Nursing, B.S. (RN to B.S.N.)

Saint Louis University's online RN to B.S.N. program is designed to meet the needs of registered nurses who wish to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. This nursing degree can be completed fully online as part of a collaboration between SLU's School for Professional Studies and the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing.

SLU's RN to B.S.N. students are supported through individualized curriculum plans, faculty mentorship and online access to the library and writing center. 

Curriculum Overview

Students can choose from either a full-time or part-time option. No testing is required to validate previous nursing education.

Students will complete a total of 120 credits in this program. Thirty of the final 36 credits must be completed at Saint Louis University. Once credit for the University Undergraduate Core and general elective courses have been satisfied, students can complete their B.S.N. courses in as little as two semesters.

Thirty-eight credits of nursing coursework are awarded through credit by exam for passing the NCLEX exam. All nursing coursework must be completed through the School of Nursing.

Careers

A bachelor's degree in nursing makes graduates strong candidates for promotion, particularly for administrative and managerial jobs. Graduates are also qualified to teach students at technical and community colleges who are enrolled in licensed practical nursing programs and certified nursing assistant programs. Additionally, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing strongly believes that RNs should be, at minimum, prepared with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.).

Graduates may also go on to pursue advanced practice roles, including nurse practitioner, clinical nurse leader and nurse anesthetist with additional graduate-level coursework.

Admission Requirements

The Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing adheres to the principles of a holistic admission process in which selection criteria are broad-based and linked to our University’s and school’s mission and goals. While we do consider academic metrics, we also look at applicant experiences, attributes, potential for success, and how applicants may contribute to the school’s learning environment and to the profession.

State Requirements

Saint Louis University Valentine School of Nursing accepts applications to its RN to B.S.N. program by registered nurses who are residing in one of the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Enrolled students must live in one of the listed states throughout all coursework at Saint Louis University.

Prior Education

To be considered for admission, you must have completed an associate degree or hospital diploma program at a regionally accredited institution and have an unencumbered RN license. 

Application Process

• Step 1: Complete Application
  Complete the School for Professional Studies application online. Applications are accepted and processed on a rolling basis. Students are encouraged to apply for admission at least one month before the term in which they wish to enroll. For the RN to BSN application indicate that you are an Adult/Online student.

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• Step 2: Request Official Transcripts
  Have official transcripts mailed or emailed directly from all previously attended colleges to:

  • School for Professional Studies
    Attention: Admissions
    3840 Lindell Blvd
    St. Louis, MO 63108

  • School of Professional Studies email: spstranscripts@slu.edu

• Step 3: Meet with Admission Counselor
  Contact an SPS admissions counselor at sps@slu.edu or 314-977-2330 to discuss the status of the application and educational and career goals. Students may schedule an appointment to speak with an admissions counselor at the St. Louis campus or over the phone in certain instances. Appointments are available during business hours and on weekday evenings.

Tuition

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

Net Price Calculator

Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships and Financial Aid

There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:

• Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
• Financial Aid: Financial aid is provided through grants and loans, some of which require repayment.

Saint Louis University makes every effort to keep our education affordable. In fiscal year 2023, 99% of first-time freshmen and 92% of all students received financial aid and students received more than $459 million in aid University-wide.

For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, apply for admission by December 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.

For more information on scholarships and financial aid, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.

Discounted Tuition Options

Partnerships

Saint Louis University partners with several St. Louis area health care providers to offer its employees discounted tuition rates. Ask your employer if SLU is an educational partner for our RN to B.S.N. program.

Employment Training Grants

The RN to B.S. program is eligible for federal funding for qualified students who are displaced, unemployed, underemployed, veterans or economically disadvantaged. Funding sources include the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and Dislocated Worker Programs.  To determine eligibility, students should contact the Missouri Division of Workforce Development at jobs.mo.gov or 1-866-506-0251.

Accreditation

The Saint Louis University Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing is fully approved by the Missouri State Board of Nursing.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post-graduate advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) certificate program at Saint Louis University's Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 665 K Street N.W., Suite 750, Washington, D.C., 20001. The commission's phone number is 202-887-6791.

Licensure Disclosure

For information about whether this program meets any state board of nursing's educational requirements for eligibility to take a state licensure exam, please see our Professional Licensure Disclosure page.

1. Knowledge for Nursing Practice: Integrates an understanding of nursing’s distinct and shared disciplinary perspectives and applies theoretical and empirical knowledge from the humanities and natural, social, behavioral and nursing sciences to form the basis for clinical judgment and innovation in nursing practice.

