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The College of St. Scholastica

The Post-Baccalaureate Nursing degree format offers online coursework with in-person labs and clinicals. Located in Duluth and St. Cloud, both locations offer state-of-the-art nursing skills labs and classrooms, and dedicated faculty. Upon completion, students will be eligible to apply for RN licensure and enter the nursing workforce, fulfilling the desire to begin a rewarding career in healthcare.

  • New three-semester 12-month format with online coursework and in-person labs and clinicals, in Duluth and St. Cloud
  • A nursing degree for those with a previous bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field
  • Curriculum readies you for a leadership role in nursing or graduate school
  • Newly remodeled state-of-the-art nursing skills labs and study spaces
  • Clinical opportunities in acute care, ambulatory care and community settings

Receive Program Info and Financial Aid Options

  • Detailed program overview
  • Personalized financial aid
  • Individual admissions support

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Recognized as one of the top nursing schools in the Plains region as well as one of the top private nursing schools in the country.

Nursing Schools Almanac

Degree Details

Tuition and Fees

Tuition: $13,800/semester*

Additional fees and costs (approximately $3,800) above and beyond tuition will apply. These include items such as an NCLEX preparation subscription, examination security software, clinical compliance subscription and skills/simulation laboratory supplies.


* Tuition rates are for the 2023-24 academic year. Additional fees and costs for course materials may apply. Total program cost and completion time varies depending on transfer credits and individual program plans. Tuition rates are subject to change.

Program Overview

Program Length

The program requires 45 credits of coursework over three consecutive semesters, including theory, lab and clinical rotations. A student’s previous baccalaureate coursework, a heritage course that is taken during the nursing program and completion of all required nursing classes meet St. Scholastica requirements for a bachelor of science degree with a nursing major.

Students will work with nursing faculty and expert nurse preceptors in both urban and rural healthcare facilities.

Because the programs are accelerated, it is recommended that students not work while in the program.

Students are eligible to take the national qualifying exam (NCLEX) to become an RN, obtain public health certification in Minnesota and school nurse licensure, as well as work in nursing administration or pursue graduate education in nursing.

Curriculum

Visit our Catalog to view the program, course and degree requirements, and learning outcomes. Be sure to create your course plan in consultation with your advisor.

Nursing Skills and Simulation Labs

Laboratory learning activities involve students in the hands-on practice of nursing skills and the application of clinical judgment involved with patient care. The school received an HRSA federal grant to update equipment in the skills and simulation lab on the Duluth campus, and equip a new nursing skills and simulation lab on the St. Cloud campus. In the simulation lab, students participate in patient care scenarios with simulation manikins as patients.  Labs are scheduled synchronously every Tuesday on both campuses and rotate between on-campus, in-person learning and remote, online lab activities.

Clinical Learning Experiences

Clinical learning activities are experiences with actual patients in a variety of patient-care settings including acute, ambulatory and community clinical sites. Experiences are with a St. Scholastica faculty member or with an RN preceptor and supervised by St. Scholastica faculty.  The Director of Educational Experiences secures all clinical placements for both the Duluth and St. Cloud programs. Students are responsible for all costs related to attending clinical experiences including transportation, lodging if required, meals and parking.

Duluth locations primarily include Essentia St. Mary’s and St. Luke’s hospital.  St. Cloud clinical sites include multiple agencies in the Twin Cities metro area as well as Centra Care in St. Cloud.  For rural and capstone preceptor-led clinical experiences, students will be matched with an RN.  Most clinical sites are part of ongoing relationships at geographically common locations.  Some efforts will be made for students who are from more uncommon geographic locations.  The Director of Clinical Experiences will work with students for the best placement options available.

Evidence of Clock Hours

In the post-baccalaureate degree program, 41 nursing credits are required for the completion of the nursing major. Completion of the nursing major coursework combined with a student’s previous baccalaureate coursework and one heritage course taken during the program meet CSS requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in nursing. Because the program will be intense, it is expected that students will not be able to work while attending this program.

  • When course credits are used for theory, time allotted is 1 hour for every course credit.
  • When course credits are used for laboratory experiences, the time allotted is 2 hours for every course credit. Laboratory learning activities include active student participation in the nursing skills and simulation labs.
  • When course credits are used for clinical experiences, the time allotted is 3 hours for every course credit. Clinical learning activities are experiences with actual clients or experiences with a professional nurse in a patient-care setting

Career Outlook

711,900 new RNs by 2020

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, nursing is the largest healthcare profession, with more than 38 million RNs nationwide. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects job opportunities for RNs to grow by 7% by 2028.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s 2019 research on new graduate employment found that 75% of new baccalaureate-prepared nurses were employed in nursing. Job prospects are expected to be excellent, particularly for nurses with a bachelor’s degree.

