Online Degrees Available at the University of Saint Mary
The University of Saint Mary in our ranking of the Top 30 Most Affordable Master’s in Nursing Education Degrees Online.
In 2016, the Online Learning Division at the University of Saint Mary reported 96 percent student satisfaction for two bachelor’s and nine master’s degrees offered digitally. Following Sister Simone Roach’s Five Cs of Caring, USM Online specializes in training health care professionals online. The Engage platform connects to online courses authorized in 50 states with an 11:1 learner-faculty ratio for personal mentoring. Other benefits include the IT Help Desk, Virtual Open House, employer reimbursements, De Paul Library resources, free Bookstore shipping, “Military Friendly” services, and a user-friendly URL. Two sample online Saint Mary master’s programs are:
Leadership and Organizational Health MBA
Launched in 2014, Saint Mary’s Leadership and Organizational Health MBA is the first-ever online business degree modeled by the real-world strategic principles of Patrick Lencioni, the New York Times bestseller and Table Group CEO. This 36-credit, IACBE-accredited plan builds atop Catholic ethics for eight-week courses like Operations Management, Global Business, and Executive Policy with DiSC assessment tools before the capstone.
Nurse Administrator MSN
Directed by Dr. Linda King, a Sigma Theta Tau member, the Nurse Administrator MSN Online supports licensed USM post-grads seeking the organizational policy skills to snag promotions leading clinical wards with zero Leavenworth residencies. The 35-credit, CCNE-accredited degree takes under 24 months for virtual courses like Nursing Informatics, Fiscal Planning, and Relationship Building that integrate two 120-hour practica at community preceptors.
About the University of Saint Mary
The University of Saint Mary originated in 1859 when the Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, a Catholic nun order of 1,700 founded in Halifax, started the St. Mary’s Institute for women. In 1870, the Institute moved slightly south to its current 200-acre Leavenworth campus headquarters in the Kansas City Metro. Fifty-three years later, it became the Saint Mary Junior College for two-year associates. During Arthur Morton Murphy’s 1930s tenure, it switched to a baccalaureate model and admitted the first men. By 2003, the University of Saint Mary had adopted its current name and added graduate degrees in Overland Park or online. Raising $14.3 million, USM now educates 1,362 Spires from 33 states with 31 full-time faculty for 72 percent retention. Linked to 4,300 LinkedIn alumni, Saint Mary has graduated Molly Baumgardner, Julie Sandstede, Lance Hinson, and others.
The U.S. News & World Report ranked Saint Mary in the Midwest’s top 165 colleges and America’s 267th best online MBA providers. On Niche, USM boasts the 246th safest campus, 337th most selective admission, and 465th most conservative minds. College Factual honored Saint Mary for the 133rd best Catholic education and 278th top health professions training. WalletHub recognized the University of Saint Mary for the country’s 444th best educational outcomes and 461st best faculty resources. PayScale calculated an average mid-career wage of $84,100 for USM graduates. Washington Monthly placed Saint Mary 310th for financial aid and 476th for community service. Value Colleges picked USM for Kansas’ ninth most affordable online tuition too.
University of Saint Mary Accreditation Details
On August 20, 2012, the University of Saint Mary received a reaffirmation of its Level V accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association’s (HLC-NCA) Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) for seven more years under Provost Dr. Michelle Metzinger. Located 526 miles northeast via Interstate 55 in Chicago, this expansive 19-state Great Plains accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to judge the academic fitness of USM’s one doctoral, 10 master’s, and 34 undergrad offerings from Overland Park to Leavenworth and online. Up-to-date specialized accreditations are listed from these:
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
University of Saint Mary Application Requirements
Logging into the University of Saint Mary is considered “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s since only 439 of the 888 Fall 2016 candidates were accepted for a selective 49 percent rate. Post-grad Spires intrigued by online master’s options must have culminated a four-year bachelor’s degree. The last 60 semester hours need a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Probationary status is required for grades from 2.75 to 2.99. In particular, the Online MBA requires four prerequisite courses in Statistics, Financial Accounting, Corporate Finance, and Managerial Economics via Ivy Software. Graduates may transfer up to three 500-level courses graded at least “C.” The MSN Online tracks stipulate an accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing and valid U.S. licensure. Three prerequisites in Statistics, Nursing Research, and Health Assessment are mandated. Entrance tests are optional except for international learners needing a 550 TOEFL or 50 TSE score.
The University of Saint Mary welcomes Online MBA and MSN entrants with flexible rolling admission year-round. Anytime, access the digital application platform to complete all five sections thoroughly. The PDF version could be downloaded and mailed to the Processing Center at 1415 West 22nd Street Suite 800 in Oak Brook, IL 60523. Please contact (877) 307-4915 or [email protected] for further clarification. Prospective master’s students typically attach the following:
- $25 application fee payment
- Official college educational records
- Graduate Record Exam (optional)
- Three scholarly reference letters
- Signed Academic Honesty Agreement
- Personal statement of 300-500 words
- Documentation of RN licensing if applicable
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2017-18, the University of Saint Mary had an average full-time traditional graduate tuition of $11,070 annually. The Leavenworth campus bills $765 per credit. Mandatory expenses include the $40 assessment fee, $160 field supervision fee, and $200 graduation fee. That’s before the USM off-campus housing adds $670 to $1,250 per unit monthly. Fortunately, distance students can get the same education for less than this $27,720 yearly price. The Online MBA currently bills $630 per credit or $22,680 in total. MSN Online cohorts pay $615 per credit or $21,525 overall.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Financial Aid Office confers $9.89 million combined each year to present median packages worth $15,661 each to 76 percent of full-time USM Spires. University funds include the Sister Joanna Bruner Nursing Scholarship, BizFest Scholarship, Saint Vincent de Paul Service Award, Antoinette Berkel Memorial Scholarship, Dean’s Scholarship, Opportunity Award, and Blue & Gold Scholarship. The BSN Alumni Tuition Discount deducts 5 percent on online master’s nursing programs. Employer tuition reimbursement is readily available, including at T-Mobile, Fidelity, Apple, Comcast, Southwest Airlines, Lowe’s, PepsiCo, and Starbucks. Completing the FAFSA form with code 001943 opens Federal Direct Unsubsidized and Grad Plus loans. Online MSN students who work 32+ hours weekly qualify for the NURSE Corps Loan Repayment program. External aid, including the Richard Metzler Scholarship, Wiley CPAexcel Scholarship, Lance Surety Scholarship, and Mutual of Omaha Scholarship, would also apply.
Learn about more online options, such as the RN-BSN, Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management, Master of Business Administration in Finance, Master of Business Administration in Human Resources Management, Master of Science in Nursing Education, or Master of Business in Marketing and Advertising at the University of Saint Mary website.