Saint Louis University School of Nursing: What to Know in 2026
Saint Louis University’s Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing stacks a historic on-campus accelerated BSN (the nation’s first, per SLU), a direct-entry AMSN, traditional BSN, online RN-to-BSN, NP/CNL MSN programs, DNP, PhD, and educator certificates. Figures below come from SLU’s tuition catalog tables, program pages, the Missouri Board of Nursing 2025 Q3 RN Report 4 PDF, and SLU’s licensure outcomes PDF—confirm every detail with SLU and the Board.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
SLU highlights nearly a century of nursing education, the first accelerated BSN in the U.S. (1971), a dense St. Louis clinical ecosystem, and a wide ladder from entry-level RN preparation through NP, CNL, DNP, and PhD study—plus online completion and graduate certificates for working nurses.
Overview & Why Students Choose Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University is a private Jesuit research university whose Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing advertises cura personalis-framed nursing education with interprofessional emphasis. SLU’s public materials stress simulation-rich labs, clinical placements across the St. Louis metro, and a breadth of pathways from first nursing degree through doctoral study.
Pre-licensure students can choose a four-year BSN, the intensive on-campus Accelerated BSN (ABSN), or the Accelerated MSN (AMSN) direct-entry master’s. Licensed RNs can pursue the fully online RN-to-BSN. Post-licensure graduate choices published online include MSN nurse practitioner and clinical nurse leader programs, BSN-to-DNP and post-master’s DNP, a hybrid PhD, and post-master’s certificates in NP specialties and nurse education.
According to the Missouri Board of Nursing’s 2025 Quarter 3 RN Report 4 (data as of October 9, 2025), the row labeled MO – ST LOUIS UNIVERSITY – BS reports an 87.85% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in the overall Total column (159 passed of 181 first-time candidates). Confirm newer quarters on the Board’s NCLEX Statistics hub.
Reasons students choose SLU
Pioneering accelerated pathway
SLU states it launched the first accelerated BSN in the United States (1971); today’s ABSN remains a compressed, on-campus immersion with NursingCAS application flow.
CCNE stack + BON oversight
SLU’s accreditation page cites CCNE for baccalaureate through doctoral nursing programs and APRN certificates, plus Missouri State Board of Nursing approval for pre-licensure options.
Direct-entry master’s option
The 21-month AMSN targets career changers who want an MSN and eligibility for both NCLEX-RN and Clinical Nurse Leader certification.
Graduate depth without changing schools
Online MSN NP tracks (AGACNP, FNP, pediatric primary care, PMHNP), CNL, DNP, PhD, and PMC nurse-educator credentials support progression after licensure.
Nursing Programs Offered
Summarized from SLU nursing degrees, linked catalog excerpts, and the School of Nursing accreditation statement.
Pre-licensure & entry programs
Traditional four-year BSN
For first-time freshmen or transfer students; SLU highlights study abroad capacity, St. Louis hospital clinicals, and advanced simulation. Apply through SLU undergraduate admission.
Accelerated BSN (ABSN)
12-month, three-semester on-campus program for bachelor’s graduates (or junior entry with 77+ transferable credits per catalog). Requires prerequisite courses graded C or higher and typically 3.20 cumulative GPA (holistic review otherwise). Apply via NursingCAS; tuition table lists $84,340 total program cost.
Accelerated MSN (AMSN)
21-month direct-entry master’s for non-nurses; prepares graduates for NCLEX-RN and CNL certification exams per SLU. Fall and spring starts; NursingCAS application.
Post-licensure undergraduate
RN-to-BSN
Fully online completion program with no campus visits; SLU advertises completion in as little as two semesters with fall, spring, and summer entry.
Graduate, doctoral & certificates
MSN – Nurse Practitioner
Tracks listed on SLU’s site: adult-gerontology acute care, family, primary care pediatric, and psychiatric-mental health NP; individualized plans of study.
MSN – Clinical Nurse Leader
Leadership-focused MSN with flexibility for later NP transition, per SLU’s CNL program description.
DNP (BSN-entry and post-master’s)
BSN-to-DNP includes the same NP specialties as the MSN-NP listing; post-master’s DNP adds advanced practice and nurse executive leader concentrations.
PhD in Nursing
BSN-PhD and MSN-PhD entry; Friday classes blending on-campus and distance learners for research-intensive preparation.
Post-master’s certificates
NP certificates mirroring MSN specialties plus a nurse education PMC aligned with NLN CNE exam eligibility.
