Is Goldfarb School of Nursing Worth It? Nurses Review

Image via Barnes Jewish College 

Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College offers several excellent options for undergraduate and graduate nurses. It is located on the campus of Washington University Medical Center in St. Louis.  Read on to learn more about Goldfarb’s nursing program and find out if it’s right for you.

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Stats 

Private or Public: Private 

General Tuition: $770 per credit/hr (undergraduate courses), $834 per credit/hr (graduate courses)

NCLEX Pass Rate: 91.46%

Application Deadlines: Rolling admissions except,

• MSN Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner - January 1st

• DNP Nurse Anesthesia - March 1st

• PhD - January 25th

Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

Diversity: 

• Male Students: 12%

• Female Students: 87%

• Additional Genders Students: 1%

• Undergraduate Minority: 14%

• Graduate Minority: 16.5%

• First Generation College Students: 21.5%

Contact Information

• Address: 4483 Duncan Avenue, Mailstop 90-36-697, St. Louis, MO USA 63110

• Email: Contact Form or Admissions@BarnesJewishCollege.edu

• Phone Number:  (314) 454-7055 or (800) 832-9009

• Text: (314) 916-6159

• Fax: (314) 362-5140

• Social platforms:

  • Facebook

  • Instagram

  • LinkedIn

  • Twitter

  • YouTube

Additional Info:

• Rankings: 

  • Ranked 18 out of 106 in the 2016 U.S. News & World Report Ranking for Nurse Anesthesia Graduate Programs

  • Ranked 51 out of 100 in the 2018 Nursing Schools Almanac for Top 100 nursing schools in the United States

  • Ranked146 out of 220 in the 2019 U.S. News & World Report Ranking for Best Nursing Schools: Master's

• Total number of students: 680 (nursing program)

• Graduation rate: 93.36% (BSN) 100% (MSN CRNA)

• Student/faculty ratios: 10:1

Degrees Offered

BSN: Upper Division

• Tuition: $54,658 (total program cost)

• Program Length: 20 Months

• Online Options Available?  No

BSN: Accelerated 

• Tuition: $48,582 (total program cost)

• Program Length: 12 Months

• Online Options Available?  No

BSN: Weekend and Evening

• Tuition: $54,658 (total program cost)

• Program Length: 36 Months

• Online Options Available?  No

Nurse Anesthesia

• Tuition: $82,454 (total program cost)

• Program Length: 36 Months

• Online Options Available?  No

Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

• Tuition: $44,106 (total program cost)

• Program Length: Post-BSN: 27 months; Post-MSN: 12 months

• Online Options Available?  Hybrid

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

• Tuition: $38,507 (total program cost)

• Program Length: Post-BSN: 27 months; Post-MSN: Curriculum plan based on applicant’s prior course work

• Online Options Available?  Hybrid

Nurse Educator

• Tuition: $33,575 (total program cost)

• Program Length: 1.5 years full-time,  2-3 years part-time

• Online Options Available?  Hybrid

Post-Master's Certificates

• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)

• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)

• Nurse Educator

DNP: Nurse Anesthesia

• Tuition: $102,336 (total program cost)

• Program Length: 36 months

• Online Options Available?  No

DNP: Post-MSN 

• Tuition: $28,805 (total program cost)

• Program Length: 24 months

• Online Options Available?  No

DNP: Health Systems and Population Health Leadership

• Tuition: $57,350 (total program cost)

• Program Length: 36 months

• Online Options Available?  No

PhD Nursing Science

• Tuition: Covered with Stipend

• Program Length: 36 months

• Online Options Available?  No

Specialties Offered

BSN

• Accelerated Option

• Upper Division

• Weekend and Evenings

MSN

• Nursing Education

• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Post-Master's Certificates

• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)

• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)

• Nurse Educator

DNP

• Anesthesia

• Post-MSN

• Health Systems and Population

PhD

• Nursing Science

Is Goldfarb Nursing School a Good Nursing Program?

Goldfarb’s nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) for all bachelor's and MSN degree programs, which means that it adheres to the highest educational standards for nursing programs in the US. 

What Do You Need to Get Into Goldfarb’s Nursing Program?

Goldfarb’s nursing program is competitive. According to their website, the Nursing Application Evaluation Committee uses the following criteria in evaluating candidates for the Nursing Program:

• Official application

• $50 application fee

• While a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75 in Biology and a completed undergraduate online application

• Official transcripts from all colleges attended sent to the Office of Admissions

• Regardless of U.S. residency, international applicants who received an associate, undergraduate degree, or higher from colleges and universities in which English is not the primary language must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as an indicator of ability to read, write and comprehend English. 

