Since the school was founded, Université Sainte-Anne’s mandate has been to serve Nova Scotia’s Acadian and francophone populations by helping to preserve the French language and promote Acadian culture and history. More than 130 years later, the province’s only francophone post-secondary institution continues to meet these goals at its seaside main campus in Church Point and at its four satellite campuses in Halifax, Petit-de-Grat, Saint-Joseph-du-Moine and Tusket. In 2022, the school’s Halifax campus moved to the Park Lane shopping centre on Spring Garden Road.

Sainte-Anne offers French-language undergraduate and college programs and is known for its French immersion and personalized courses in French as a second language. At the college level, students can choose from a variety of one- and two-year programs in health care, education, occupational therapy and physical therapy assistance. Most college programs are offered at all five campuses across Nova Scotia and many are available online, including the teaching assistant, physical therapist assistant, business administration and early childhood education programs. As of September of 2023, full scholarships are available to students enrolled in the early childhood education and continuing care assistant programs at the Halifax campus.

Université Sainte-Anne has designated itself the “greenest little campus” in the country, and takes pride in its commitment to sustainable rural development and renewable energy sources. In the past decade, the institution has installed photovoltaic panels, implemented a solar thermal system and erected two wind turbines. The money saved on energy costs goes toward research projects and new programs of study.