BJC’s pioneering full-ride program reaches a milestone as its first scholars finish their three-year commitment—and all choose to continue their careers within the system.
BJC Health is celebrating a milestone as the first BJC Full-Ride Scholars complete their three-year work commitment—each one choosing to remain at BJC. The inaugural cohort at Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing now joins a rapidly growing program that has become the largest of its kind in the United States.
Launched in 2022 to expand access to nursing education and strengthen workforce stability, the program covers 100% of tuition and fees for eligible Goldfarb BSN students. Since then, it has grown to support 352 scholars to date, including a record 85 students in fall 2025. Today, 165 full-ride scholars are already filling nursing roles across BJC HealthCare, creating seamless entry points into the system’s RN career ladder.
For the first cohort, the program brought financial relief, opportunity, and a strong start to their nursing careers.
BJC Full-Ride Scholars Anna Dodson, Taylor Jarrett, and Claudia Dace
PICU nurse Anna Dodson, BSN, RN, CCRN, says the BJC Full-Ride Scholars program reshaped her path. “They started the program after I had started nursing school and offered it to me during my last term,” Anna says. “It was nice to not have student loan payments after graduating.” She adds that her PICU preceptorship “was the most helpful” in preparing her for intensive care nursing.
Labor and delivery nurse Taylor Jarrett, BSN, RN, says the program and Goldfarb’s support carried her through a difficult time. “I truly owe Goldfarb my life,” she says. “Anytime you don’t feel like studying, remember the WHY. I wanted to become a nurse because I knew I had compassionate care to give. I wanted a job where I could continuously evolve, learn, and make a difference.”
Bone Marrow Transplant nurse Claudia Dace, BSN, emphasized the program’s long-term impact. “Without the Full-Ride Scholars program, I’d probably still be paying off my loans,” she says. “Do it… the three years goes by so fast.”
BJC nursing leadership says the inaugural cohort’s decision to stay reflects the program’s purpose and promise.
“Our Full-Ride Scholars have become an integral part of our team”, says Tommye Austin, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, BJC HealthCare senior vice president Patient Care Systems and chief nurse executive. “The fact that they stayed says a lot about their experience and the culture our nurses and team of teams has built together. It’s proof that when we support nursing through education, mentorship, and meaningful career opportunities—they grow into dedicated caregivers who want to keep making a difference.”
The program is already showing strong early outcomes—growing enrollment, increasing access for high-performing students, and building a more stable nursing workforce.
“Through scholarships and BJC’s Full-Ride Scholars program, we don’t just fund education—we expand possibility and empower students to realize their fullest potential. Our students and graduates embody what it means to serve with heart, and I’m honored to work for an organization that invests so deeply in their futures and the future of St. Louis.” said Angela Clark, PhD, RN, MSN, CNE, FAAN, president of Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing.
As the program continues to scale, BJC’s first Full-Ride Scholars have set the tone—demonstrating how education, mentorship, and opportunity can build strong beginnings and lasting careers.
To learn more, visit the BJC Full-Ride Scholars program.