Iona University Earns Prestigious Accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
The national five-year accreditation extends until December 2027
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — Iona University is pleased to announce that it has received accreditation for its baccalaureate degree in nursing program from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the national accrediting agency that ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate, and residency/fellowship programs in nursing. Following a recent on-site evaluation, the CCNE accredited Iona’s BS degree in nursing program for a period of five years, through December 2027, the maximum term allowed under the CCNE policy for a first-time accreditation.
Officially recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, accreditation by CCNE is intended to hold nursing programs accountable; evaluate the success of nursing programs in meeting outcomes; and to assess the extent to which those programs meet standards, inform the public and foster improvement. The CCNE Board of Commissioners noted in its accreditation grant communication that the University’s BSN program met all accreditation standards.
A school on the rise, this prestigious accreditation builds upon Iona’s transformational launch of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, offering a new vision for collaborative education, modern workforce development and community care.
The news also follows Iona’s appointment of Sherylyn Watson, Ph.D., MSN, RN, CNE, as director of nursing and associate dean of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences.
“The faculty in Iona’s Nursing Department strive to maintain a high-quality educational experience for our students, and this accreditation is a reflection of that,” Watson said. “Our curriculum is designed to prepare students to excel in their practice at the baccalaureate level, and we are focusing on continuing to strengthen our program for the future.”
Iona’s rigorous, values-oriented nursing program offers two pathways to a bachelor’s degree: a traditional four-year undergraduate program open to both freshman and transfer students, complete with a core, liberal arts curriculum; and a 16-month second-degree accelerated program for students who already have a bachelor’s in another field. Both pathways prepare graduates to sit for the National Certification and Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Iona University's baccalaureate degree in nursing program is also accredited by the New York Department of Education.
Moreover, beginning January 2023, nursing students will utilize the recently announced Kelly Center for Health Sciences, the flagship building of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, featuring the most modern and state-of-the-art equipment, spaces and amenities.
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona is widely recognized in prestigious rankings, including The Princeton Review’s 2025 national list of “The Best 390 Colleges” and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse’s “2024 Best Colleges in America,” which ranked Iona at #66 in the nation overall and #8 in the nation among Catholic schools. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just six percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2023.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with NewYork-Presbyterian. Connecting to its Irish heritage, the University also recently announced it is expanding abroad with a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.