Loyola Nursing welcomes record BSN class
By Ashley Rowland
Aug. 24, 2026
The Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing is welcoming its largest-ever undergraduate class this fall, a milestone in its commitment to graduating more practice-ready nurses and addressing the national nursing shortage.
“We’re meeting a critical need,” said Dean Lorna Finnegan. “At a time when the demand for highly skilled nurses has never been greater, we’re opening doors for more qualified, promising students to enter the profession.”
She added: “We’re proud of what this growth represents, because we know that the demand for a Loyola Nursing degree reflects the academic strength and stellar reputation of our school.”
More than 400 students from across the country are part of Loyola Nursing’s newest BSN class. That’s an increase in first-year enrollment of nearly 54 percent in two years.
The surge in BSN enrollment comes after Loyola Nursing received its highest-ever U.S. News & World Report ranking of #13 in 2025, placing it among the top 2 percent of undergraduate nursing programs in the country. The highly competitive BSN program received a record number of applications this year, and enrollment in Loyola Nursing’s graduate programs also increased this fall.
Jorgia Connor, assistant dean of prelicensure programs, attributed the rise in student numbers to more interest in nursing as a career path and Loyola Nursing’s national reputation for academic excellence. Both build on what the school has long been known for: an emphasis on cura personalis, or care for the whole person.
“People know that our faculty and staff focus on mentoring students and helping them develop as nurses and as people for others,” she said. “Our Jesuit values are embedded in everything we do, and that mission-driven education sets our graduates apart.”
Growth, transformation at Loyola Nursing
The record BSN class comes at a time of momentum for Loyola Nursing, with enrollment rising and several new or expanded programs in place.
A prelicensure Master of Nursing (MN) program is launching this fall, offering a direct pathway into nursing for those seeking to change careers. The MN program is open to students who hold a bachelor’s degree in another field.
The school is expanding its signature student academic support initiative, the CARE (Collaboration, Resources, Access, and Excellence) Student Success Program. CARE was launched in 2021 to support underrepresented students, but this year is being offered to all interested BSN students.
In perhaps the most tangible sign of the school’s transformation, construction is underway on a new nursing-science building on Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus that will house the BSN program. Scheduled to open in fall 2028, the state-of-the-art facility will expand the number of classrooms and include one of the nation’s largest simulation labs.
Finnegan said the school is committed to maintaining the academic rigor of its programs as it expands. To accommodate the BSN growth, the school has hired additional faculty and staff and is using flex classroom space across campus until the new building opens.
“We’re making a Jesuit, Catholic nursing education accessible to more students,” she said. “Our growth is intentional and mission-driven, and we’re excited to welcome these students to campus.”