Student Affairs

Financial Aid Programs

Lender Choice Made Simple

First Steps to a Stafford Loan

The primary purpose of the Financial Aid program at Saint Anthony College of Nursing is to provide financial assistance within its available resources to those students who,  without such assistance, would be unable to attend. State and federal funding is necessarily tentative at the time awards are made and the College cannot guarantee substitute awards if an anticipated outside source of assistance does not materialize.

All state and federal funding regulations relative to the individual program or award must be fulfilled by the student. In particular, the following criteria must be met in order to receive financial aid at Saint Anthony College of Nursing.

  1. Students receiving state federal aid must remain enrolled in at least 6 credit hours.
  2. Students receiving financial aid are subject to satisfactory academic progress.
  3. The awards will be void if and when incorrect information is revealed on any student application for financial aid.
  4. Financial aid is not automatically renewable and must be applied for each academic year. (PLEASE NOTE THAT FEDERAL AND STATE APPLICATION DEADLINE ARE NOT THE SAME. LATE APPLICATIONS RESULT IN A LOSS OF FINANCIAL AID).
  5. Students seeking financial assistance must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. School code is 009987.
  6. Preliminary awards will be revised if estimated awards are not realized from Pell or ISAC; if errors have been made in the calculation of the awards; if student enrolls on a less than full-time basis (12 credit hours); or if the funding level of these programs changes.
  7. Any financial assistance such as scholarships or other outside resources must be reported to the financial aid office.

Application Procedure for Financial Aid
To apply for financial aid at Saint Anthony College of Nursing, a student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). These forms may be found at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  Student must inform the Financial Aid Office of all awards. Students must reapply for financial aid each year. Financial assistance is not automatically renewed each year. Various awards have different application deadlines. For additional information, contact:

Financial Aid Officer
Saint Anthony College of Nursing
5658 East State Street
Rockford, Illinois 61108-2468
(815) 395-5089

To ensure consideration for various scholarship programs, the FAFSA form should be filed by April 15 for the fall semester and August 15 for the spring semester.

The financial aid programs available at the College include grants, tuition waivers, loans, and scholarships. Students may contact the Financial Aid Office concerning eligibility questions, procedures, application forms, and additional financial information.

Financial aid programs available to qualified students at Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Saint Anthony College of Nursing Sponsored Scholarship
Alumni Memorial Scholarship ($1,000 is awarded to an in-coming junior based on scholarship, financial need and community service)

Saint Anthony Medical Center Programs

  • Externship Programs (Students may apply for summer employment at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center after they have completed their first semester and are planning to continue the nursing program)
  • Part-Time Work Program (Part-time employment at OSF Saint Anthony may be available throughout the second year of the program)

Health-Related Organization Scholarships

  • Association of Operating Nurses Association
  • Blanche Dawson Nursing Scholarship
  • CGH Medical Center Auxiliary
  • James D. Durante Nurse Scholarship
  • Helene Fuld Health Trust
  • Freeport Memorial Hospital Scholarship
  • Illinois Department of Public Health
  • Illinois Hospital Association
  • Illinois Hospital Research & Education Foundation
  • Illinois League for Nursing, Inc.
  • Illinois Nurses Association
  • Memorial Hospital Auxiliary (Woodstock)
  • Mercy Hospital
  • National Student Nurses Association
  • Northern Illinois Medical Center
  • OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center Auxiliary
  • OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center Medical Staff
  • Rockford Health Careers Foundation
  • Rockford Memorial Auxiliary Scholarship
  • Saint Anthony Alumni Memorial Scholarship
  • Saint Anthony Medical Center Medical/Dental Staff
  • Saint Anthony Nurses Alumni Association
  • Student Organization

Community Organization Scholarships

  • American Legion
  • AMVETS
  • Blackwell Scholarship
  • DAR
  • Elks Lodge Auxiliary Scholarship
  • Edward Mellinger Education Foundation
  • Forest City Chapter of American Business Women
  • Guilford Chapter of Colonial Dames of the XVII Century
  • Harvard Women Moose
  • Illinois Association of Snowmobilers
  • Illinois Sheriff's Association
  • Lyman Thorpe Nurse's Scholarship (sponsored by Cosmopolitan Club of Rockford)
  • North Suburban Woman's Club
  • Ralph Baudhuin Foundation Scholarship
  • Scottish Rite Bodies (sponsored by Masonic Temple)
  • Sinnissippi Chapter of American Business Women
  • Trinity Lutheran Church
  • UAW Chrysler Tuition Assistance
  • Winnebago County Fair Board