• FBI Fingerprinting

• Official background check

How Hard is Goldfarb’s Nursing Program?

Like every accredited nursing program, Goldfarb’s nursing program is challenging and requires significant dedication to succeed.  

According to GradReports.com, 100% of students recommend the nursing program at Lehman and 100% say that their degree improved their career prospects.

What Kind of Support Does Goldfarb’s Nursing Program Provide Students?

Students attending Goldfarb’s nursing program have not only the resources available through the nursing department but also the main campus. According to their website, student support services include,  

• Tutoring, peer leader/ mentor programs, and career/personal counseling services

• Disability services

• Student organizations

• Mentor Collective - This program enhances a student's experience by linking you one-on-one with an alum mentor. Each mentor can answer your questions regarding career options, nursing practice or further education.

• Dean's Scholar Program - This program is open to any Goldfarb undergraduate or graduate student(s) who demonstrates an interest in the nursing profession and the pursuit of excellence in nursing

How Much Is the Nursing Program at Goldfarb?

Goldfarb’s nursing school fees and total costs vary depending on the program.  The university recommends that prospective students speak with an admissions advisor or use the tuition estimator tool to calculate their costs.

Tuition to Goldfarb’s nursing program is as follows: 

Additional fees do apply including laboratory fees. The cost of living must also be taken into consideration.

Is Goldfarb’s Nursing School Worth It?

Many students want to know if the cost of Goldfarb’s nursing program is worth the expected salary. Some of the factors that students must consider before choosing a nursing program include,

• The type of healthcare institution where you will be employed

• The city and state will you live

• Whether you work part-time or full-time

• Whether you pick up overtime shifts or weekends (for a higher hourly wage)? 

According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nurses earn a median annual salary of $77,600 per hour or $37.31 per hour. However, the range varies widely depending on many of the factors mentioned above. 

According to ZipRecruiter, nurse salaries range from $35,500 to $123,500, with an annual mean salary of $76,289.  Keep in mind that nurses who live in cities and states with a higher cost of living typically earn much higher salaries than nurses who work in more rural areas.

What is Goldfarb’s Nursing School Transfer Policy?

Students interested in transferring to Goldfarb’s Nursing Program are required to apply to the university first and also speak with the nursing program directly. Students are only considered transfer students if they transfer from another regionally accredited college or university. 

First, students will need to apply to Barnes Jewish College and the nursing program. 

For BSN programs, students may transfer a maximum of nine credits of undergraduate nursing coursework may be applied as transfer credit and must be evaluated prior to starting the program. Transfer courses are not computed in the GPA. Furthermore, the credits are evaluated on an individual basis and up to the discretion of the Program Director. 

In general, college-level courses completed at a regionally accredited institution with a grade of “C” or better will be eligible for transfer. 

Goldfarb Nursing Program School Reviews

“Great learning, had state-of-the-art technology and great teachers. Very expensive for getting the same degree another school can give you for half the price.” -- Anonymous 

“I appreciate the one-on-one teachers' and students' conferences. The school's peer groups and tutorials available for each student struggling academically make me as a student feel supported and valued. Most of the professors are very approachable and understanding. 

The academic schedule I have just been through was very intensive but the school gives much assistance to students who need help to succeed. In the Covid Era of nursing education which does not allow many people face-to-face interactions, the school has managed to continue giving students as much as possible necessary experiences to prepare for actual nursing work. 

The school has endeavored to continued its nursing programs and in a safe way. I have only been here for a term and despite the intenseness of the studies, I do not regret that I enrolled in this school. I am thankful that I have been accepted to continue my dream to become a full registered nurse and be able to serve people as well as my own family.” -- Freshman Nursing Student

“Pick a different school for your nursing degree. You pay a ridiculous amount of money for a disorganized, careless administration.

 If you have an issue or concern, the administration will blow you off and so will most of the professors. Some of the professors care and put in the effort, but most do not care about your education and have given up because they're also tired of the administration and how they've handled things throughout the pandemic. 

Several of the professors and clinical instructors have left and they have struggled to replace them because of the administration's reputation. They fail to communicate, and when they do, they are rude and dismissive. You will have a much better nursing school experience, and less student debt, if you pick somewhere else.” -- Senior Nursing Student

“This school is a wonderful option for those who are considering a more affordable and quicker route to becoming an RN. They provide a great quality of education and have some of the best professors I have ever had. It is located in a fairly safe and popular area of St. Louis.” -- Junior Nursing Student