Saint Joseph’s College of Maine Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
#19 Best NP School Overall
#22 Most Flexible NP School
- MSN – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- MSN – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner
- MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Post-Master's Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Certificate
- Post-Master's Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP Certificate
- Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate
Saint Joseph’s College of Maine (SJCME) offers an MSN and Post-Master’s Certificate with a choice of Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP), Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) specializations. In addition, an MSN with a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) specialization is offered. All NP students attend one campus visit, and clinical preceptorships are completed at approved sites local to the student.
SJCME is a Catholic, liberal arts college founded on faith and academic excellence. Although it began as a women-only institution, Saint Joseph’s became co-ed in 1970. The online nursing programs are delivered asynchronously and are made to be collaborative to help build relationships between faculty and peers. Students are assigned a student support specialist and develop one-on-one relationships with faculty.
FNPs and AGPCNPs may work in various settings, such as hospitals, government facilities, nursing homes, schools, primary care clinics, research institutions, long-term healthcare situations, and home health care. Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NPs work with young adults through the elderly in critical care situations such as emergency departments, specialty units for oncology, endocrinology, neurology, and cardiology, as well as intensive care units (ICUs). PMHNPs may work in similar facilities as FNPs and AGPCNPs, but may also have positions in correctional facilities, counseling centers, and rehabilitation facilities.
Upon graduation, students are eligible to take their respective nurse practitioner certification exams through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The NP programs through Saint Joseph’s College of Maine are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). SJCME is located in Standish, Maine, and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
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What to Expect
Admission Requirements: Applicants to the MSN must hold a BSN from an accredited nursing program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Prospective certificate students must hold a BSN and an MSN from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. As well, all nursing applicants must hold an unencumbered RN license in the U.S. If certificate students are already licensed as an NP, this licensure must also be unencumbered. Prerequisites include statistics and health assessment with a grade of B or higher. Application materials include official transcripts, a resume or CV, a career statement, three references, and proof of English language proficiency, if applicable.
State Restrictions: SJCME is authorized to offer online NP programs in all states except Arizona, Delaware, Louisiana, Nevada, North Dakota, and West Virginia. As a general rule, students outside of Maine should check with the admissions department at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine to make sure they are eligible for the nursing NP programs. In addition, prospective nursing students should contact the licensing board of their specific state of residence to determine if the program meets state requirements for NP licensure.
Study Plan: The MSN takes two years and 3 months to complete on a full-time basis and 3.5 to four years part-time. The degree must be completed within five years. The certificate programs take 1.5 to two years to complete. Saint Joseph’s College of Maine admits students in September, December, March, and June. Courses typically last 12 weeks and run in four terms per year. Students in all programs complete clinicals of at least 600 hours near their homes and workplaces in approved states.
MSN Core Curriculum: The MSN program specializations comprise 42 credits each plus at least 600 clinical hours. Core courses for all tracks include Nursing Informatics; Policy, Quality, and Safety; Population Health and Interprofessional Collaboration; Nursing Research Methods: Utilization for EBP; Organizational and Systems Leadership; The Advanced Practice Nurse as Provider; Advanced Health Assessment; Advanced Pathophysiology; and Advanced Pharmacology.
- MSN – FNP Curriculum: Family Theory: Young and Middle Age Adult; Family Theory: Older Adult; Primary Care Practicum: Young and Middle Age Adult; Primary Care Practicum: Older Adult; Women’s Health Theory and Practice; Pediatric Theory and Practicum
- MSN – AGACNP Curriculum: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Theories for Advanced Practice I-III; Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Practicum I-III
- MSN – AGPCNP Curriculum: Family Theory: Young and Middle Age Adult; Family Theory: Older Adult; Primary Care Practicum: Young and Middle Age Adult; Primary Care Practicum: Older Adult; Adult Gerontological Primary Care NP Theory and Practicum
- MSN – PMHNP Curriculum: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Theory I-III; Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum I-III
Post-Master’s Certificate Curriculum: The Post-Master’s Certificates follow the specialty courses for the MSN, plus Advanced Health Assessment, Advanced Pharmacology, and Advanced Pathophysiology. The certificates comprise 30 credits each and include a minimum of 600 clinical hours.