Prerequisite lists, credit totals, and admissions policies are copied from SLU pages current at publication—always open the live catalog and NursingCAS instructions for your entry term.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
According to the Missouri Board of Nursing NCLEX RN Report 4 (2025 Quarter 3), generated October 9, 2025, the education program row MO – ST LOUIS UNIVERSITY BS (US17508800) shows a 87.85% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in the Total column (159 passed of 181 first-time candidates) across the Apr–Sep 2025 reporting slices printed in that table. The PDF breaks out 92.22% (83/90) for Apr–Jun 2025 and 83.52% (76/91) for Jul–Sep 2025 in the institution’s total lines—confirm how those intervals map to your cohort. Updated reports post on the Board’s NCLEX Statistics hub.
Separately, SLU’s Valentine School of Nursing licensure pass-rate PDF lists Traditional BSN NCLEX data by graduating class (for example 226 of 235 first-time testers for 2023 graduates ≈ 96.2%). That PDF explains traditional BSN, ABSN, and AMSN NCLEX outcomes share one NCSBN education program code, so Board tables combine those routes into the single SLU BS row.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate (MO BON, BS program row) | 87.85% (159/181 first-time testers, Total column, MO BON 2025 Q3 RN Report 4) |
| SLU-published traditional BSN NCLEX (example cohort) | 96.2% (226/235 first-time testers, 2023 graduates per SLU licensure PDF—combined-code note applies) |
| Source | Missouri Board of Nursing — 2025 Q3 RN Report 4 (PDF); SLU licensure exam pass rates (VSON); index pr.mo.gov/nursing-education-nclex.asp. Confirm current data with the Board and SLU. |
NCLEX percentages change every reporting window. Use the Board PDF for regulator-published first-time rates and SLU disclosures for cohort narratives; confirm both before choosing a start term.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Clinical nursing programs involve background checks, compliance training, and site-specific policies that may differ for international students and foreign credential holders. Use this checklist as planning guidance—not legal advice—and verify every requirement with SLU’s International Admission team, the School of Nursing, and the Missouri Board of Nursing.
- English-language proficiency: Confirm SLU’s current TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo thresholds for your degree level (undergraduate vs graduate) and any higher bars for clinical programs.
- Transcript / credential evaluation: SLU’s ABSN admissions text references WES or ECE for NursingCAS when college work was completed outside the U.S.; ask whether additional reviewers are required for nursing prerequisites.
- Missouri Board of Nursing: Foreign-educated nurses seeking initial Missouri RN licensure must satisfy the Board’s documentation, English proficiency, and NCLEX eligibility rules independently of admission to a degree program.
- Immigration & visa: Intensive on-ground ABSN/AMSN cohorts may have different visa realities than fully online RN-to-BSN or graduate courses; disclose immigration status early to international advisers and the clinical compliance office.
Policies change frequently. Confirm the latest SLU international checklists and Missouri licensing pathways before paying deposits or relocating.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
SLU’s School of Nursing describes holistic admission—balancing grades with experience, service, and leadership. Traditional BSN applicants typically work through SLU undergraduate admission, while ABSN, AMSN, MSN, DNP, PMC, and PhD applicants routed through NursingCAS must follow transcript and prerequisite instructions exactly to avoid processing delays.
Application timeline
| Pathway | Deadline / cycle | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional BSN | SLU freshman / transfer deadlines | Follow SLU admission deadlines and nursing prerequisite guidance; nursing school does not publish a separate “hard” deadline on the overview page. |
| ABSN | Rolling review (no official deadline per catalog) | Review begins August with weekly decisions until full; junior-entry decisions start early January. Uses NursingCAS + official transcripts. |
| AMSN & graduate nursing | Fall & spring (AMSN); multi-term (online grad) | Degrees page lists fall/spring AMSN starts; online MSN/DNP/PMC pathways list fall, spring, and summer entry options—confirm exact dates in NursingCAS. |
| RN-to-BSN | Fall, spring, summer | Fully online; follow SLU Apply instructions on the RN-to-BSN program page. |
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate (nursing-specific) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Minimum GPA — ABSN (prior bachelor’s or junior entry) | Catalog: cumulative college GPA 3.20 / 4.00 on prior coursework; holistic review if below threshold. |
| Prerequisite grades — ABSN | Catalog: required prerequisites must be C or better from regionally accredited institutions. |
| Junior-entry ABSN credits | Catalog: 77 transferable credits minimum (130 credits to graduate) with all School of Nursing foundation requirements met. |
| Dismissal / prior nursing course policy | Catalog: cannot admit applicants dismissed from other nursing programs or with unsuccessful pharmacology/pathophysiology attempts. |
| TEAS / HESI | Not cited on the ABSN excerpt used for this guide; confirm with slunurse@slu.edu for your pathway. |
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
SLU publishes School of Nursing rates inside the university’s 2025–2026 Academic Year tuition index drawn from the academic catalog. Amounts below exclude housing, meals, travel, clinical expenses, and loan fees; SLU’s Cost of Attendance workbook lists sample on- and off-campus budgets (for example ≈ $81,002 total COA for resident undergraduates in 2025–26 before aid).
| Metric | Value (2025–26, SLU catalog tuition index) |
|---|---|
| School of Nursing undergraduate (full-time, fall/spring semester) | $28,480 per semester (12+ credits) |
| School of Nursing undergraduate (part-time) | $2,000 per credit |
| Annualized full-time undergrad tuition (two standard semesters) | $56,960 tuition only (28,480 × 2) |
| RN-to-BSN (per credit) | $540 per credit |
| Accelerated Generalist Master’s in Nursing (AMSN & related) | $1,330 per credit |
| MSN-NP, MSN-CNL, other graduate nursing (excl. DNP/PhD line) | $1,400 per credit |
| DNP & PhD nursing | $1,400 per credit |
| Accelerated BSN total program tuition (catalog program table) | $84,340 (listed on ABSN page; verify add-on fees) |
| University & nursing fees | Index lists University Fee $435 full-time / $250 part-time and $120 distance-learning fee where applicable; Student Government Activity Fee $65 undergrad / $30 graduate |
| Source | SLU Tuition and Costs (catalog grid); ABSN tuition table; Cost of Attendance. |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
SLU’s marketing site states that about 97% of graduates pass NCLEX on the first try (see slu.edu/nursing “By the Numbers”), while regulator-published cohort statistics appear in Missouri Board PDFs. This guide cites the Board’s 2025 Q3 RN Report 4 figures in the NCLEX section and SLU’s downloadable licensure PDF for graduate-class snapshots.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate (MO BON) | 87.85% (159/181 testers, Total column, MO BON 2025 Q3 RN Report 4) |
| SLU-reported traditional BSN NCLEX (2023 grads) | 96.2% (226/235 first-time testers per SLU licensure PDF; combined education code note applies) |
| Marketing headline (“97% first-time NCLEX”) | Quoted on SLU nursing homepage; confirm how Marketing defines cohort scope versus Board reporting years. |
| Job placement / employment | Not summarized from a single audited table in this guide; check SLU career services or consumer information for post-graduation employment disclosures. |
Is Saint Louis University the Right Fit for You?
Choose SLU when you want a private Jesuit university in the City of St. Louis with flagship accelerated options (ABSN, AMSN), a still-expanding online graduate nursing portfolio, and clinical immersion in one of the Midwest’s largest hospital markets.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Value Marlborough / Midtown adjacency to BJC, SSM, Children’s, and other academic medical centers for high-acuity rotations.
- Want an accelerated or direct-entry master’s format that keeps cohorts together on SLU’s St. Louis campus for labs and sim.
- Plan to continue into NP, DNP, or nurse-educator credentials at the same institution after licensure.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Need the lowest tuition sticker price before aid—public Missouri community colleges and regional universities may cost less at published rates.
- Cannot relocate or commit to in-person intensive ABSN/AMSN schedules; SLU’s initial licensure prep is not an online-only option.
- Prefer a very small cohort program outside a major research university structure.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
SLU’s nursing marketing promises clinical experiences across numerous St. Louis metropolitan hospitals; examples frequently cited regionally include Barnes-Jewish, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, SSM Health, Mercy, and St. Luke’s—though your assigned sites depend on cohort agreements and compliance clearance.
| Setting | Regional context (examples, not a contract clinical list) |
|---|---|
| Academic medical centers | Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University–affiliated quaternary services anchor complex trauma, transplant, and specialty referrals. |
| Pediatrics | St. Louis Children’s Hospital provides high-volume pediatric exposure adjacent to Barnes-Jewish. |
| Faith-based & community networks | SSM Health, Mercy, and St. Luke’s operate multiple campuses across Missouri and Illinois—common placement partners for metro nursing programs. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
Undergraduate nursing facilities are centered on Caroline Street near SLU’s health sciences corridor, with simulation suites supporting skills, interprofessional scenarios, and high-fidelity training. Students also plug into SLU-wide ministries, Division I athletics as spectators, hundreds of student organizations, and service projects tied to SLU’s Jesuit mission. Expect commuting or parking planning when traveling to scattered clinical sites.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Campus location
- St. Louis, Missouri (Caroline Street / Midtown)
- Address
- 3525 Caroline Street, St. Louis, MO 63104-1099, US
- Telephone
- 314-977-8995 (School of Nursing recruitment & enrollment)
- Contact email
- slunurse@slu.edu
- Website
- slu.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Read the official ABSN or traditional BSN catalog pages and list outstanding prerequisites.
- Open a NursingCAS account if you are targeting ABSN, AMSN, or graduate nursing, and order electronic transcripts early.
- Download SLU’s licensure outcomes PDF and the latest Missouri Board NCLEX Report 4 to compare board vs school snapshots.
- Run SLU’s Net Price Calculator and note School of Nursing scholarship deadlines.
- Email slunurse@slu.edu for transcript pre-review if you are unsure about equivalencies.
- Shadow or interview RNs in your target St. Louis units to sanity-check commute/clinical feasibility.
- Set calendar reminders for FAFSA renewal and any NursingCAS milestones.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Missouri Board of Nursing first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for Saint Louis University’s BS nursing program?
In the 2025 Quarter 3 RN Report 4 PDF (data as of October 9, 2025), the ST LOUIS UNIVERSITY – BS row reports 87.85% for first-time testers in the Total column (159 passed / 181). Confirm newer quarters on pr.mo.gov/nursing-education-nclex.asp.
What NCLEX data does SLU publish separately?
SLU’s Valentine School of Nursing licensure PDF lists traditional BSN NCLEX outcomes by graduating class (for example 226/235 first-time testers for 2023 graduates) and notes that traditional BSN, ABSN, and AMSN share one NCSBN program reporting code.
How do I apply to SLU’s accelerated BSN?
Apply through NursingCAS, submit official transcripts, and complete prerequisites with grades of C or better. Catalog excerpts cite a 3.20 GPA expectation (with holistic review if lower) and 77-credit junior-entry eligibility. Reviews begin in August until the cohort fills.
What tuition does SLU list for nursing in 2025–26?
The catalog tuition index lists School of Nursing undergraduates at $28,480/semester full-time, RN-to-BSN at $540/credit, AMSN-related coursework at $1,330/credit, most graduate nursing at $1,400/credit, and the ABSN table at $84,340 total program tuition—plus university/state fees.
Does Saint Louis University offer a direct-entry master’s for non-nurses?
Yes—the 21-month Accelerated MSN prepares graduates for NCLEX-RN and the Clinical Nurse Leader exam per SLU’s program marketing, with fall and spring starts.
Where is the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing?
3525 Caroline Street, St. Louis, MO 63104-1099. General nursing recruitment phone: 314-977-8995; email slunurse@slu.edu.
Which nurse practitioner tracks does SLU advertise?
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, Family, Primary Care Pediatric, and Psychiatric-Mental Health NP options appear on SLU’s MSN-NP materials, each delivered online with faculty advising.
Is SLU nursing CCNE-accredited and Missouri Board-approved?
SLU’s accreditation page states CCNE accreditation for its nursing programs (baccalaureate through DNP/post-graduate APRN certificates) and Missouri State Board of Nursing approval—always confirm effective dates with both bodies.
Why is SLU’s accelerated BSN historically notable?
SLU claims creation of the first accelerated BSN (1971) in the United States; today’s ABSN remains a three-semester, on-campus immersion.
What should international nursing applicants verify?
Confirm English exams, credential evaluation (examples: WES/ECE for NursingCAS foreign coursework), Missouri RN licensure pathway for internationally educated nurses, visa impacts on clinical placements, and any SLU International Admissions addenda.
References
- Saint Louis University — Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursingslu.edu/nursing
- Saint Louis University — nursing degree programsslu.edu/nursing/degrees
- Saint Louis University — School of Nursing accreditationslu.edu/nursing/about/accreditation
- Saint Louis University — tuition & costs (2025–26 catalog grid)slu.edu/financial-aid/tuition-and-costs
- Saint Louis University — cost of attendanceslu.edu/financial-aid/tuition-and-costs/cost-of-attendance
- Saint Louis University — ABSN program / tuition tableslu.edu/nursing/degrees/undergraduate/nursing-bs-accelerated
- Saint Louis University — Valentine School of Nursing licensure pass rates (PDF)licensure-exam-pass-rates-vson.pdf
- Missouri Board of Nursing — NCLEX statistics indexpr.mo.gov/nursing-education-nclex.asp
- Missouri Board of Nursing — 2025 Q3 RN Report 4 (PDF)2025 Quarter 3 RN Report 4.pdf
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)ncsbn.org
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Registered Nursesbls.gov/ooh
Editorial Standards & Review
About the author: Francesco Di Siena, RN, writes evidence-based nursing education guides for NurseOnShift.
Review: This page was reviewed by Araceli Collado, RN, with emphasis on Missouri Board NCLEX PDF alignment, SLU catalog tuition tables, NursingCAS pathways, and program inventory accuracy.
Disclaimer: This page is for general reference only. It does not constitute professional, admissions, or financial advice. Requirements, deadlines, tuition, and policies change; always verify with the institution and the Missouri Board of Nursing.
Published: March 27, 2026 · Last reviewed: March 27, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy