BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING | COLLEGE FOR ADULTS
About the program
Are you interested in using your current nursing knowledge to move ahead in your career?
Consider the flexible RN to BSN Degree Completion program from St. Catherine University's College for Adults, for RNs wishing to complete a BSN Women and men have the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN) at a rigorous and respected university.
How you will benefit
Ethics, community and the liberal arts are hallmarks of a St. Catherine education. You’ll benefit from a degree program that helps you:
• Develop skills to work across cultures and in teams to improve patient outcomes
• Build meaningful relationships with a diverse group of faculty and students
• Ground your work in ethics and mindful practice.
• Advance professionally or into graduate study for advanced practice.
• Influence positive organizational change and improve outcomes for clients/patients, families and communities.
• Apply for public health nurse certification and school nurse licensure, and sit for the Holistic Nursing Certification Exam.
• Pursue lifelong learning and fulfill your personal goals.
Class scheduling / Time to completion
Core Liberal Arts and Elective Schedule: Online
Many students enter St. Catherine prior to the nursing course sequence to take liberal arts courses that are available in an online format. Timelines vary, depending on how many courses you need to complete.
Graduate school pathways
After completing your BSN degree, build on your education with St. Catherine’s graduate programs, where you may prepare for advanced roles as a nurse educator or nurse practitioner
Made for busy adults
We understand that starting college or going back as an adult can be challenging, maybe even a little scary. That’s why St. Catherine works individually with each student to create an experience that supports you academically, and helps you balance the family, financial and career aspects of your busy life.
• Personal Advisors to guide you through course selection, registration and degree completion.
• Financial Aid Counselors to access loans, grants and available scholarships.
• Academic and Accommodations Support to sharpen math, reading, writing and study skills, and offer services for students with disabilities.
• Career Development Resources to build professional connections and help you meet your career goals.
Clinical practice experiences
There are project–based practice experiences during two of the courses in the nursing sequence. These practicums provide experiential and applied learning in public health nursing. Most of the practicum hours are completed independently One course includes ten hours of volunteer work at a non-profit serving a vulnerable population. You’ll work with faculty to select a volunteer site according to your interests, schedule and location. These experiences will give you the opportunity to directly implement the nursing care strategies you will be learning throughout the nursing course sequence.
How to apply
Complete an online application and request that your official transcripts from all colleges and universities be sent to St. Catherine by mail or electronically to adultcollege@stkate.edu
Program accreditation
St. Catherine University, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, is a member of the North Central Association of College and Schools.
This degree completion program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (AHNCC).
YOUR PROGRAM OF STUDY
Academic Requirements
You’ll start by transferring up to 90 semester credits from your associate nursing degree and additional transferable college credits. A minimum of 120 semester credits are required for this degree. Additional courses to meet the requirements for the BSN include:
Supporting
Course Requirement
The following course may be completed at St. Kate’s or transferred from another institution:
The following course must be completed at St. Kate’s:
• CORE 3990: Global Search for Justice (4 credits)
The following course may be completed at St. Kate’s or transferred from another institution:
• Arts and Humanities: one course in either philosophy (except PHIL 2150), literature, history, foreign language, studio art, theology, art history, creative writing, or classics.
We award six semester credits (upper-division) for successful completion of the NCLEX exam.
If you need additional credits to reach the minimum of 120 semester credits required for the BSN, you may choose electives in communications, healthcare policy, and more.
Second Degree Students
If you have a bachelor’s degree (in a non-nursing major) and an associate nursing degree, you may pursue this program as a second-degree student, and are not required to complete the two liberal arts courses listed above.
School of Nursing
The RN to BSN program is part of the University’s School of Nursing, offering undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs through St. Kate’s College for Adults, College for Women and Graduate College
The information in this document applies to students entering the College for Adults in Fall 2024 or later. This document is subject to change at any time. Consult the St. Catherine University Undergraduate Academic Catalog for official requirements.
Nursing Sequence (22 credits / 6 courses)
To be eligible to start the nursing courses, registered nurses must have at least 82 semester credits, have passed the NCLEX–RN (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses) Exam, and hold a valid U.S. nursing license.
In this online cohort model you’ll take your classes with the same group of nurses. Online courses are asynchronous, allowing nurses to complete weekly assignments as their schedule allows The nursing courses are completed in less than one year.
Start this sequence in either fall or spring.
SEMESTER I
• NURS 3910: Empirical Foundations (4 credits/first half of semester over 7.5 weeks)
• NURS 3920: Professional Nursing: Theories, Concepts and Practice (4 credits/second half of semester over 7.5 weeks)
SEMESTER II
• NURS 3930: Population-Based Nursing Practice I (3 credits/first half of semester over 7.5 weeks)
• NURS 4110: Population-Based Nursing Practice II (4 credits/second half of semester over 7.5 weeks)
SEMESTER III
• NURS 4120: Leadership and Systems Change (4 credits/first half of semester over 7.5 weeks)
• NURS 4130: Evidence-Based Practice and Outcome Management (3 credits/second half of semester over 7.5 weeks)
Next steps:
• Contact the admissions office at: adultcollege@stkate.edu or 651-690-8700
• Ask for a free transfer evaluation
• Attend an information session
• Apply to start in Fall, Spring or Summer stkate.edu/rn-bsn 651-690-8700
Tuition and Financial Aid
2025–26 | COLLEGE FOR ADULTS
2025–26 Tuition per credit
Bachelor's degree programs
Most B.A. and B.S. options.....................................$475
To participate in most financial aid programs, you must be enrolled half-time (six credits or more per term). Full-time aid applies to students registering for 12 credits or more per term.
Certain scholarships require full-time status. Limited Minnesota Grant and Pell Grant funding available for students enrolled less than half-time.
$300
$45
Nursing Clinical and Assessment (for Nursing non-RN major; per term) ....................$700
Applying for financial aid: Get started
Most students in the College for Adults receive some type of financial aid (grants, scholarships, loans). Don't wait until you're accepted into St. Kate's to apply for financial aid.
Having your forms already completed at the time of your acceptance ensures that your financial aid file will be reviewed in a timely manner. To get started:
• Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application. Apply any time after October 1 for the following academic year. The St. Kate's FAFSA school code is 002342.
• Submit the St. Kate's Financial Aid application in order to be considered for state and institutional financial aid
Links to these online forms, as well as complete details on financial aid, are online at: stkate.edu/adultfinancialaid
Need help? Call our financial aid counselors at 651-690-6540
Need-based grant programs
Based on financial need, as established on your FAFSA:
• Federal Pell Grant
• Minnesota State Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
• St. Catherine Grant
Student loans
Subsidized Federal Direct Loan
Eligibility: Financial need, demonstrated by the student’s FAFSA filing. The government pays the interest while the student is in school at least half-time and during grace periods
Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan
Eligibility: No financial need requirement. Used to supplement loans from, or when the student is ineligible for, the Subsidized Federal Direct Loan. The student pays the interest during in-school and grace periods.
Alternative Student Loans
Eligibility: A student may be eligible for private loans from lenders, based on credit worthiness. Private student loans are commercial products with varying requirements and benefits. St. Kate's cannot recommend any one loan option over another.
Helpful websites
• St. Kate’s Outside Scholarship Listing (stkate.edu/financialaid)
• fastweb.com
• collegeboard.org
• studentaid.ed.gov
Military and veteran aid
Benefits and programs available to students include:
• Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill® and Yellow Ribbon Program
• Minnesota GI Bill; Minnesota Military Service and Minnesota National Guard Education benefits
• Montgomery Bill, Fry Scholarship and other federal benefits
• Vocational rehabilitation benefits
• GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill
St. Catherine scholarships
St. Kate’s Complete Scholarship
For associate degree graduates from the institutions below (or for students at those institutions who completed the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum) who are transferring to the College for Adults for their first bachelor’s degree:
• Anoka-Ramsey Community College
• Century College
• Inver Hills Community College/Dakota County Technical College
• Minneapolis College (MCTC)
• Normandale Community College
• North Hennepin Community College
• St. Paul College
Renewable, $3,000 per year for two years ($6,000 maximum). Distributed over the academic year for each consecutive term (Fall/Spring/Summer; no money distributed for a missed term.) Must be enrolled at least half-time.
St. Kate's corporate partner scholarships
Students in a College for Adults bachelor’s program who are currently employed at one of St. Kate's corporate or community partners may be eligible for a scholarship, reducing tuition costs by 10% Partners include:
• Allina Health
• Best Buy
• Center for Guided Montessori Studies
• Children’s Hospitals and Clinics
• City of St. Paul
• Ecumen
• Hennepin County
• M Health Fairview
• Medtronic
• North Memorial Hospital
• Park Nicollet
• Regions Hospital
• Twin Cities Orthopedics
• U.S. Bank
• Wells Fargo
• YWCA (Mpls)
And more!
View full list of partners
Student Accounts
The Office of Student Accounts provides information and services to support you in fulfilling your financial responsibilities, including setting up a payment plan and tuition reimbursement. You can also manage your student account using KatePay, a secure, online account management system available 24/7.
Need help? Contact them at 651-690-6503 or studentaccounts@stkate.edu
Next steps:
• Apply for financial aid as soon as possible after October 1 for the following academic year
• St. Kate's FAFSA code: 002342
• Contact financial aid counselors with questions.