Advantages of a bachelor’s degree

  • Emphasis on community-based practice
  • Education and training in leadership and management skills increases your opportunity for promotion
  • Provides a foundation for graduate study
  • Often necessary for positions in administration, research, consulting and teaching

Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program at the College of St. Scholastica are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

CCNE Accredited logo

Board Approved

The College of St. Scholastica’s pre-licensure degree program, the Bachelor’s to DNP with APRN concentration degree program, and the post-graduate APRN certificate program are approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing.

Admission Information

Visit our admissions page for information about transcripts, online application, international admissions and financing.

Application Deadlines

All applicants must apply via NursingCAS. The program start dates with available seats will show in the program filter in NursingCAS. All applications open on Aug. 10 and below are the priority deadlines.

Duluth and St. Cloud: September Start (Fall)

Priority deadline: March 1. Rolling admissions thereafter until the final deadline: July 5.

Duluth and St. Cloud: January Start (Spring)

Priority deadline: July 1. Rolling admissions thereafter until the final deadline: Oct. 25.

St. Cloud: May Start (Summer)

Priority deadline: Nov. 15. Rolling admissions thereafter until the final deadline: March 7.

Eligibility

  • Baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing field from an accredited college or university
  • Current Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA/NA-R) registration or course completion. Learn about St. Scholastica’s mostly online Nursing Assistant Training.
Returning Students

A returning student is a student who was admitted and enrolled in a program at St. Scholastica but has been absent from the program for at least three continuous semesters, including summer. To return to the same program at St. Scholastica, a returning student must be in good academic standing and must apply for readmission to the College.

Prerequisites

  • Lifespan Developmental Psychology (3-4 credits)
  • General Chemistry — no lab required (3-4 credits)*
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology (Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 OR Human Anatomy and Human Physiology) (6-8 credits total).* Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 must be taken at the same institution.
  • Microbiology (no lab required) (3-4 credits)*
  • Nutrition (minimum 2 credits)
  • Statistics — Descriptive and Inferential (3-4 credits)
  • Pathopharmacology requirement: either option one OR option two*
    • Pathopharmacology course (3 credits minimum) — can be taken at any institution
    • Pathophysiology PLUS a Pharmacology course (3-4 credits) — can be taken at any institution, courses do not have to be taken at the same college
  • Current Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA/NA-R) registration or course completion
    *Science course

All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to program start. It is recommended that you have four prerequisite courses completed (with a grade) at the time of application, three being science courses. Preference will be given based on the number of prerequisite courses completed at the time of application. A minimum grade for prerequisite courses is a “C”. Please note, meeting this minimum requirement does not guarantee admission to the program. There is no time limit for taking the prerequisite courses, however, you will be held accountable for the content. The accelerated nursing curriculum builds upon the prerequisite courses and requirements. For example, you must understand pathophysiology of disease processes to care for patients with a specific disease. You may want to consider retaking one or more prerequisite courses, especially the science courses, to refresh your knowledge and comprehension. CLEP credits will be accepted for all prerequisite courses if a CLEP exam is available.

*Please note that all prerequisite courses need to be completed before the program starts.

Accepted Students

  • Submit $750 non-refundable deposit along with Decision Response Form
  • Complete and pass Caregiver and Criminal Background checks. These requirements are mandated by our clinical agencies.
  • Submit current CPR certificate with expiration date (must be American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR course or equivalent)
  • Submit CNA/NA-R registration
  • Submit documentation of completed immunization requirements
  • Required Online Orientation Module (sent to accepted students approximately one month prior to program start)

Immunization Requirements

  • COVID-19 vaccine
  • MMR: (two doses) or positive titers for measles, mumps and rubella
  • Tdap: (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine)
  • Varicella (Chicken Pox): Positive titer OR two doses of varicella vaccine — (can be process)
  • Tuberculosis (TB): A negative tuberculin skin test (Mantoux); two-step required (two tests with the second being 1-3 weeks after the first — both must be negative)
  • Hepatitis B series: (three vaccines — can be in process) OR a positive titer
  • Influenza

Meet Our Faculty

Experienced, Dedicated and Distinguished Educators

Expect to be heard, to be challenged and to be involved. St. Scholastica faculty are world-class scholars and experts in their field who invest in your success. Our values of community, respect, stewardship, hospitality and love of learning reflect our faculty’s commitment to lifting up others and celebrating our common humanity.