St. Paul's School of Nursing - Best Trade Schools

What Is It Known For?

Originally called St. Vincent’s Hospital School of Nursing, St. Paul’s School of Nursing was established 130 years ago. A major change of ownership took place in April 2009 when Educational Affiliates, Inc. took over the school from Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers.

The institution changed its name as a result, becoming known as St. Paul’s School of Nursing. Under the new leadership of Educational Affiliates, St. Paul’s School of Nursing is now a thriving, elite, for-profit vocational institution that offers the best nursing education and training available.

Currently, St. Paul’s School of Nursing offers its services in two convenient locations in Queens and Staten Island, New York City. Building on its long history, the school continues to uphold the tradition of excellence in nursing education, adapting modern methods to prepare its students for the ever-evolving healthcare landscape.

Is St. Paul’s School of Nursing Legitimate?

The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) has granted the school accreditation, indicating that it satisfies recognized quality requirements.

The New York State Education Department has also approved the nursing program at St. Paul’s School of Nursing.

Individuals who have completed their education can take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

How Much Does Tuition Cost?

The precise tuition fees may change depending on the program and additional elements like resident status and financial aid eligibility.

The typical annual tuition varies based on the program, from $15,000 to $30,000. A net price calculator on St. Paul’s website provides precise estimations and clear, actionable guidance for budget planning.

What Is It Known For?

Class Schedule

St. Paul School of Nursing offers a range of academic schedules, including morning and evening sessions, to accommodate the different requirements of its students and provide accessibility for all.

It’s noteworthy that clinical courses often necessitate hands-on experience in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities.

Since these establishments operate nonstop throughout the week, there may be occasional instances where assignments, externships, or clinical hours extend beyond traditional school hours, potentially into late evenings, early mornings or over the weekends.

Is Saint Paul’s School of Nursing Legitimate?

The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) has granted the school accreditation, indicating that it satisfies recognized quality requirements.

The New York State Education Department has also approved the nursing program at St. Paul’s School of Nursing.

Individuals who have completed their education can take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

How Much Does Tuition Cost?

The precise tuition fees may change depending on the program and additional elements like resident status and financial aid eligibility.

Programs & Courses

Healthcare

Medical Assisting

Dental

Dental Assisting

Nursing

Campus Locations

Staten Island Corporate Commons 2, Staten Island, NY 10311

Queens 97-77 Queens Blvd. Queens, NY 11374

Reviews

Based on reviews in Google, St. Paul’s School of Nursing is praised for providing a fast-paced, high-quality education in a supportive environment, leading to quick employment for its graduates. However, the extreme rigor of the accelerated nursing program is noted as a significant challenge, compounded by concerns about high cost and inconsistent administrative support once enrolled.

Overall Score: 4.0/5 Stars

Common Praises

High-Quality, Dedicated Instructors: The faculty, particularly in the Medical Assistant (MA) and Nursing programs, are frequently praised for being “top tier,” knowledgeable, and bringing real-world experience (including former medical doctors) into the classroom. They are credited with keeping students engaged, providing clear instruction, and genuinely caring about student success.

Strong Institutional and Staff Support: Graduates and current students consistently highlight the support and guidance from both faculty and administrative personnel (including the Dean and admissions staff) as instrumental to their success in the demanding programs. This personalized attention is noted for helping students navigate the curriculum and even secure employment quickly after graduation.

Fast-Paced Career Launch: The accelerated nature of the programs is valued for allowing students to achieve their RN or MA certification in a short amount of time, with many graduates reporting securing a job quickly after leaving the school.

Excellent Enrollment Experience: Admissions staff are specifically praised for being “incredibly helpful,” knowledgeable, and making the initial registration process “easy to understand” and straightforward.

Impressive Facility and Atmosphere: The physical environment is noted as a positive factor, with a welcoming environment and a clean, comfortable campus.

Common Criticisms

Extreme Rigor and High Attrition: Students universally acknowledge that the accelerated RN program is “stressful, demanding,” and “not easy.” Reviewers warn that the program is only for those who can dedicate themselves entirely to the heavy workload. There are explicit concerns that the school is extremely strict with grading to “ween out” students who might struggle on the national exam, thus maintaining a high NCLEX pass rate at the expense of a low graduation rate (reported by external sources as being around 28% to 50% for various cohorts).

High Cost and Value Concerns: Several reviews criticize the high tuition cost for the associate’s degree (reported to be in the $48K-$50K range for the program), suggesting it feels expensive compared to other local options, especially given the amount of self-study required to succeed.

Inconsistent Support Post-Enrollment: While the initial enrollment process is praised, some reviews state that once enrolled, the core administrative office interaction can become negative and unhelpful compared to the welcoming initial experience.

Transfer Credit Difficulty: Since the school’s accreditation is with the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and not the national nursing bodies (ACEN or CCNE), some external sources and student comments note that transferring credits to a BSN program later may be challenging, despite the school providing a list of institutions with articulation agreements.

Isolated Incidents of Unprofessionalism/Poor Communication: A few students reported isolated incidents of negative interactions with faculty or staff, including one report of an instructor’s inappropriate behavior toward adult students.

Momentum

The momentum is strongly positive among new students and recent graduates, who consistently praise the supportive faculty and staff and the speed of the programs. However, the school continues to receive feedback that highlights the extreme rigor and high attrition of the nursing program, and the high cost remains a persistent concern. The school actively responds to both positive and negative reviews, demonstrating engagement, but the long-standing administrative and cost issues suggest an ongoing internal struggle to manage the student experience outside of the classroom.