Under Dr. Daryl Burckel’s guidance, McNeese State University continued to provide quality education to meet the needs of the students and employers in Southwest Louisiana.

For the 13th consecutive year, the U.S. News and World Report ranked McNeese as one of the top universities in the South in its 2022-2023 Best Colleges list. The university also ranked among the Top Public Schools (#42) in the southern region as well—one of six Louisiana institutions to make the Top 50.

In 2018, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges reaffirmed McNeese’s accreditation for an additional 10 years following a comprehensive review of McNeese’s academic and administrative programs.

Several departments and programs also received accreditation during the Burckel Presidency.

The psychology graduate program in applied behavior analysis is the only program in Louisiana accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International and one of only 26 accredited programs in the nation. The program is consistently ranked as a top program in the country.

All teacher education programs in the McNeese Burton College of Education earned reaccreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, the sole nationally recognized accrediting body for education preparation.

The College of Business earned reaffirmation of accreditation of the undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. Fewer than 5% of business schools worldwide meet the rigorous standards of AACSB accreditation. McNeese’s College of Business has been accredited by AACSB International since 1989.

Several websites and organizations rank McNeese in the top tier in categories such as small class size, student-to-teacher ratio, affordability, job placement, and return on investment.

McNeese offers several online undergraduate degree programs including psychology, criminal justice, and business administration that are ranked nationally based on average cost to graduates, low student to faculty ratio, and curriculum excellence.

Online graduate programs also earn accolades for affordability and academic instruction.

McNeese State University ranked third best university in Louisiana according to Wallethub’s 2020’s Best College and University Report. McNeese ranked in the top half of the United States and third in the state. The report measured 33 key metrics — including costs, financing, faculty resources, campus safety, and career outcomes. McNeese earned an above-average rank for its net cost and graduation rate.

In 2022, McNeese was named one of the Hidden Gem Colleges in the Southeast by College Raptor. McNeese was named one of three “hidden gem” schools in Louisiana, based on a combination of factors, including graduation rates, campus diversity, student-to-faculty ratio, endowment per student, and other data as reported to the National Center for Education Statistics.

The master’s degree program in psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner was ranked among the 25 Best Online MSN in Psychiatric Nursing Degree Programs for 2022 by Top RN to BSN, an online nursing guide for current and prospective nurses, based on affordability, return on investment, and reputation. The program is also ranked as one of the best in the nation for 2023 by nursepractitioneronline.com.