The Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program is designed for individuals with a bachelor’s degree who seek to become a registered occupational therapist. Through this program, you will learn how to help patients overcome physical, sensory or cognitive obstacles and will make a meaningful impact on patient care.
Nursing - Bachelor of Science (BSN)
Saint Joseph's University's mission of compassion and caring for the whole person is a hallmark of a student's education, which will be learned through hands-on training. Students hone their clinical nursing skills by pairing rigorous classroom learning with time in the university's advanced learning space and simulation lab. From the day you enter the program, students are placed on a track for clinical placements at some of Philadelphia's leading health care organizations.
In Fall of 2024, Saint Joseph's will launch our BSN program for first-year students on our Hawk Hill campus in Philadelphia. Students will have access to labs and clinical placements in Philadelphia throughout their course of study. This program is not accepting transfer students.
The BSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

97.67%
2021 NCLEX Pass Rate, the highest among any nursing program in Pennsylvania.1

100%
Job placement rate for graduates of the program.2

$77,600
Average starting salary for graduates of the program.3
What Sets Our BSN Program Apart
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Saint Joseph’s is offering a unique path to success with a four-year concept-based BSN nursing program.
In our four-year BSN track, students develop their nursing knowledge and critical thinking skills. This concept-based curriculum is a combination of classroom work and immersive experiences in simulation, clinical, and service learning that is challenging and rewarding. The four-year BSN track does not offer clinical courses during the first year which allows for a reduced credit load.
Students applying for this program must meet the general requirements.
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Penn Medicine reserves a minimum of 50 nursing clinical rotation placements in the Philadelphia metropolitan area exclusively for Saint Joseph’s students. Penn Medicine brings together the strengths of a world-renowned, academic medical center and a nationally recognized community healthcare system. The clinical component of our BSN program will set you on a path for placement in Philadelphia’s leading health care facilities, with hands-on clinical experiences and high-tech simulation-based learning.
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Saint Joseph's nursing faculty are experts in their fields, bringing theory, practice and relevance to the classroom. Our small, dynamic classes allow for discussion, reflection and collaboration.
What Can You Do with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing?
Prepare yourself for a career providing high-quality healthcare with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Saint Joseph’s University. As the healthcare field grows and new opportunities emerge, our bachelor’s degree in nursing program is designed to prepare nurses for professional excellence. BSN graduates have gone on to pursue careers as:
- Nurses (in medical facilities, clinics, retirement communities or home settings)
- Clinical Research Nurses
- Nurse Educators
- Forensic Nurses
- Health Coaches
- Travel Nurses
Program Details
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Through our integration with Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia will be launching a four-year BSN program in the fall of 2024. More information regarding curriculum, coursework, costs, financial aid, accreditation and more, will become available during the integration planning process.
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Through our merger with Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, nursing will be offered for undergraduate students at our Hawk Hill campus in the fall of 2024. Required courses for this program will be coming soon in the academic catalog. Please refer to the FAQ if you have any questions about the program.
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Affordable tuition rates coming soon (2023-2024).
*This rate applies to all students accepted by Saint Joseph's University after June 1, 2023. Tuition and fee rates for students accepted prior to June 1, 2023 differ. Pricing does not include room and board, health insurance or any professional, clinical or transportation fees. Visit our Tuition & Fees page or contact us for more information.
Financial aid may be available to you to help offset the cost of your degree. Explore your options on our Financial Aid page.
Discount Eligibility
Have you completed a year or more of service with a recognized service organization? You may be eligible for our mission discount.
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Saint Joseph's is a Yellow Ribbon School that accepts GI education benefits. Our Office of Veterans Services can help you access and understand your benefits.
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Pending satisfaction of certain conditions and the receipt of all necessary regulatory and accreditation actions, including by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.
Saint Joseph’s University is approved by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Education and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, that assesses institutions for the highest available form of accreditation.
Why Study a BSN in Philadelphia?
Philadelphia is surrounded by more than 250 medical facilities and is known for its high concentration of hospitals and healthcare facilities. Regional employers include Highmark Blue Cross, MainLine Health, Penn Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and more.
By studying nursing at Saint Joseph’s University, you’ll be connected to our deep network within Philadelphia’s healthcare sector. You will benefit from a nursing school that has been a regional leader in Philadelphia for over a century, with experienced faculty leading well-established coursework, simulation-based learning and hands-on clinical experiences in Philadelphia, one of the nation’s key healthcare hubs.
Frequently Asked Questions
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An RN is a certification that allows the nurse to be a licensed, practicing nurse after passing the NCLEX exam. At an RN level, nurses work directly with patients to provide entry-level care, such as examine patients and record their symptoms and personal medical histories, as well as operate medical equipment and perform diagnostic tests.
A BSN is a four-year bachelor's degree providing students an in-depth knowledge of the field with general education courses, followed by hands-on clinical experiences. Students will dive deeper into learning about nursing, science, leadership, and management, resulting in higher salary nursing jobs and specialty fields.
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The 2021 NCLEX Pass Rate for the PA College program is 97.67%, the highest among any nursing program in Pennsylvania. The BSN curriculum students will receive at Saint Joseph's University will be the same as the BSN program at PA College.
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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, registered nurses earn a median annual salary of $77,600 and nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners earn a median annual salary of $123,780.
In January of 2024, PA College is expected to merge with and into Saint Joseph’s University, pending satisfaction of certain conditions and the receipt of all necessary regulatory and accreditation actions, including by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.
1 betternurse.org
2 lancastergeneralhealth.org
3 bls.gov and nurse.org
Related Programs
Make a direct impact on the lives of patients as a physician assistant (PA) by obtaining a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Saint Joseph’s University.
With a master’s degree in genomics, you’ll learn from expert faculty in rigorous online courses that address real-world challenges and strategies to improve disease research and patient care.