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St. Peter's Hospital College of Nursing is a tiny, hyper-focused nursing school in Albany, NY with a 100% acceptance rate and a century-old reputation for clinical rigor. Its intimate, hospital-embedded program delivers an associate degree with high NCLEX pass rates, though graduation rates lag behind national averages. This is a no-frills, high-touch option for students seeking direct patient-care training.
With a 100% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. in 2024 (2 admitted out of 2 applicants), St. Peter's is among the least selective nursing programs nationally. The school maintains a Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. policy, allowing applicants to forgo SAT/ACT submissions. Demographics skew heavily female (88.62%) with diverse racial representation: 53.5% multiracial, 39% Black, and 48.8% Hispanic students in recent cohorts.
The college offers only an associate degree in nursing, with a curriculum tightly integrated with St. Peter's Hospital clinical rotations. Founded in 1904, the program boasts consistently high NCLEX pass rates that exceed state and national averages. The school is relocating after 2026 due to lease changes at its current Troy campus, though it maintains its hospital-affiliated training model. Faculty emphasize hands-on patient care skills over theoretical coursework.
Life revolves around clinical rotations and hospital-adjacent training. The school hosts occasional immersion programs like the Nursing and Health Careers Camp for high schoolers. With no traditional campus amenities, social connections form primarily through cohort-based learning and shared clinical experiences. The student handbook outlines strict professional conduct expectations befitting a hospital environment.
The 53% graduation rate falls below national averages, though the program's NCLEX performance suggests strong clinical competency among completers. Earnings data for graduates isn't publicly available, but the hospital-affiliated model likely facilitates direct pipeline employment. The small cohort sizes (1-2 graduates in some years) make longitudinal data unreliable.
Tuition was $14,292 in 2020-21, with minimal institutional aid—averaging just $500-$800 per student. Federal and New York State assistance programs are available, but only 0% of students received federal grants according to one source. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator suggests costs are comparable to other associate-degree nursing programs.
This is nursing education stripped to its essentials: no gen-ed requirements, no campus distractions—just direct patient-care training in a working hospital. The 100% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. belies its rigorous clinical standards, evidenced by strong NCLEX performance. Ideal for career-changers or those seeking a fast, affordable path to RN licensure, though the low graduation rate suggests the intensity isn't for everyone.