A Small, Private Catholic Nursing College
Saint Anthony College of Nursing (SACN) is a small, private Catholic college that emulates the example set by St. Francis of Assisi, who dedicated his life to helping the sick and poor. The college is located on the 100-acre Order of St. Francis (OSF) Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, IL, the region’s pioneer in cardiac, cancer, trauma, and orthopedic care.

With less than 200 undergraduates enrolled at the SACN, and a student to teacher ratio of 8 to 1, each student is guaranteed abundant individual attention and support. SACN boasts a 92.5 percent graduation rate.

Although one of SACN’s goals is to provide opportunities for students to develop an understanding of the Christian philosophy of life and its application in daily living as a person, citizen, and professional nurse, students do not need to be Catholic to attend the college. Many SACN students come from a wide variety of faiths, including both Christian and non-Christian denominations.

A History of Success
Undergraduates attending SACN receive not only exceptional academic instruction but also ample clinical experience while obtaining their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (B.S.N.). An impressive 96 percent of the class of 2009 passed the National Council of State Boards of Nursing NCLEX-RN exam, compared to the national average of 88 percent.

Several Paths to SACN
There are several paths that prospective undergraduates may take to obtain a B.S.N. from SACN. Undergraduates may either transfer to SACN’s B.S.N. program in their junior year, be a registered nurse (RN) who already holds an associate degree in nursing, or be a high school senior applying for early entry into the nursing program. All prospective students are encouraged to contact SACN before beginning coursework at another college to ensure that the credits can be transferred.

A Rigorous B.S.N. Program
During their 4 semesters in the B.S.N. program at Saint Anthony College of Nursing, students complete 64 credits. The program encompasses a rigorous and diverse curriculum. Undergraduates are given a solid foundation in anatomy and physiology, biology, nutrition, and chemistry. Electives include specialized courses such as Pathophysiology of Health Deviations, Principles of Pharmacology, Nursing Care of the Adult with Health Deviations, and Community and Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing.

A Range of Clinical Options
Undergraduates at SACN can choose from clinical experiences in over 20 different settings, including OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, Walter Lawson’s Children’s Home, and the Singer Mental Health and Development Center. Undergraduates are introduced to clinical concepts and safety procedures at the newly opened skills lab with SIM man at Guilford Square and the fully equipped Health Assessment Lab on the main campus.

The SACN B.S.N. program provides students with a broad spectrum of experiences, along with communication, humanistic, critical thinking, scientific, and leadership skills, which are required of today’s medical professionals.

Admissions Requirements for SACN
Undergraduate applicants at Saint Anthony College of Nursing must submit an application for admission, provide official college or university transcripts, and have completed at least 32 of the 64 required prerequisite courses. Students at SACN must also have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale; submit 3 acceptable professional letters of recommendation, including one from a current or recent college instructor; pass a pre-admission test; participate in a personal interview; and complete a written statement of personal, professional, career, and educational goals.

Costs and Financial Aid
Qualified students at Saint Anthony College of Nursing may receive financial aid via scholarships, grants, private loans, and federal financial aid through FAFSA.

SACN alumni provide over 40 named scholarships for the Legacy Endowment Fund, including the Carole A. Mounier Scholarship and the Frank J. Lewis Foundation Scholarship. Other scholarships provided by SACN include the Advanced Association of Colleges of Nursing Scholarship, the Center for Rural Health Scholarship, and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.

Students may also apply for the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program (NELRP), which repays 60 percent of the qualifying loan balance of accepted RNs in exchange for 2 years of service at a critical shortage facility.

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