Introducing A Partnership Built on Care

Flexible learning from Chamberlain. Career opportunities at SSM Health. Support that meets you where you are.

Chamberlain Aspiring Nurse Program with SSM Health

A Direct Path From BSN to a Nursing Career at SSM Health in St. Louis, MO

The Aspiring Nurse Program offers an innovative, student-centered nursing tuition assistance program in St. Louis that helps you earn your BSN and start your career.

The Cost of 
Education, Covered.

Qualifying students in the St. Louis area will  have the full cost of tuition and fees covered by Chamberlain and SSM Health through tuition savings and post-grad loan repayment.*

*Students who apply and qualify for the Aspiring Nurse Program must graduate from Chamberlain University’s BSN program, pass the NCLEX, and fulfill employment obligations with SSM Health of up to four years to receive loan repayment. Benefits like loan repayments may be subject to taxes.

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Start Your Career Right After Graduation

Start your nursing career at SSM Health through a direct employment pathway built into the program for eligible students.

Built for Work/Life Balance

Our campus hybrid option combines the connection of in-person classes with the flexibility of online learning. Both daytime and evening/weekend options are available. 

Support at Every Step

Get personalized advising, academic support, and NCLEX® prep—all built in into the program

Earn Your BSN in as Few as Three Years

Our year-round schedule helps you stay on track so you can start your nursing career sooner.

Largest BSN program in the the US: Chamberlain University

About Chamberlain University

At Chamberlain’s St. Louis campus, we have dedicated faculty, academic support, and mentoring to help you stay on track, stay confident, and become the nurse you were always meant to be.

 
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St Louis Campus
Contact Information

Address
11830 Westline Industrial Drive
St. Louis, MO 63146

Toll Free:
866-562-3865

Hours of Operation
Mon - Thurs: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Fri: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Chamberlain Care®
A culture of care that puts students first.

Chamberlain Care® means personalized guidance, support, and encouragement—every step of the way.

Be Practice-Ready Day One
Practice Ready. Specialty Focused.™

Gain in-demand clinical skills by training in a specialty: emergency, perioperative, home care, oncology, or nephrology.  

Flexibility That Fits Your Life
Designed for balancing work, life, and everything in between.

24/7 academic resources help you learn without putting life on pause.

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No Nursing Background Required

Get started without prior college coursework.
Multiple Start Dates

Apply on your schedule with enrollment opportunities throughout the year. 
No-cost Transfer Credit Evaluation

If you have prior college credit, we’ll evaluate it to help you save time and money. 

About SSM Health

A mission-driven healthcare leader

SSM Health is committed to supporting future nurses from the communities it serves. Through the Aspiring Nurse Program, you’ll have the opportunity to thrive while earning your degree, and be well-positioned to explore full-time nursing opportunities there after graduation as part of your work commitment. This nursing tuition assistance program in St. Louis is available to students who live near participating locations within a 50-mile radius.

Learn more about SSM Health in St. Louis
Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital

One of the nation’s top pediatric hospitals, offering expert care, a Level I trauma center, and a state-of-the-art NICU for newborns.

St. Mary’s Hospital – St. Louis

A nationally recognized hospital for high-risk maternity care, featuring a Level III NICU and a supportive, expert team.

DePaul Hospital – St. Louis

Offers all-private rooms and advanced care in heart health, stroke, and surgery, recognized for quality and patient comfort.

St. Clare Hospital – Fenton

A modern hospital known for personalized care and advanced services in cardiology, cancer treatment, and women’s health.

SSM Health Rehabilitation Hospital

Offers expert inpatient rehab for stroke, brain injury, and complex conditions—focused on recovery and independence.

St. Joseph Hospital – St. Charles

A leading hospital for heart care, maternity, and orthopedics—combining innovation with compassionate support.

St. Joseph Hospital – Wentzville

A community-based hospital with 24/7 ER, behavioral health, and therapy services in a healing environment.

St. Joseph Hospital – Lake St. Louis

Delivers advanced heart and orthopedic care with personalized treatment in modern, patient-focused spaces.

Saint Louis University Hospital

A premier academic hospital offering top trauma, transplant, and specialty care from nationally ranked teams.

ssm health

How It Works

We’ll Support You Every Step of the Way

Chamberlain and SSM Health will guide and support you from admission all the way through employment.

See FAQs for more details
Who Is Eligible?

Prospective students who live in the St. Louis area within 50 miles of an SSM Health facility, are at least 18 years old, and have not previously applied to this program are eligible.

How to Apply
  • Once you know you’re eligible, your next step is to apply to Chamberlain.
  • Indicate your interest in the Aspiring Nurse Program during the application process.
  • Participate in a virtual interview with SSM Health.
     
Finance Your Degree

The Aspiring Nurse Program offers a loan repayment program for nursing school in St. Louis. You’ll fund your tuition up front, and SSM Health helps repay your loans after you begin your full-time role.

What Happens Next?

Once you’ve been accepted, you can expect to:

  • Complete your BSN degree.
  • Pass the NCLEX-RN®.
  • Begin working at SSM Health.

Chamberlain Has the Nation’s #1 Largest BSN Program

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Proudly Accredited

Accreditation and Approvals

Chamberlain University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) (www.hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Chamberlain University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).  

The Chamberlain University Doctor of Nursing Practice Program (delivered via distance education) holds continuing accreditation from the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA), located at 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20037. 202-909-2487.

