The BSN program at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).* Saint Joseph’s College of Maine is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE).

*The baccalaureate and master’s degree programs at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. 

Working under the supervision of a licensed registered nurse preceptor during your clinical rotations, you’ll practice what you learned in the online classroom. Clinicals are very similar to an internship or being an apprentice; you provide care for real patients while benefiting from the supervision and guidance of your preceptor. Additionally, SJC faculty will direct and evaluate the clinical experience, providing support to you and your preceptor.

Our clinical placement team works closely with you to ensure your rotations meet SJC’s and national guidelines. You’ll work with a dedicated SJC Placement Coordinator who will walk you through the process and be your primary point of contact for placement logistics. Based on the requirements of the program and where you live, your Placement Coordinator will help you source an appropriate site and preceptor.

Throughout the program and through to graduation, you will be in close communication with your Placement Coordinator, who will prepare you for clinicals by ensuring you complete all clerical and health requirements, answering your questions, verifying your clearance requirements, and walking you through the nursing clinicals checklist.

All clinical experiences are unique because students work in various healthcare environments. During clinical rotations, you will be under the close supervision of your preceptor and the indirect supervision of SJC clinical faculty. You will be given specific instructions to follow while keeping clinical practice guidelines in mind.

You will receive a notification from your Placement Coordinator prior to each clinical start date. Once the placement has been confirmed and communicated, you are encouraged to begin working directly with your preceptor to establish a schedule.

Saint Joseph’s College of Maine’s hybrid ABSN program costs $900 per credit hour for a total program investment of $54,900 (plus $4,000 in fees). Financial aid may be available to our online students.

This is a full-time, academically rigorous program that requires full-time attention. It is not advised that students work while in the program.

ABSN students participate in two immersive clinical instruction weeks on campus in Standish, Maine—once during the first semester and again in the third semester. These immersions are designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice by offering hands-on experiences that develop clinical skills and build confidence. Additional objectives include evaluating student competency and enhancing clinical judgment.

Immersions include:

• Clinical instruction
• Skills practice in labs
• Simulation experiences
• Competency evaluations by clinical faculty

First Immersion Focus:

• Checking vital signs
• Administering medications
• Basic patient care
• Infection control

Second Immersion Focus:

Simulation-based learning in a safe, controlled environment to strengthen clinical judgment and decision-making without compromising patient safety.

The immersions are overseen by the Program Director.

Students are responsible for arranging their own accommodations.

Dormir often provides a 10% discount for Saint Joseph’s College students, families, and friends. To receive the discount:

• Reservations must be made directly by phone
• Mention that the reservation is for Saint Joseph’s College business

After each campus-based immersion, students return to their home communities in Maine or other states to continue their studies.

They engage in:

• Didactic instruction via asynchronous and synchronous formats
• Clinical hours through one of two models:
  • Traditional Clinical Group Model
  • Preceptor Model

This full-time, accelerated program is designed to be completed in 15 months (4 semesters). Coursework is 100% online (synchronous and asynchronous) with 2 on-campus clinical immersions in the first and third terms.

There are 2 intakes per year: Summer and Fall.

This hybrid degree requires 60 credit hours of online coursework (synchronous and asynchronous) and 590 clinical hours to graduate.

The coursework is delivered 100% online (synchronous and asynchronous). You will also practice vital nursing skills during 2 on-campus immersions in our new, high-tech simulation lab and with real patients in clinical rotations.

You will learn from active clinicians who bring real-world experience into the online classroom. As trusted SJC faculty members, they are trained to meet your learning needs and are committed to your success as a nurse.

Yes. A dedicated SJC Placement Coordinator works with you to secure a site and preceptor near you. Learn more.

Students from a number of states are welcome to apply to the online ABSN program. Please see our State Authorization page for more detailed information.

• Introduction to Psychology (C or better) 
• Microbiology with in person lab (C or better) 
• Anatomy & Physiology I & II with in person lab (C or better) 
• Chemistry, Gen Chem, Organic Chem with in person lab (C or better)
• Nutrition (C+ or better) 
• Statistics (C or better)

You can find more information on this page.

• Bachelor’s degree in any field
• 3.0 Minimum cumulative GPA
  (Science courses must be completed within 10 years.)
• Official Transcripts
• 3 Letters of Recommendation
• Personal Essay
• Completion of Prerequisites