCC, visit www.stcc.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@S_T_C_C) and Instagram (@stccpics).

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu