Admission Requirements

For the Master of Science in Nursing

An applicant must have a baccalaureate degree in Nursing from a CCNE or ACEN accredited institution or its equivalent and an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0. Applicants are also required to have a minimum of one year professional nursing practice and possess current licenses as registered nurses in New Jersey. Applicants must present their licenses for documentation. An interview may be required.

  • Official application (Apply online at www.saintpeters.edu or request an application by phone or mail).
  • Personal Statement: A personal statement of educational and professional goals.
  • Transcripts: Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended must be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admission by the issuing institution. Applicants with bachelor’s degrees from colleges outside the United States must submit official Course-by-Course Degree Evaluations (with an English Translation) from World Education Services, Inc. (WES).  The School of Nursing will only accept evaluations from World Education Services, Inc.  Other degree evaluation services will be considered if WES was not utilized. 
  • Recommendations: Three letters of recommendation from professional nurses in supervisory positions or academic nurse educators.
  • Malpractice Coverage: Applicants must show current malpractice insurance coverage with minimums of $1,000,000 per claim and $6,000,000 aggregate.
  • Satisfactory completion of undergraduate statistics and nursing research courses.
  • Physical assessment skills. From a transcript showing evidence of physical assessment skills, from validation by course description(s) showing hours of theory and laboratory, or by completing a challenge exam.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. However, it is strongly recommended that applicants submit applications and academic credentials at least two months prior to the beginning of the term in which they intend to start graduate study.

For the RN to MSN Bridge Option

In addition to the requirements for admission into the MSN program, applicants to the RN to MSN Bridge option must have:

  • Earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a GPA of at least 3.0.
  • An RN diploma or associate degree in nursing from a CCNE or ACEN accredited institution or its equivalent.
  • College credit validation through testing for Anatomy and Physiology I and II (Excelsior Examination) and Microbiology.

For the Post-Master’s Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program

In addition to the MSN admission requirements, applicants to the Post-Master’s Certificate program must:

  • Have a master’s degree in nursing from an accredited program with a GPA of at least 3.3.
  • A current license as a registered nurse in New Jersey, and have a minimum of one year of recent professional nursing experience. Applicants must present a New Jersey registered professional nurse license for documentation.
  • Submit evidence of physical assessment skills from a transcript showing evidence of physical assessment skills or course description(s) showing hours of theory and laboratory or by completing a challenge exam.

Students in the post-master’s certificate program must adhere to the clinical requirements described in the section Master of Science in Nursing. An interview with the Program Director may be required.

International Applicants

See the General Application Requirements section of the catalog.

For the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program

All applicants are reviewed by the faculty of the School of Nursing. General admission requirements are:

  • A MSN from a nursing program accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency.
  • Cumulative GPA minimum of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Official transcripts for all graduate nursing course work and degree completed.
  • Three letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s potential for success In doctoral studies.
  • Essay discussing your professional goals in relation to achieving the DNP degree at Saint Peter’s University (500-1,000 words).
  • Current resume.
  • A personal interview may be requested.
  • Hold a national certification.

Applicants for the Direct/Clinical or Advanced Practice Track must, in addition to the General Admission requirements, meet the following requirement:

  • Hold national certification as a Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Midwife, or Nurse Anesthetist and be practicing as an Advanced Practice Nurse.

Applicants for the Indirect/Non-Clinical or Nurse Executive/Administrative Track must, in addition to the General Admission requirements, meet the following requirement:

  • Have a specialty or concentration in administration and be engaged in an executive or administrative role.
  • Hold certification in his/her field.

Applicants are reviewed for September and January admissions. However, in order to maintain low student to faculty ratios and to afford students the opportunity to be known as individuals and in the spirit of the Jesuit educational philosophy of cura personalis, the admissions process is competitive and the number of individuals admitted each term is limited. Therefore candidates are advised to submit their materials as early as possible.

All Documents Should be Sent to:

Saint Peter's University
Attn: Graduate Admission
2641 John F. Kennedy Boulevard
Jersey City, New Jersey 07306

Please feel free to call the Office of Graduate Admission at (201) 761-6470 with any questions.

Criminal Background Checks and Health Records

Criminal history background checks are required for all candidates. The State of New Jersey requires proof of immunization against rubella, rubeola, mumps, and varicella. Therefore a copy of titer results and an updated physical must be on file in the University Health Office in Jersey City.

Jesuit Network

The nursing program participates in the Network of MSN Programs at Jesuit Colleges and Universities. Saint Peter’s University may be able to assist students who have completed a significant number of nursing courses at another Jesuit college or university to complete their degree at the original school. Details will be provided upon request.

Honor Society

Saint Peter’s has a chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, the International Honor Society of Nursing, Mu-Theta-at-large, that recognizes superior achievements in nursing, encourages leadership development, fosters high nursing standards, stimulates creative work, and strengthens the commitment to ideals of the profession.

Professional Memberships

The University is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Jesuit Conference of Nursing Programs, National League for Nursing, and Organization of Colleges of Nursing in New Jersey.

Transfer Credit

A student must initiate the request for transfer credit and secure the necessary official transcript(s), transfer credit form, and the approval of transfer credit from the Coordinator of the Program in which the student is enrolled. A grade of B or better is necessary for all transfer credits that will be applied toward a degree. In the MSN or DNP programs, a maximum of 6 transfer credits may be accepted from accredited graduate schools.

In the Post-Master’s Certificate Program, a maximum of 5 transfer credits may be accepted from accredited graduate schools.

Transcripts will be evaluated on an individual basis. Credits completed ten years or longer may not be transferable into the MSN or Post-Master’s programs.