Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing

The academic experience is a laser-focused, immersive dive into nursing. The school's sole top major is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. Instruction is notably intimate, with the school ranking "among the best colleges for instructional attention" due to a favorable student-faculty ratio compared to the national average. The curriculum's ultimate validation is its results: students enjoy a near-perfect pass rate on the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX), with scores consistently higher than benchmarks. However, navigating graduation rates requires careful parsing of the data. Different sources report varying figures: a 100% graduation rate is cited alongside part-time retention, while federal IPEDS data indicates a 6-year graduation rate of 50% and a 150% rate (which allows more time) of 67%. A separate source notes a 45% associate's degree attainment rate within four years. This variance likely reflects the challenges non-traditional, career-focused students can face, but the strong NCLEX performance remains the core academic benchmark that matters most for licensure and employment.

Student life is inextricably linked to the hospital setting and the nursing profession. There is no traditional residential campus; the experience is built around clinical rotations, labs, and classroom study within the St. Peter's Health Partners system. Students gain hands-on insights early on, from hearing stories from hospital staff to exploring different nursing specialties and departments during organized events. The school fosters a close-knit cohort model where students share the intense, common goal of becoming nurses. While detailed information on clubs, athletics, or housing is limited in the provided sources—reflecting its non-residential, career-training focus—the immersive clinical environment itself defines daily life. Prospective students can tour the nursing program facilities to understand the practical, hospital-based setting.

Outcomes are the school's strongest selling point. Graduates are well-prepared for licensure, with an 88% NCLEX pass rate, a key metric for entering the nursing workforce. The financial return on the educational investment is solid, with graduates reporting a median salary of $64,383 ten years after enrollment. As noted in the Academics section, graduation rate data varies, but the ultimate career outcomes—licensure and earnings—demonstrate the program's effectiveness in its primary mission: producing employable, skilled nurses. The school holds commencement ceremonies, marking the transition from student to healthcare professional.

The school provides access to federal and institutional aid to help manage costs. 100% of full-time undergraduates receive some form of financial aid, with the average total aid awarded reported at $4,477 per year (or $10,457 in total aid). This aid package can include Federal Pell Grants, Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, and smaller amounts of state and institutional grant aid. The institution offers a Net Price Calculator and encourages students to explore scholarship opportunities for qualified candidates. Tuition and fees, when combined with estimated living expenses, can result in a total cost of attendance in the range of $40,000, making financial aid planning essential for most students.

Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing stands out for its pure, unadulterated focus. It is not a college with a nursing program; it is a nursing program that happens to award a degree. This identity shapes everything:

• Hospital-Embedded Education: The line between classroom and clinic is blurred. Students are in a working hospital environment from the start, learning alongside professionals and gaining the hands-on insights that are critical for nursing competence.
• Outcomes-Driven Model: The curriculum is explicitly designed for one purpose: to pass the NCLEX and launch a career. The celebrated near-perfect NCLEX pass rates are not an accident but the direct result of this clinical immersion and focused instruction.
• Accessible Pathway: With a 100% acceptance rate (for qualified applicants), no standardized test requirements, and clear academic prerequisites, it offers a transparent and accessible route into a high-demand, well-compensated profession for those who have decided nursing is their calling.
• Pragmatic, Not Prestigious: It forgoes the trappings of traditional college life—dorms, football teams, a broad liberal arts core—in favor of a pragmatic, efficient training model. For a student certain about becoming a nurse, this is a feature, not a bug: it's a direct pipeline to a $64,383 median salary, without distraction.