Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) - Lancaster

Saint Joseph’s offers a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program in Lancaster, providing students with essential nursing experience. The program allows you to hone your skills by pairing the knowledge you obtain in the classroom with hyper-realistic simulation experiences at our Center for Excellence in Practice.

Saint Joseph’s University offers a 100% online RN-to-BSN pathway program for practicing nurses who want to advance their careers in healthcare. This award-winning program enables busy nurses to earn their bachelor’s degree through flexible, individualized scheduling. For the practicing nurse, we provide courses that build upon your existing professional expertise and provide additional opportunities for personal and professional growth. You will learn about the theory behind nursing and will study current research as well as ethical dilemmas in healthcare.

Saint Joseph’s provides guaranteed clinical placements at the region’s top healthcare systems. The following clinical sites are available to four-year BSN students near our Lancaster location, providing our students with a diversity of nursing experiences at state-of-the-art facilities:

• Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital
• Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey,
• Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Lancaster
• Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Reading
• UPMC in Harrisburg, Lititz, and York, PA
• WellSpan Health in York, Ephrata, Lebanon
• WellSpan Philhaven in Lebanon, Ephrata and Lancaster, PA
• Lebanon VA Medical Center
• Lancaster Pediatric Specialty Hospital
• Select Specialty Hospital

At Saint Joseph's University, our commitment to delivering a personalized education is reflected in our small class sizes and experienced faculty. This approach fosters meaningful interactions and enhances learning, allowing students to receive individualized support and mentorship throughout their nursing education.

• Personalized Attention: With small class sizes, students benefit from one-on-one interactions with faculty, ensuring tailored guidance and support.
• Expert Faculty: Our experienced instructors bring a wealth of knowledge, clinical expertise, and a passion for teaching to the classroom, enriching the learning experience.
• Collaborative Learning Environment: Students can use classroom and learning spaces to foster collaborative and team-based learning. By participating in group projects and discussions, they enhance their understanding of nursing concepts and teamwork.
• Mentorship Opportunities: Faculty serve as mentors, helping students navigate their academic journey and prepare for successful careers in nursing.
• Commitment to Excellence: Our faculty are dedicated to instilling best practices in nursing, fostering a culture of excellence and professionalism among students.
• Healthcare-Focused Environment: From day one, students work alongside esteemed faculty to tackle real-world challenges and improve patient outcomes through interdisciplinary learning and hands-on experience at a location that focuses exclusively on healthcare learning.

View the required courses for this program in the academic catalog. Please contact us if you have any questions about the program curriculum.

Saint Joseph's University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing tuition structure includes both per-credit tuition and program-specific fees. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing costs $697 per credit for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Per-credit Tuition for the Four-Year BSN: 

The cost of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing is $697 per credit for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Program-Specific Fees for the Four-Year BSN: 

In addition to the per-credit rate, there are also program-specific fees for the following courses:

When a student enrolls in the following courses, they will be responsible for paying a fee of $2,825 per course:

• NUR 170 
• NUR 271 
• NUR 275 
• NUR 295 
• NUR 355 
• NUR 405

Pricing does not include room and board, health insurance or any professional, clinical or transportation fees. Visit our tuition and 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 website.

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.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing at Saint Joseph’s University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

1. To be considered for admission, you must have graduated from an approved secondary school (or be on track to graduate), received a diploma from an accredited home school association or earned a GED.

   A high school transcript with an official school stamp or an official GED transcript is required. High school transcripts must include courses completed through your junior year as well as courses in progress during your senior year. If you’ve attended any post-secondary institutions, official transcripts for those institutions are required as well.

2. High school or post-secondary college-level courses must include the following:
   • At least four units of English
   • At least three units of Social Sciences
   • At least three units of Mathematics (Two (2) of which are at least the level of Algebra)
   • Two (2) units of Science with a related laboratory or an equivalent (One (1) of which must be biology).
3. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or greater on a 4.0-point scale in secondary or post-secondary education (whichever is more recent). However, the GPA requirement can be different depending on specific program requirements. Please see our undergraduate requirements or reach out to the Office of Admission for additional information.
4. A high school transcript with an official school stamp or an official GED transcript is also required. High school transcripts must include courses completed through your junior year as well as courses in progress during your senior year. If you’ve attended any post-secondary institutions, official transcripts for those institutions are required as well.

Additional Admission Factors for Consideration:

In addition to the required items above, the admission team will consider the following factors when making an admission decision:

• Class rank
• Academic performance in post-secondary science and math courses
• Community service
• Healthcare-related service

First Time Applicants

To apply for this program, complete an application online. SAT and/or ACT scores are optional but you can submit them if you think they’ll strengthen your application.

Transfer Students
Applications to transfer to Saint Joseph’s are accepted on a rolling basis for fall and spring start terms.

Transfer credit may be awarded for previous coursework. A course must meet the following requirements to be considered for transfer to Saint Joseph’s University’s Lancaster campus:

• Undergraduate courses with a grade of “C” or above
• Graduate courses with a grade of “B” or above (Pass/Fail grades are not eligible for transfer credit)
• Must be from a regionally or programmatically accredited institution
• The coursework must match the course offered at Saint Joseph’s University
• Some programs have a time limit for specific courses

Download Our Transfer Credit Policy

Applications for high school students are available beginning August 1 of your senior year. For a full timeline of deadlines and additional information, visit our admission page.

If you are not a United States citizen, you must show proof of permanent resident visa status. Students educated in another country may be admitted if they:

• Satisfy general admission requirements
• Earn a minimum of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based) or 79 (internet-based) on the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) administered by the Educational Testing Service of Princeton, New Jersey

Students from English-speaking countries may choose to take the SAT or ACT instead of the TOEFL exam. An evaluation of foreign transcripts by the World Education Service or other approved agency is required.

Transfer credit may be awarded for previous coursework. A course must meet the following requirements to be considered for transfer to Saint Joseph’s University’s Lancaster campus:

• Undergraduate courses with a grade of “C” or above
• Graduate courses with a grade of “B” or above (Pass/Fail grades are not eligible for transfer credit)
• Must be from a regionally or programmatically accredited institution
• The coursework must match the course offered at Saint Joseph’s University
• Some programs have a time limit for specific courses

Download Our Transfer Credit Policy

A BSN, which stands for Bachelor of Science in Nursing, is an undergraduate-level degree that introduces nurses to topics such as patient care technology, research, health promotion, safety and quality within the healthcare system.

The 2023-2024 NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) total pass rate for Saint Joseph’s University’s program is 94.38%, one of the highest among any nursing program in Pennsylvania.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, registered nurses earn a median annual salary of $86,070.

 For the in-person nursing program, excluding off-site clinical courses, the average class size is 30-32 students.

Students enrolling in the traditional BSN program can expect to earn their degree in four years.

According to the American Nurses Association, the highest degree can be earned is a Doctorate in Nursing (PhD or DNP). A PhD in nursing focuses on research and advanced knowledge in the nursing field. A DNP in nursing is practice-based for hands-on nurses to pursue higher clinical positions with leadership roles and increased pay.