Philadelphia-based Drexel University and Camden, N.J.-based Cooper University Health Care have formed a workforce partnership designed to create clearer pathways into nursing roles, with a focus on strengthening the transition from education to practice.
Under the agreement, Cooper employees interested in pursuing a career in nursing will have access to discounted tuition for Drexel’s nursing certificate and degree programs, according to a March 2 news release. The benefit, which begins in September 2026, also extends to immediate family members and applies to more than 25 undergraduate, graduate and professional nursing programs.
Beyond tuition support, the collaboration centers on what the organizations describe as a “Bridge to Practice” model. The initiative places Drexel’s accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing students in specialty practice environments at Cooper earlier in their training. The goal is to provide immersive clinical experience in areas such as women’s health, pediatrics and other high-demand specialties, while creating a clearer pathway to employment after graduation.
The emphasis on transition-to-practice comes as health systems continue to grapple with nurse turnover, which remains highest among early-career RNs, and concerns about new graduate readiness. Embedding students in a single organization’s specialty units before graduation could help shorten onboarding and ease the transition to independent practice, leaders said.
The organizations said they also plan to increase undergraduate student placements at Cooper and collaborate on research related to workforce development and clinical outcomes.
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