Nursing ranks top in region

Zack Buster Editor-in-Chief

AACC’s nursing program is the best in the Northeast region, according to a 2023 ranking.

The associate degree program also topped all other community colleges in two statewide rankings last year.

the reasons for the success, saying the Health and Life Sciences building gives the students the opportunity to have “real-time experiences” in an “extensive simulation of a clinical environment.” ships” with the students.

First-year nursing student Thais Gilligan described the advisers as “mentors [who] work individually with you … if you’re having problems, or if you’re struggling in nursing school.”

“Last week, I had an issue with my son, and I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, how am I going to go to school now?’” Gilligan said. The mentor told her, “‘When the hard time comes, remember your purpose for being here [and] where you want to be in the future.’ … It was really helpful,” Gilligan said.

According to nursingprocess.org—which ranks nursing degree programs for students searching for the best colleges—AACC “prepares you for a promising career” in nursing. This site ranks programs nationwide divided by region.

The other websites— rncareers.org and nursingschoolsalmanac.com— ranked AACC’s associate degree in nursing as the best in the state.

Scott Olden, AACC’s assistant dean of nursing, said the combination of “amazing” faculty and facilities are

The 175,000-squarefoot Health and Life Sciences building is the largest building across AACC’s three campuses. It includes multiple lab spaces for nursing students to experience simulated emergency scenarios as part of their schooling.

Some students said the reason AACC ranks high is because of facilities like HLSB.

First-year nursing student and Baltimore resident Lily Pastor chose to come to AACC instead of a closer college like Johns Hopkins University “because the facilities are really amazing.”

First-year nursing student Thais Gilligan said the program’s faculty and staff are “helpful” because they “work individually with you.”