Nightingale College Celebrates 2,319 Nurse Graduates
SALT LAKE CITY (AUG. 27, 2026) — Nightingale College, an accredited distance learning nursing institution headquartered in Utah, graduated 2,319 nursing students in a graduation celebration on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Mountain America Exposition Center in Sandy.
A total of 381 graduates attended the ceremony in person and were supported by nearly 3,900 family members and friends in the audience. These nursing school graduates, drawn from the fall 2025, spring 2026 and summer 2026 cohorts, reflect Nightingale College's mission of advancing education, health and employment systems through years of academic achievement, personal growth and professional development.
“Every graduate who walked across the stage represents a step toward closing the health equity gap in this country,” said Diane Johnson, PhD, Nightingale College provost. “These graduates, who demonstrated resilience in the face of significant challenges, didn't just complete a nursing degree, they prepared themselves to serve where the need is greatest, especially in communities that have gone without enough access to quality nursing care. That's the real measure of success: not the diploma itself, but the difference these nurses will make in underserved communities across the country for years to come.”
Nightingale College's distance -learning model pairs online coursework with hands-on clinical training, removing many of the traditional obstacles to earning a nursing degree. The approach makes it possible for nontraditional students, such as working parents, career changers, and veterans, to pursue a nursing career without relocating. Nightingale also maintains no waiting list for qualified applicants.
Nightingale College is now educating 10,568 nursing students throughout the United States. Video and photos of the celebration can be found here.
Nightingale College
Nightingale College is dedicated to advancing health equity by creating opportunity and access to nursing education across the United States. The College offers accredited programs at the certificate, associate, baccalaureate, and master levels through its innovative learning model. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Nightingale College combines online coursework with hands-on experiential learning in local communities to develop confident, competent, and compassionate nurses who address critical workforce shortages and improve health outcomes across diverse populations. For more information, visit https://www.nightingale.edu/.
Media Contact
Jennifer Durrant
Nightingale College Public Relations Specialist
801-717-6756
jdurrant@nightingale.edu