Last Updated: Friday July 03, 2026  ·  Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard Nov 2025
St. Joseph's College of Nursing — Acceptance Rate and Admission Requirements
Non-Profit Private Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education Syracuse, New York 45.5% Acceptance Rate

St. Joseph's College of Nursing Acceptance Rate, GPA, and Admission Requirements

📍 Syracuse, New York 13203 🏛️ Main Campus 🌐 https://www.sjhcon.edu/

St. Joseph's College of Nursing — Admission Snapshot 2026

A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application

45.5%Acceptance Rate
3Avg GPA
$30,466Annual Cost
$81,908Grad Salary
40.3%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
45.5%
Avg GPA
3
Selectivity
Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Need-Based Aid
40.3% receive Pell

St. Joseph's College of Nursing is a hospital-based nursing program in Syracuse, New York, offering associate degree and bachelor's degree completion programs. Affiliated with St. Joseph's Health, the college provides students with clinical experience at a major regional medical center. The curriculum combines nursing theory with hands-on practice in specialties like medical-surgical nursing, pediatrics, and mental health. Small class sizes ensure personalized attention from experienced nurse educators.

The college's simulation labs replicate real healthcare settings, allowing students to develop clinical skills in a controlled environment. St. Joseph's strong relationships with healthcare providers facilitate job placement for graduates. The program's emphasis on compassionate, patient-centered care reflects its Catholic heritage. For those seeking a career in nursing with strong clinical preparation, St. Joseph's offers a respected pathway into the profession.

St. Joseph's College of Nursing Acceptance Rate

St. Joseph's College of Nursing is a well-known institution. It has a selective admission process. The acceptance rate of St. Joseph's College of Nursing is 45.5%. This means that 46 out of every 100 applicants get admitted.

Admissions Guidelines

  • Selective Enrollment: Applicants need a solid GPA and proof of academic growth.
  • Holistic Balance: Strong recommendations and community involvement are highly valued.

Selectivity at a Glance

Selective
St. Joseph's College of Nursing Selectivity Meter
Selectivity scale: Selective — 45.5% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)

If your GPA is slightly below the institutional average, you can remain competitive by scoring well on standardized tests and showcasing leadership in co-curricular activities.

Recommended Academic Profile

Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.00 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.80 – 2.99
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.55
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support

Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.

St. Joseph's College of Nursing GPA Requirement

The average GPA of admitted students at St. Joseph's College of Nursing is 3. This suggests moderate selectivity.

A mix of A's, B's, and some C's is common. Higher SAT/ACT scores can compensate for a lower GPA.

Note: This is an unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale. Students with AP or IB courses will typically have a weighted GPA of 3.20-3.40 for this same academic profile.

If your GPA is between 2.70 and 3, aim for a strong standardized test score.

St. Joseph's College of Nursing GPA & Admission Outlook

Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.

Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).

Admissions at St. Joseph's College of Nursing utilize a Holistic Review process. With an average admitted GPA of 3, the following table illustrates how your specific academic profile aligns with institutional expectations.

Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.00 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.80 – 2.99
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.60 – 2.79
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.59
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors

Expert Insight: 2026 Evaluation Metrics

  • Application deadlines differ by track: Early Action December 1, 2025 for both; Regular Decision February 1, 2026 (Evening/Weekend) vs. March 1, 2026 (Weekday Fall).
  • Prerequisite grades matter more than they appear - A&P I&II, Critical Writing, and Intro Psych completed with a B or higher make a non-HS applicant more competitive; repeated courses earning only a C do not.
  • New Caring Gene Career Pathways Training partnership offers full tuition, book, and fee coverage for eligible NY (and bordering-state) residents.
  • Hospital-based program (on St. Joseph's Health Hospital's campus since 1898) with a stated goal of a 90% first-attempt NCLEX-RN pass rate and 675 clinical hours; a separate A-DDPN track exists for bachelor's-degree holders via Le Moyne College (Nov 1 deadline).
  • The Rigor Metric: At St. Joseph's College of Nursing, a slightly lower GPA (e.g., 3.8) in a transcript featuring multiple AP or IB courses is often prioritized over a 4.0 in a standard curriculum.
  • The Upward Trend: If your early high school grades were lower, an upward trajectory in 11th and 12th grade demonstrates Academic Resilience.

Data Source: Verified via IPEDS and latest Common Data Set (CDS). Reviewed by our academic board led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.

Check Your Admission Chances at St. Joseph's College of Nursing

Admission Chance Predictor

Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on St. Joseph's College of Nursing's verified institutional data

--%
Calculating Profile...

Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.

Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00

⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.

Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.

St. Joseph's College of Nursing Test Requirements

In this competitive environment, standardized scores are no longer elective; they serve as a critical standardized benchmark to validate high school GPA and course rigor. Applicants should aim for scores within or above the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class to remain viable in the Holistic Review process. At institutions that remain test-optional, submitting a high-percentile score is still the primary strategy for securing merit-based scholarships and distinguishing one's profile in a high-volume applicant pool.

Can I Get Into St. Joseph's College of Nursing Without SAT or ACT?

St. Joseph's College of Nursing does not require admission test scores (SAT/ACT) during the application process and does not recommend that students provide these scores. But it is better to submit the test score if you have performed well in the test. It gives an extra opportunity to showcase your skills and competencies and hence will improve your chances of admission. It is advisable to appear multiple times in the test unless you score well above the average SAT / ACT score of the admitted students. Normally, students may appear in the test 2 to 3 times to improve their scores. But if your score is not up to the mark and is less than the national or state average, then it is better not to submit the score as it will impact negatively.

Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for St. Joseph's College of Nursing

Selective Strategy: Competitive Positioning

At St. Joseph's College of Nursing, admissions officers seek reliable, high-achieving students. The goal is to be a top-tier applicant to trigger both admission and high-value merit aid.

Treat the Named Prerequisites as the Real Gatekeeping GPA

Non-high-school applicants who complete Anatomy & Physiology I & II, Critical Writing, and Introductory Psychology with a B or higher are explicitly flagged as more competitive - and repeating a course just to bump a grade up to a C is explicitly flagged as less competitive. Have the student take these specific courses (at a partner school like Onondaga Community College, which lists exact equivalent course numbers) early and treat a strong first-attempt grade in them as more valuable than overall GPA polish elsewhere.

Apply for Caring Gene Career Pathways Training Before Submitting the Application

St. Joseph's recently partnered with the state-funded Caring Gene Career Pathways Training program, which covers full tuition, books, and fees for eligible New York residents (and residents of certain bordering states). Check eligibility at caringgene.org before applying to admissions, since this can eliminate the single biggest barrier to attending - cost - and should shape which application track and start date the family targets.

Route Career-Changers Through the A-DDPN, Not the Standard Application

An applicant who already holds a bachelor's degree in another field should apply to the Accelerated Dual Degree Partnership in Nursing (A-DDPN) through Le Moyne College by November 1, not through St. Joseph's standard admissions cycle - this is a separate joint-committee process with its own preferred 3.0 GPA (2.8-2.99 considered) and personal interview, and going through the wrong door wastes a full admissions cycle.

Pick the Weekday vs. Evening/Weekend Track to Match Deadline and Work Strategy

The two formats carry different deadlines - Regular Decision is February 1 for Evening/Weekend and March 1 for Weekday Fall - and Evening/Weekend students can realistically work as a Patient Care Technician at St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center while enrolled, building both income and a recommendation letter from a supervisor who already has visibility with hospital hiring managers (70-80% of grads are hired there).

Expert Insight:

Third-party sites list this school as having a "100% acceptance rate," but the college's own admission page states directly that admission is "highly competitive" and evaluated on GPA, curriculum strength, essay quality (down to grammar and punctuation), and recommendations - families relying on the aggregator number often under-invest in the personal statement and prerequisite science grades, which is the actual point of failure for a program with a small, fixed number of clinical seats.

St. Joseph's College of Nursing Profile

Full Name
St. Joseph's College of Nursing
City
Syracuse
State
New York
ZIP Code
13203
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)

Is a St. Joseph's College of Nursing Degree Worth It?

Getting into St. Joseph's College of Nursing can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. St. Joseph's College of Nursing offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision.

Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at St. Joseph's College of Nursing is $58,600 and the graduate unemployment rate is 3.65%.

How much does a degree from St. Joseph's College of Nursing Cost?

The average annual cost of the degree at St. Joseph's College of Nursing is $30,466. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at St. Joseph's College of Nursing is much less than this.

40.3% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 97.5 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to St. Joseph's College of Nursing and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.

At St. Joseph's College of Nursing, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist St. Joseph's College of Nursing as your choice in the form.

How much does a St. Joseph's College of Nursing Graduate earn?

The average annual salary of the graduate after 4–6 years of graduation is $81,908. An average St. Joseph's College of Nursing graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4–6 years after graduation).

The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is $40,595.

$30,466Annual Cost
40.3%Pell Grant
97.5%Federal Loan
$81,908Grad Salary (10yr)

Degree Programs at St. Joseph's College of Nursing

Associate Degree Programs

UG Certificate or Diploma Programs

Full list of all degree programs offered by St. Joseph's College of Nursing →

Frequently Asked Questions About St. Joseph's College of Nursing Admissions

Graduates of this university typically earn a high salary, $81,908 annually, depending on the industry.

The tuition fee at this university is moderate, around $30,466 per year. Many students seek financial aid and scholarships to manage the cost.

40.3% of students receive a Pell Grant at this institution. Your chances of need-based aid are moderate and depend primarily on your household income. Filing FAFSA early significantly improves your chances of receiving the maximum available grant amount.

The acceptance rate of St. Joseph's College of Nursing is 45.5% which is relatively high, above 20%, making it somewhat easier to gain admission compared to other top-tier universities.

The average GPA of admitted students is 3. This reflects the competitive academic profile expected from applicants.

While there is no single cutoff that guarantees a rejection, admission staff uses your GPA to determine if you are a best fit. If you have at least a 2.7, you are in the standard pool. If you are below a 2.7, we need to focus on your personal essay and letters of recommendation to explain the context behind your grades.

If your GPA is 2.6 or less, it may make admission difficult. However, your chances may improve if you have strong test scores, extracurricular activities, and essays. But this does not mean that you must not apply, or you do not have any chances. With additional AP courses, you can increase your chances even with this GPA.

While the average GPA of admitted students is 3, applicants with lower GPAs can still be considered if they have strong test scores, extracurriculars, and compelling personal essays that demonstrate resilience and potential.

Yes, many students successfully transfer each year. Be prepared with your academic transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement to make your application competitive.

To improve your chances, focus on excelling academically, building a strong extracurricular profile, and submitting standout essays. High SAT/ACT scores are also crucial for competitive admissions.

Last Updated: Friday July 03, 2026

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Sohaib Ahmad Khan

Sohaib Ahmad Khan is a leading career counselor and admission guidance expert who has guided over 50,000 students worldwide. He is the author of four books and developer of widely used career counseling and aptitude assessment systems. .

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