St. Luke’s University Health Network officially opened St. Luke’s College of Health Sciences on Monday, welcoming its inaugural class of approximately 150 students to the new institution focused on health care education and workforce development.
The college, located on the campus of St. Luke’s University Hospital in Bethlehem, will offer associate degree programs in radiography and respiratory care, along with an online RN to BSN bachelor’s degree program. The institution also offers general education courses.
According to St. Luke’s, 73 students will begin classes during the summer session, while the remaining students are set to start this fall.
“This is a historic milestone for the Lehigh Valley,” said Mary Grace Simcox, EdD, RN, first president of St. Luke’s College of Health Sciences. “The launch of St. Luke’s College of Health Sciences reflects a bold commitment to strengthening our health care workforce by providing an affordable, local pathway to high-demand careers complete with guaranteed clinical placements, hands-on learning, small class sizes and clear opportunities for professional advancement.”
Approval to establish the college was granted in October 2025 by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Officials said the college is intended to help address growing workforce shortages in health care fields while expanding access to educational opportunities in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding regions.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the health care and social assistance sector is expected to see the largest job growth of any industry between 2024 and 2034 due to an aging population and ongoing workforce shortages.
Respiratory care and radiography courses will be held at the Priscilla Payne Hurd Education Center, while the RN to BSN program will be offered fully online to support working adult learners.
Among the inaugural students is Brianne Swope, a graduate of St. Luke’s School of Nursing who is enrolled in the RN to BSN program.
Swope began volunteering before working in a nursing home from 2007 to 2020. She later joined St. Luke’s Mental Health while completing prerequisites for nursing school and completed the School of Nursing program with full tuition reimbursement.
She currently works in mental health at St. Luke’s Penn Foundation and said the flexibility of the online RN to BSN program allows her to continue working full time while advancing her education.
St. Luke’s officials said the college will complement the network’s existing educational partnerships and programs, including the St. Luke’s School of Nursing, Temple/St. Luke’s School of Medicine and more than 60 graduate medical education programs.
For more information about the college or admissions, visit www.StLukesCollege.org.
