Educational institution Dallas College is helping pave the way for more nurses in the world: According to a release, Dallas College has expanded its partnership with American College of Education (ACE) to offer an accelerated, affordable pathway for nursing students pursuing advanced degrees.
A signing ceremony marking the new agreement was held at Dallas College Administrative Offices on Wednesday, August 6.
The new agreement allows students currently enrolled in Dallas College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program to fast-track their journey toward earning a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) through concurrent enrollment at ACE.
Under the agreement, credits earned at Dallas College will transfer to ACE’s MSN program, making it possible for eligible students to complete their master’s degree with just 13 additional credit hours after earning their BSN.
“This partnership is another example of how Dallas College is building clear, affordable pathways that support our students and meet workforce needs,” says Dallas College provost and vice chancellor of workforce education Dr. Shawnda Floyd in a statement. “We’re committed to helping current and future nursing leaders advance their education, deepen their expertise, and improve health outcomes in the communities they serve.”
Students in Dallas College’s BSN program can begin taking courses with ACE while completing their undergraduate studies at Dallas College, reducing both time and cost toward earning a graduate degree.
The expanded collaboration builds on an existing transfer agreement between Dallas College and ACE that began in 2021 and grew in 2024 to include specialized pathways for healthcare professionals.
This latest development places a special focus on nursing education—a critical area as the healthcare industry faces mounting challenges related to workforce shortages and increased demand for qualified care providers.
Dallas College recently honored the first graduates of its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-to-BSN) program, which they launched in summer 2024 with 25 students with nursing associate degrees, who were all ableto graduate with their BSN degrees, positioning them for better career opportunities in nursing.
Dallas College is one of the largest community colleges in the U.S., with seven campuses at Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, Eastfield, El Centro, Mountain View, North Lake, and Richland, plus a dozen centers located throughout Dallas County.
They offer associate degrees and career/technical certificate programs in more than 100 areas of study, as well as bachelor’s degrees in education, nursing, and software development. As the largest provider of dual credit in Texas, Dallas College serves 30,000 high school students through 63 dual credit programs.
American College of Education American College of Education (ACE) is an accredited online private college specializing in education, business, healthcare, and nursing. Headquartered in Indianapolis, ACE offers more than 60 programs for adult students to pursue a doctorate, specialist, master’s or bachelor’s degree, along with graduate-level certificate programs.
