What Is It Known For?
St. Paul’s School of Nursing was founded in 1889 when the Diocese of Brooklyn founded it. The school went through many changes over the years, including different names and mergers with other institutions. For a long time, people knew it as Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers School of Nursing. Everything changed in 2009 when Education Affiliates, Inc. bought the school and gave it its current name.
The school now runs two campuses in New York. The main campus sits at 2 Teleport Drive in Staten Island, and the second campus serves students in Queens. Both locations focus on nursing education that meets high standards. The Queens campus had 945 students in 2023, while Staten Island enrolled 658 students in 2022. These numbers show you the size of the student community at each location.
Degrees & Certifications
Both campuses offer programs that prepare you for healthcare careers. You can pursue:
- Associate Degree in Nursing
- Medical Assisting
Class Schedules
All classes at St. Paul’s School of Nursing happen in person on campus. The school does not offer online options right now. If you need evening classes, the Queens campus runs night sessions for the Medical Assistant Program. This helps students who work during the day or have other responsibilities.
Additionally, every program requires you to complete externships in real healthcare settings. These hands-on experiences let you practice what you learned in class. The work you do during externships matches what you’ll actually do in your future job. This requirement prepares you for the workplace before you graduate.
Is It a Good School?
Yes. St. Paul’s School of Nursing has institutional accreditation from The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). The nursing programs at both campuses also earned accreditation from the New York State Board of Regents.
Acceptance Rate
The school uses an open admissions policy. This means St. Paul’s School of Nursing has a 100% acceptance rate for students who meet basic entry requirements.
How Much Does Tuition Cost?
Program costs differ between the two campuses. At the Staten Island location, tuition breaks down this way:
- The Medical Assistant program costs $31,434
- Dental Assistant program costs $32,781
- Nursing Associate Degree costs $50,344
The Queens campus charges $29,856 for Medical Assistant training and $50,344 for the Nursing program. Keep in mind these prices only cover tuition. You’ll need extra money for fees, books, and supplies. The school offers a net price calculator for both the Staten Island campus and the Queens campus to help you figure out your total costs.
Programs & Courses
Healthcare
- Medical Assistant
- Nursing
Campus Locations
Queens 97-77 Queens Blvd. Queens, NY 11374
Island Corporate Commons 2 Staten Island, NY 10311
Reviews
Based on local Google reviews, St. Paul’s School of Nursing – Queens is defined by two extreme viewpoints: some graduates credit the rigorous, fast-paced program with successfully preparing them for the NCLEX and providing a career, while a massive, persistent chorus of students and applicants warns the school is an unprofessional “cash grab” plagued by administrative dysfunction, faculty instability, and unfair grading practices designed to cause failure.
Overall Score: 2.7/5 Stars
Common Praises
Effective NCLEX Preparation: Graduates strongly state that the program’s “super hard” and “rigorous” curriculum effectively prepares them for the Boards exam and allows them to pass the NCLEX on the first attempt.
Fast-Track to a Career: The program is valued for its 18- to 20-month completion time, allowing students to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Registered Nurse (RN) faster than at public colleges.
Supportive Environment (for some): Certain students praise the professors for being “intellectual and fair,” and note that the administration is available and the staff is kind.
Common Criticisms
Severe Administrative Dysfunction and Unprofessionalism: This is the most consistent complaint, with applicants reporting admissions personnel are “rude and dismissive,” do not return calls or emails for months, and cause delays with paperwork, leading many to label the school as “unprofessional” and a “scam.”
Controversial Grading and Failure-to-Pass Policies: Students feel the school is actively trying to make them fail. Complaints include unfair exams that do not match coursework, a confusing grading system (even after recent revisions), and serious, repeated accusations that administrators mandate faculty to fail a certain percentage of students in critical courses.
Faculty Instability and Incompetence: Reviewers state that “all the good teachers left” and the remaining faculty is a mix of “unprofessional” instructors who show favoritism or “amateur teachers” who attended the program themselves.
High Cost with Poor Resources: The “outrageously high” tuition is criticized for funding a poor learning environment, including lack of basic resources (like adequate heating) and administrators who “don’t care about how you learn” but only about the money.
Momentum
The momentum for St. Paul’s School of Nursing – Queens is heavily negative and focused on institutional integrity. The owner’s detailed, public responses confirm significant, ongoing issues, including a recent grading policy revision due to student complaints. The sheer volume and consistency of serious accusations—covering everything from an allegedly under 40% NCLEX pass rate to a lack of human compassion during student crises—suggest deep, systemic problems that are overwhelming the positive outcomes reported by some graduates. The school’s public relations effort cannot overcome the pervasive internal issues reported by current and prospective students.