St. John's College

You'll step into a 138-year legacy when you choose St. John's College, founded in 1886 by the Franciscan Sisters of the Martyr St. George as a hospital-based nursing school amid Springfield's burgeoning medical scene. This private Catholic outpost, now tucked beside the massive Memorial Medical Center, molds future nurses with unyielding emphasis on compassionate, hands-on care rooted in faith and service. Students who thrive here are laser-focused healers—resilient types who crave intimate mentorship over anonymity, and who embrace a personality that's nurturing yet demanding, like a strict but loving aunt pushing you toward sainthood via stethoscope. Springfield, Illinois' unpretentious capital, surrounds you with Lincoln lore, affordable living, and quiet Midwest charm, but tradeoffs loom large: blistering winters, a sleepy vibe far from Chicago's pulse, and a student body of just 93 undergrads mostly bound for nursing, leaving little room for dabblers or party seekers.