St. John’s College of Nursing Earns National Recognition

St. John’s College of Nursing has been honored with the Top Nursing College 2025 award by Education Insider magazine, recognizing its outstanding dedication to academic excellence, clinical expertise and student success. According to Chancellor Traci M. Krause, “This award reflects the dedication of our faculty, staff and students who live out our mission every day. We’re proud to be recognized for our work in educating and preparing compassionate, skilled nursing professionals who make a meaningful impact on patients and communities.”

 Founded in 1886 by ten Hospital Sisters of St. Francis who emigrated from Germany to serve Springfield residents, St. John’s — the nation’s oldest Catholic hospital-based nursing college — will mark its 140th anniversary in 2026. Over recent years the college has seen dramatic growth in both its enrollment and student outcomes. From 2023 to fall 2024, total enrollment nearly doubled, while the LPN-to-BSN program surged by 300%. In the same period, student passage rates on the NCLEX (the national licensure examination for nurses) increased from 78 % in 2023 to 95 % in 2024 — significantly higher than the 2024 state average of 87 % and national average of 91 %.

In response to the changing needs of students, the college revamped its curriculum: the LPN-to-BSN track now acknowledges prior education and on-the-job experience, and the RN-to-BSN program has been shortened from two years to one, giving working registered nurses greater flexibility through an online-only format. In addition to its undergraduate offerings, St. John’s also provides advanced programs including a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).

 With strong recent gains, deep historical roots and national recognition, St. John’s College of Nursing is positioned to continue its mission of preparing skilled, compassionate nursing professionals who serve both patients and communities in Springfield and beyond.