North Arkansas College online MLT associate degree ranked No. 2 in nation

Northark has been ranked one of the nation’s best schools for online degrees and certificates in the healthcare field for 2023. Six percent of regionally accredited colleges and universities earned a ranking position.

HARRISON, AR – North Arkansas College has been named one of today’s best schools for online higher education in healthcare by EduMed.org. Northark’s online Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program earned second place in the nation for two-year schools for its overall quality, affordability and commitment to student success. 

Northark’s MLT program has enjoyed a 100% job placement rate for years. “MLT graduates have long been sought-after because the training they receive here enables them to hit the floor running,” says Northark President Dr. Rick Massengale. “Our instructor, Sherry Gibbany, does an excellent job and is a key go-to person when medical organizations look for rising star graduates. Over the last couple of years, Sherry has transformed this online program to provide flexibility for students to participate in lectures online and clinicals from their hometown, effectively expanding a Northark education to anyone with a clinical site close to them.”

 “I’m so excited for the MLT program to be ranked second in the nation!” Gibbany said. “The program continues to enjoy growth and produce graduates, a critical need for providing skilled workers to fill the jobs left by those who are retiring. We have university partnerships for transfer students to enjoy a seamless transfer for those students who wish to continue their education.”

“Our rankings showcase the schools giving future nurses and allied health professionals the best chance to succeed from day one in the classroom to day one on the job,” said Wes Harris, outreach coordinator for EduMed.org. “This starts with low-cost tuition, but also includes academic counseling, career placement and other key resources that students need to graduate and get hired.”

EduMed.org’s rankings come at a time when the demand for trained healthcare professionals is on the rise. According to Mercer, a global consulting leader in healthcare, the U.S. will see millions of vacancies in critical healthcare positions by 2025. Nurse practitioner, nursing assistant and home health aide roles stand to experience some of the greatest shortages over the next three years and beyond. 

“One key to solving the healthcare shortage is making higher education more accessible,” said Harris. “Online programs open the door to students who may not be able to commit to a campus-based program while working, or to commute to a classroom at all. Each school in our rankings has made online learning a priority.”

EduMed.org researched and analyzed more than 7,700 accredited schools using data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and from the schools themselves. The website’s data science team then applied a proprietary algorithm to rank all qualifying schools for each healthcare discipline. Primary data points include: 

• Academic counseling services
• Career placement services
• Student-to-faculty ratio
• Tuition
• Percent of students receiving school-based financial aid
• Amount of school-based aid per student

To be eligible, a school must hold active regional accreditation and have at least one partially online program in the ranking subject. Just 8 percent of U.S. postsecondary institutions earned a ranking position. 

Take a look at the full rankings to see where Northark placed: Best Online Medical Lab Tech Programs – https://www.edumed.org/online-schools/medical-lab-tech-mlt-programs/#2-year-schools