by Marielle Payton, Student Public Relations Writer
When it comes to offering rigorous, high-end academic programs in health care disciplines, Cedarville University is rapidly establishing a reputation for being a leader. 
Cedarville University, located between Columbus and Cincinnati with an enrollment just north of 5,000 undergraduate, graduate and dual-enrolled high school students, first entered health care education in 1985 when it opened its school of nursing, offering a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Since then, Cedarville has added a Master of Science in Nursing, a doctoral program in pharmacy, a Master of Athletic Training and, most recently, added a master’s degree in physician assistant (PA) studies and a Doctor of Nursing Practice.
All of these programs are nationally accredited. And, with intentionally small class sizes, students are highly engaged in their learning, which helps generate a top two ranking from the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education for student engagement in the nation.
“The fact that our programs are Christ-centered is definitely what makes them stand out,” said Nancy Stell, assistant professor of nursing. “We have high expectations of our students because we want to glorify God in our lives, including our academic pursuits.”
Cedarville students graduating from the nursing program are among the most successful in the nation in passing the NCLEX exam. Since 2022, Cedarville’s pass rate is 91.6%. Mark Klimek, nationally known for helping students perform well on the exam, was a professor of nursing at Cedarville from 1983 to 2021.
The physician assistant program, which will enroll its first cohort this May, has a maximum class size of 30 students, while pharmacy has one of the lowest class sizes in the United States with an average of 42 students. The pharmacy program’s 92.9% graduation rate as of 2022 places the program 10% higher than the national average. These small class sizes help ensure each student is receiving personalized instruction, as well as enable the professors to connect with students.
Cedarville’s Doctor of Nursing Practice is the newest program to be offered, and it’s one of only 10 programs among Ohio’s colleges and universities. Students can choose between two pathways: a Bachelor of Science in Nursing to D.N.P. or the Master of Science in Nursing to D.N.P.
With its Doctor of Pharmacy, Doctor of Nursing Practice and PA program, Cedarville is just one of six private universities in Ohio to offer three terminal programs, the others being Case Western Reserve University, Mount St. Joseph University, Ashland University, Walsh University and Xavier University.
Cedarville’s training of the next generation of health care workers is even more important after the COVID-19 pandemic. According to US News and World Report, the American Hospital Association has stated the national shortage of nurses is projected to reach 1.1 million by the end of the year.
Nursing has remained one of the top choices for students studying at Cedarville University, and the numbers are only expected to increase. Though a small school in Ohio, it’s only an hour from metropolitan hubs like Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton, and it’s making a big impact across the Midwest as students come from across the U.S. to benefit from Cedarville University’s excellent academics and uniquely tight-knit community.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 5,082 undergraduate, graduate, and dual-enrolled high school students in more than 175 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is one of the largest private universities in Ohio, recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, as well as high graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings. Cedarville’s MSN program has been ranked #4 in Ohio and #89 in the nation according to US News and World Report, and Cedarville has been ranked #4 nationally by the Wall Street Journal for student engagement. For more information about the University, visit cedarville.edu.