Excelsior School of Nursing is the largest in the nation with 70% growth in minority graduate numbers over past three years

Albany, N.Y. (May 31, 2011) – Excelsior College was named the “Top Degree Producer” for minority students seeking associate degrees in nursing, according to the May issue of Diverse Issues in Higher Education. The college as a whole also experienced an uptick in the number of minority graduates across all disciplines.

In 2009-2010, 668 minority students – 30% of the associate degree in nursing class – earned their degrees from Excelsior. Diverse’ ranking on nursing degrees was based on 2009-2010 preliminary enrollment data submitted to the U.S. Department of Education.

"Excelsior has a strong commitment to diversity and an equally strong commitment to helping experienced professionals take the next step in their nursing career, in this case, becoming an RN,” said Dr. John Ebersole, president of Excelsior College. “Excelsior’s mission surrounds serving adult learners, especially those traditionally underserved in higher education, which means providing affordability and accessibility to all of our programs."

Diverse magazine provides news, career information, research, statistics, and resource tools from a diversity perspective. Its "special report" on degree producers represents the only national data on the ability of U.S. colleges and universities to award degrees to African-American, Hispanic, Asian American, and American Indian students. The report is intended to reveal which leading institutions have achieved measurable results regarding diversity.

Established in the early 1970s with grants from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Excelsior College School of Nursing is the largest in the nation, offering associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees, with more than 44,600 nursing graduates worldwide. Minority groups comprise an estimated 38% - roughly 5,900 students - of total enrollment in Excelsior's School of Nursing. Of these minority students, nearly 5,300 are enrolled in the associate degree program, which prepares students for initial RN licensure.

In total, Excelsior graduated 714 minority nursing students (associate, bachelor's, and master's) in 2009-2010 – a 70% increase from 2007-2008, when 420 minority students graduated from the program.

Accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission – and designated as one of only 17 Centers of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League of Nursing – the School of Nursing is also home to the Tau Kappa chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, Honor Society of Nursing. Excelsior's School of Nursing has been recognized three times as a Best School for Men by the American Assembly for Men in Nursing.

Overall, the number of minority graduates from Excelsior College is also on the rise. According to Diverse, the College ranked 31st in the entire nation – and number five among schools in New York state – in the total number of minority graduates with associate degrees across all disciplines. This is an eight- spot jump from last year, when the College ranked 39th in the nation.