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Tuition-Free Nursing Academy

Nursing students working in the sim labs

Are You Ready?

Launched in September of 2023, our tuition-free Nursing Academy pathway provides an elite option for the most motivated first-year, full-time freshmen within our legacy nursing program. Those selected complete their degree in less than three years and have guaranteed employment when they finish the program.

Compete for Your Spot

Space in the Nursing Academy is limited. Every year, our applicant pool is very competitive and is filled with many well-qualified candidates from across the country. Our selected students earn their status as a top applicant and embrace their entry into our tuition-free Nursing Academy, which leads to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Mary, followed by guaranteed nursing employment after graduation. In addition, our Nursing Academy graduates earn special access to clinical opportunities and highly sought-after networking opportunities with leaders in health care.

Application Deadline: January 26, 2025

When you're a nursing student at Mary, you're not alone; you're part of a community of both past and present students; you're part of a legacy of historic success and continuing commitment to life-embracing health care.
Each year, our Nursing Academy students embark on a life-changing European pilgrimage designed to immerse them in the history of human dignity, health care, and faith. In 2024, our pilgrims spent part of their time with Dr. Gianna Emanuela Molla, the daughter of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla
Mary offers nursing education for the whole person. In our Nursing Academy, we form our students as nurses, but we also form them as people. On top of the formation that occurs our classrooms, we also organize an annual retreat to North Dakota's beautiful Badlands, where our students and faculty learn more about each other and themselves.
The University of Mary uses its state-of-the-art simulation labs to prepare its students with the highest level of nursing education, making sure they're ready for the demands of the nursing profession. Our cutting-edge training facilities provide a hands-on learning experience that mirrors real-world health care settings. When our students start working, they're ready to excel.
Nursing Academy students leave our program with guaranteed employment and a growing network of health care professionals they've built relationships with.

This Could Be You

The University of Mary’s tuition-free Nursing Academy represents a bright new beginning for our nation’s aspiring nurses. If chosen as a Nursing Academy scholar, you will: 

  • Earn Your Bachelor's in Less Than Three Years
    Nursing Academy students will complete their Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2.6 years, taking advantage of the University of Mary’s one-of-a-kind Year-Round Campus model.
  • Tour Europe
    Students will enjoy an all-expense paid service-learning trip and pilgrimage made possible through the support of generous donors. Nursing Academy students will visit Italy, Germany, and France, spending time at the University of Mary’s Rome campus, taking in the colorful sights of Munich, and experiencing the breathtaking French mountain village of Lourdes. Learn more in our Momentum story.
  • Gain Program Admission as a Freshman
    Students accepted to the Nursing Academy will be directly admitted to the nursing program as incoming freshmen. This will give you a step up as you progress toward graduation and prepare to embark on your nursing career.
  • Discover Exclusive Employment Opportunities
    Nursing Academy students will benefit from personalized mentorship experiences and gain access to sought-after career opportunities with world-class health care systems. 

Our tuition-free Nursing Academy was developed through a groundbreaking partnership with Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, with 47 medical centers in large and small cities throughout the Midwest. Valued support of the Nursing Academy is also provided by CHI St. Alexius Health. CHI is the third-largest nonprofit health care network in the nation, operating 101 facilities in 18 states.

The quality of education you receive while participating in the University of Mary's Nursing Academy is unmatched. It's allowed me to accelerate my learning and enable a smooth transition from nursing student to practicing nurse. At Mary, we're fully prepared for every aspect of being a nurse.

Brooklyn Trolliey, '26
Nursing Students standing around medical human dummy

A Legacy of Excellence

See for yourself why our nursing education is ranked among the best in the nation year after year.

Nursing at Mary

For over 60 years, the University of Mary has been training outstanding nursing professionals proficient in direct care, health education, and administration.

The University of Mary’s nursing program – within the Saint Gianna School of Health Sciences – integrates in-class instruction, hands-on experience, and cutting-edge simulation techniques to cultivate professional competence, intellectual depth, and moral courage. This is all fulfilled within our Christian, Catholic, and Benedictine identity and mission.

Scholarship Opportunities for Traditional Nursing Students

All our nursing students qualify for generous funding. The following scholarships are available for traditional nursing students who are not taking part in the Nursing Academy.

  • Sanford Scholarship – Freshmen and junior nursing majors are eligible for additional benefits offered through our partnership with Sanford Health.
  • Undergraduate Scholarships – Explore a full range of undergraduate scholarship opportunities offered by the nation's most affordable, serious Catholic university!

Interested in Learning More?

We’re here to help. For more information or to begin the application process, call us at 701-355-8030 or request information below.