St. Edward’s University Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program Earns National Accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward’s University is proud to announce that the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) has granted five-year accreditation to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program under the School of Health Sciences.
CCNE, a national accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education, ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate and residency/fellowship programs in nursing.
“This prestigious accreditation recognizes our commitment to providing a premier nursing education through distinctive academics, innovative experiential learning opportunities and social responsibility,” said St. Edward’s University President Montserrat Fuentes. “Under the guidance of the Dean of the School of Health Sciences and Founding Director of Nursing, Donna Beuk, and our distinguished Nursing faculty, students gain world-class training for successful careers in healthcare.”
This milestone achievement bestowed by the CCNE comes as the inaugural cohort of Nursing students prepare to graduate from the first-ever Nursing program at St. Edward’s in Fall 2025.
Led by the work in Strategic Plan 2027, St. Edward’s has continued expanding its health science curriculum in order to address the ongoing nursing shortage in Texas and nationwide — including the completion of the state-of-the-art Simulation and Learning Resource Center (SLRC), where Nursing students utilize high-quality equipment and manikins to gain experience in real-life healthcare scenarios, and the recent grand opening of the School of Health Sciences.
The unwavering support of our longstanding and new benefactors plays a pivotal role in the university’s enrollment of exceptional students pursuing a BSN degree to help mitigate the nursing shortage, as well as health disparities in rural and underserved communities in Texas.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) also awarded $148,500 to St. Edward’s University through the Nursing, Allied Health, and Other Health-related Education 2025-2027 Grant Program. The grant addresses the ongoing registered nurse shortage by strategically focusing on recruitment and retention innovations, such as enhancing exposure initiatives for the nursing program to high school juniors and seniors, as well as developing a pipeline of enriching healthcare experiences for students enrolled in the BSN program.
“Funding from the THECB elevates our endeavors for educating prospective students about the social mobility and economic stability through a career in nursing and earning a BSN degree,” said Donna Beuk, Dean of the School of Health Sciences and Founding Director of Nursing. “Receiving this grant from the THECB and achieving CCNE accreditation amplifies our mission to meet a surging workforce demand by graduating compassionate, social justice-oriented healthcare professionals who will vitalize the evolving nursing industry.”
The Department of Nursing at St. Edward’s offers three exceptional pathways designed for a variety of students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing; a Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing; an Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing; and a Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
About St. Edward’s University
St. Edward’s University is a private university in the Catholic, Holy Cross tradition with approximately 3,000 students. Located in Austin, Texas, it is one of the top universities in the state and offers more than 50 undergraduate, seven master’s degree programs and a doctorate program. St. Edward’s delivers a premier, highly personalized education that provides students distinctive academics and extensive internships, research and service learning opportunities on a vibrant and inclusive hilltop campus in a world-class city. St. Edward’s has been recognized for 22 consecutive years as one of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. In the 2025 Best Colleges rankings, St. Edward’s ranked #5 in the Best Regional Universities in the West. The American Council on Education and Carnegie Foundation designated St. Edward’s research university status in 2025.