2. Person-centered Care: Engages in nursing care through the relational lens, which fosters caring relationships, mutuality, active participation, and individual empowerment in the delivery and communication of compassionate person-centered nursing care through cura personalis.

3. Population Health: Collaborates with diverse stakeholders for the advancement of effective partnerships, health policy and improvement of equitable population health outcomes related to the social determinants of health.

4. Scholarship for Nursing Discipline: Applies, translates and implements best evidence and client values into clinical decision-making.

5. Quality and Safety: Enhances quality of care while minimizing risk of harm to clients and providers through system effectiveness and individual performance.

6. Interprofessional Partnerships: Collaborates across professions with care team members, clients, clients, families, communities and other stakeholders to optimize care, enhance the healthcare experience and strengthen outcomes.

7. Systems-Based Practice: Effectively and proactively coordinates resources to provide safe, quality and equitable care to diverse populations within complex healthcare systems to address social and structural determinants of health.

8. Informatics and Healthcare Technologies: Utilizes information processes and technologies to manage and improve the delivery of safe, high-quality, and efficient healthcare services.

9. Professionalism: Cultivates a sustainable professional nursing identity, accountability, perspective, collaborative disposition and ethical principles that reflect nursing’s characteristics and values.

10. Personal, Professional and Leadership Development: Participates in activities and self-reflection through Ignatian pedagogy that foster personal health, resilience and well-being while supporting the acquisition of nursing expertise, lifelong learning and the leadership continuum.

A minimum of 120 credits is required; 30 of the final 36 credits must be completed through Saint Louis University or an approved study abroad program.  Typically, students transfer in many of the required University Core courses, as well as a number of University electives.  Additionally, RN Students will be awarded credit by exam for 38 credits of required coursework for passing the NCLEX exam (see * on courses below).  Accordingly, the majority of time in the program is typically spent on the required courses of the Nursing major, as detailed below.

*

RN Students will be awarded credit by exam for these courses for passing the NCLEX exam.

Continuation Standards

The School of Nursing requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

¹

This course is only offered during the Fall 1 term.

²

Note: This course is sometimes also offered during the summer term. However, this course can only be offered, if 10 or more students are enrolled.

³

This course is only offered during the Fall 2 term.

⁴

This course is only offered during the Spring term.

⁵

This course is only offered during the Spring 2 term.

⁶

Note: One 8-week nursing elective is sometimes offered during the summer term. However, this course can only be offered, if 10 or more students are enrolled.

Program Notes

1. You must inform School of Professional Studies or School of Nursing if you have a change in job status and this impacts cohort coding.
2. You must inform SPS or SON if you change states as this might impact receiving your degree.
3. Health assessment and nutrition taken in your RN degree program may be accepted for transfer.
4. No transfer course will be accepted if the student received a letter grade below “C” or a grade of "P" (passing).
5. Transfer courses do NOT count towards the last 30 credits at SLU.
6. No SPS or nursing course will be accepted toward degree completion if the grade received is below “C”.
7. CLEP courses may be accepted for course credit per SLU policy.
8. Total credits must equal 120 or higher.
9. Thirty of the final 36 credits must be completed at SLU.
10. Be aware: once you transfer from SPS to SON there is a price change.
11. Students will be eligible to transfer to the School of Nursing with a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher. Holistic admissions will be considered on an individual basis.  
    1. *RNs who do not meet the GPA requirement at the time of SPS admission may be required to take a minimum of six credits at SPS and earn a grade of "C" or better in all SPS courses in order to be eligible for transfer/admission to the School of Nursing.
    2. *RNs who meet the GPA requirement at the time of SPS admission and have completed all required Arts and Science courses (including elective credits) may transfer to the School of Nursing and take nursing electives as needed to fulfill requirement number nine.
12. Students are subject to dismissal from the School of Nursing for academic or professional reasons, including being placed on academic or clinical probation for a second time and “failing” two or more courses during the course of study. 
13. Please note that upon transfer to the SON, students will need to complete a criminal background check and HIPAA and blood-borne pathogen training. Students will need to submit a copy of current CPR certification, influenza vaccination, TB testing, and other information prior to starting the community project course to CastleBranch.  For the community project course, students complete a project with a preceptor in their community.  A one-time fee is required for CastleBranch registration and background check.

14. *Students are responsible to review and adhere to the B.S.N. handbook on the SON site for all policies.

¹

See the BSN Student Handbook on the School of Nursing website for policy details. 

Apply for Admission

For additional admission questions, please contact the Valentine School of Nursing's recruitment and enrollment staff:

Undergraduate Inquiries
314-977-8995 
slunurse@slu.edu 

Graduate Inquiries
314-977-8976 
gradnurse@slu.edu