Federal and State Programs

  • Americorps
  • Illinois Department of Public Health (Nursing Education Scholarship)
  • Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA)
  • MAP Grant (Illinois State Monetary Award)
  • Pell Grant (federal)
  • Private Industry Council (PIC)
  • Upward Mobility Program
  • Stafford Loan (subsidized - need based) Students may borrow up to $5,500/year, depending on need.
  • Stafford Loan (unsubsidized - non-need based) Dependent students may use the unsubsidized loan to reach that portion of the $5,500 that they did not qualify for under the subsidized program. Independent students may borrow a maximum of $10,500 between the two programs. THIS PROGRAM REQUIRES THAT THE STUDENT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INTEREST WHILE IN SCHOOL.
  • PLUS Loans (parent loans for undergraduate students)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Saint Anthony College of Nursing has been approved to provide Veterans Education Benefits by the State Approving Agency for Veterans Education, Illinois Department of Veteran Affairs. For more information regarding the education benefits, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
Other Scholarships
These are available in very limited numbers. All eligible students who have completed the FAFSA form will be considered for available private scholarships. A private interview with the Scholarship Committee may be requested of the student to further determine the award.

There is a bulletin board in the Student Services hallway where scholarship applications and information are posted for student reference.

Students beginning to take the required pre-nursing courses at other colleges or universities in preparation for transferring to Saint Anthony College of Nursing should contact the financial aid office at that institution for financial aid. Students should be sure to use that institution's college code on their financial aid application.

Stafford Loan Program
When a student completes the FAFSA form, they may indicate if they desire to be considered for a student loan. The College determines the student's eligibility for subsidized and unsubsidized loans and awards accordingly. The student may at that time accept or reject the loan offer on the award letter. If the loan is accepted, the student must complete and sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN), authorizing the College to proceed with the loan. The student completes the "entrance loan counseling" process (may be done individually or as a group). The College notifies the students when the loan check has arrived and issues the student an authorization notice to take to the Student Affairs Office in order to pick up the check. The entire loan process must be repeated each year (checks are issued each semester). The student completes the "exit loan counseling" process (may be done individually or as a group) once he/she has ceased attending at least half-time.

Alternative Loan Program

This type of loan is a bank loan in the student's name and may be taken out in addition to the Stafford Loan.  It usually requires a co-signer.  The alternative loan assists students with tuition and living expenses.  Interest rates are based on credit of either the student and/or the co-signer, depending on which lender is used.  Contact the Financial Aid Office for details. 

Standards of Academic Progress for Financial Aid
This policy is to ensure compliance with Title 34, Section 668.16, Department of Education Federal Regulations. At the end of each semester, all students receiving monies from any Title IV program or the ISAC Monetary Award Program, are reviewed to certify they have met the minimum Standards of Academic Progress (SAP). SAP will be checked once a year for each student.

Probation--a student will be placed on (SAP) probation if the student fails to:
1. earn a minimum grade point average of 2.0 for all Saint Anthony College of Nursing courses;
2. earn at least a "C" in all courses taken to meet SACN graduation requirements.

Suspension--a student's federal and state financial aid will be suspended if the student:
1. fails to progress toward their degree at a minimum rate of 67%. Completion rate is calculated by dividing cumulative hours earned by cumulative hours attempted.*
2. fails to complete the degree after attempting* 96 credits at Saint Anthony College of Nursing.
3. is placed on SAP probation for a second time.

Reinstatement
If a student completes one half-time semester (at least 6 credits) after SAP suspension, the student may be re-instated for the next semester. Monies will not be awarded retroactively.

Appeal
A student may appeal the SAP suspension to the Financial Aid Committee. The decision of the Financial Aid Committee is final.

Robert A. Miller, Sr. Emergency Loan Fund
The Robert A. Miller, Sr. Emergency Loan Fund was established by the family of Mr. Miller to help nursing students in time of need. This short-term loan program can be used to help pay rent, living expenses, books, supplies or other related expenses. Students who are in need of a small, short-term loan should contact the Financial Aid Officer or the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs for further information.

The Lifetime Learning Tax Credit
Each year Saint Anthony College of Nursing will provide statements needed for students and their families to file for the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit. Student or parents should contact their accountant or tax preparer for more information to apply for this new tax credit and how it may apply to their specific situation.