Chamberlain has also earned approvals in most states. 

For a complete list, view our authorizations or approvals in your state.

Chamberlain University confers degrees earned online from its main campus in Addison, Illinois.

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nurse at laptop

*Students who apply and qualify for the Aspiring Nurse Program must graduate from Chamberlain University’s BSN program, pass the NCLEX-RN, and fulfill employment obligations with SSM Health of up to four years to receive loan repayment. Full coverage requires funding 100% of tuition and fees with student loans. Benefits such as loan repayments may be subject to taxes.

 

Answers for Every Question

Explore answers to the questions students ask most—about the process, the program, and what comes next.

What is the Aspiring Nurse Program?

The Aspiring Nurse Program provides loan repayment for eligible new Chamberlain University BSN students. In return, participants agree to work for SSM Health for up to four years after graduating and passing the NCLEX-RN®. Tuition support is provided as loan repayment after graduates are licensed and begin working as a registered nurse (RN) with SSM Health at a minimum of 32 hours per week. Students are responsible for financing their education through loans up front and will receive payments only once they are employed by SSM Health. This program is available to prospective BSN students in the St. Louis area who live within 50 miles of an SSM Health facility.

Who is eligible for the Aspiring Nurse Program?

To be eligible for the Aspiring Nurse Program, students must:

  • Complete a brief interview with SSM Health. 
  • Sign all required documentation, such as the Educational Loan Assistance Agreement.
  • Reside within 50 miles of an SSM Health facility in the St. Louis area. 
  • Authorize Chamberlain University to share their academic and loan information with SSM Health and its loan servicer to administer the loan repayment benefit.
Why have Chamberlain University and SSM Health formed this partnership?

With the national nursing shortage,  the need for nurses has never been greater in the St. Louis area, Chamberlain University and SSM Health are collaborating to make education and healthcare more accessible. Here’s why we’re a perfect match:

  • As the nation’s largest nursing school, Chamberlain University believes that if we take extraordinary care of our students, we will graduate diverse, skilled healthcare professionals who have a significant impact in our communities and around the world while advancing health equity for all. 
  • SSM Health is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, fully integrated health system dedicated to advancing health equity and delivering high-quality, compassionate care. Serving communities across Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin, SSM Health includes 23 hospitals, more than 500 physician offices, outpatient and virtual care services, senior care, home care, hospice, a pharmacy benefit company, a health insurance company, and an accountable care organization.
  • With our shared vision, the Aspiring Nurse Program in the St. Louis area  plans to support graduates, build a pipeline of future nursing professionals, and benefit the St. Louis community.
How does the Aspiring Nurse Program work?

The Aspiring Nurse Program provides financial support through a Chamberlain scholarship and SSM Health loan repayment benefit to students who commit to working as registered nurses at SSM Health facilities after graduation. Here’s how the program works:

Tuition Scholarship: Chamberlain University offers a generous scholarship that reduces tuition costs for eligible students, making nursing education more affordable.

Loan Repayment Benefit: After graduation, SSM Health will repay educational loans taken out specifically for the Chamberlain BSN degree program. This benefit is contingent on the participant’s employment with SSM Health.

Loan Repayment Process:

  • SSM Health, or its designated third-party servicer, will make monthly payments directly to the participant’s loan servicer(s).
  • Monthly payments continue for up to 48 months (up to four years), until the eligible loans are paid off, or until the participant’s employment requirement with SSM Health ends, whichever comes first.
  • Participants may be responsible for any taxes owed on the loan amounts repaid.
  • If a participant leaves SSM Health before their loan is fully repaid, they will not be required to repay any benefits they have already received.

Work Commitment: Participants must work at least 32 hours per week as a registered nurse with SSM Health for up to four years after passing the NCLEX-RN® and starting employment.

Eligible Loans: Only private and federal student loans used to cover the cost of the Chamberlain BSN program qualify for repayment. Grants, scholarships, or other funding that does not require repayment are not eligible.

Continued Eligibility: If a participant’s employment ends with SSM Health or the participant no longer meets these requirements, loan repayment benefits will stop immediately.

What are the continued eligibility requirements?

As a participant in the Aspiring Nurse Program, you must: 

  • Graduate from Chamberlain’s BSN program within four years of enrollment. 
  • Pass the NCLEX-RN®. 
  • Pass all pre-employment checks. 
  • Provide all required documentation (such as loan and program agreements). 
  • Authorize Chamberlain to share your academic and loan information with SSM Health and its loan servicer. 
  • Work at least 32 hours per week as a registered nurse with SSM Health. 
  • Remain a full-time employee in good standing during the loan repayment period. 
  • Maintain good academic standing throughout your degree program at Chamberlain. Course drops, course withdrawals, or failing grades that may negatively impact your ability to continue to participate in the Aspiring Nurse Program need to be discussed with your Chamberlain Academic Support Advisor. 
Can you tell me more about SSM Health?

SSM Health has 40,000+ team members and 15,000 providers, making it one of the largest employers in every community it serves. SSM Health has a longstanding heritage of healing dating back to 1872 and is recognized for quality, innovation, and its commitment to community benefit—providing $406 million in community support in 2024.

SSM Health’s integrated approach allows for convenient access to both community-based and world-class academic medicine, clinical trials, and research. The organization is guided by core values of respect, excellence, compassion, stewardship, and community, and continues to be a leader in healthcare delivery, patient experience, and innovation. Learn more at SSM Health.