Online Experience: SJCME seeks to make online programs more like mentorships, giving them a human experience and building real relationships. Students develop a one-on-one relationship with faculty and are also assigned a dedicated student support specialist. Saint Joseph’s College of Maine utilizes Brightspace as its online learning management system and delivers courses asynchronously. Courses may include written assignments, participation in discussion boards, projects, readings, recorded lectures, and assessments. Online nursing students can access the same support resources and services as on-campus students.
On-Site Requirements: All NP students come to the Standish, ME campus for one visit during one of their last two practicums.
Paying for the Saint Joseph’s College of Maine Online NP Programs
SJCME online NP program tuition is listed in the tables below. Travel costs for the campus visit are not included in tuition and fees. Prospective students should inquire with the Office of Financial Aid for cost clarifications and updates.
SJCME may offer unsubsidized federal student loans to graduate students, according to the FAFSA. Graduate nursing students may wish to check with their employers as to the existence of a tuition reimbursement program, and SJCME works with certain organizations to offer tuition discounts. Finally, Saint Joseph’s College of Maine online students may wish to explore unique pathways to fund their graduate education, such as community and organizational scholarships, grants, and private loans.
SJCME seeks to develop relationships between faculty and peers and support nursing students throughout their MSN or certificate FNP, AGNP, and PMHNP educational paths, with dedicated student support specialists and one-on-one relationships with faculty members.
MSN – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
MSN – Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner
MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Post-Master's Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Certificate
Post-Master's Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP Certificate
Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate
278 Whites Bridge Road
Standish, Maine 04084
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Multiple – March, June, September, December
No
1
45
600
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AZ, DE, LA, MD, MN, NV, NY, ND, OR, WV
Program Tuition
45
$704.00
$31,680.00
$704.00
$31,680.00
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
AGNP – Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
Multiple – March, June, September, December
No
1
45
600
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
None
Program Tuition
45
$704.00
$31,680.00
$704.00
$31,680.00
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
Multiple – March, June, September, December
No
1
45
600
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
AZ, DE, LA, MN, NV, NY, ND, OR, WV
Program Tuition
45
$704.00
$31,680.00
$704.00
$31,680.00
Program Essentials
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Multiple – March, June, September, December
No
1
42
600
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.0 or higher
None
Program Tuition
42
$704.00
$29,568.00
$704.00
$29,568.00
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Multiple – March, June, September, December
No
1
30
600
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.5 or higher
AZ, DE, LA, MD, MN, NV, NY, ND, OR, WV
Program Tuition
30
$704.00
$21,120.00
$704.00
$21,120.00
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
AGNP – Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
Multiple – March, June, September, December
No
1
30
600
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.5 or higher
None
Program Tuition
30
$704.00
$21,120.00
$704.00
$21,120.00
Program Essentials
Post-Master Certificate – Post-Graduate (Post-MSN) Nursing Certificate
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
Multiple – March, June, September, December
No
1
30
600
CCNE – Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Program Admissions
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
No GRE Required
3.5 or higher
AZ, DE, LA, MN, NV, NY, ND, OR, WV
Program Tuition
30
$704.00
$21,120.00
$704.00
$21,120.00
Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. Rates may change, so please check here for the latest tuition information. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the rates for part-time students. “Resident” and “non-resident” refer to the student’s school-recognized state residency status. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Estimated total tuition does not include additional fees.
Sara Navratil
WriterSara Navratil is a freelance writer and a Certified Canfield Success Principles Trainer. She’s the owner of Sara Liza Life, a company dedicated to helping people rewrite their lives. She enjoys researching and writing about healthcare-related topics, including information on online NP programs. When not working she likes to read, bake, and spend time with her family.