10 Best Nursing Schools in Illinois
Looking to become a nurse in Illinois? Nurse.org put together a list of the top nursing schools in Illinois to help you choose the right program for you.
Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs
Gain the skills and credentials to advance into nurse management and leadership roles, while laying the groundwork to pursue future nurse practitioner or advanced practice roles. Complete your courses online, on your schedule, at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing.
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
GCU’s RN-BSN program is tailored to meet the needs of the RN adult learner and to maximize the strengths that the working RN already possesses. Transfer up to 90 credits and earn a BSN in as little as 12 months. GCU’s online classes allow you to study at the times that work for your schedule while still enjoying a close connection with your classmates and instructor via online discussions.
Enrollment: Nationwide
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.
Enrollment: Nationwide
The University of Texas at Arlington’s online programs are designed to help you achieve more in your nursing practice with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. They offer convenient, flexible options for completing your RN to BSN online, designed to fit into your busy schedule.
Enrollment: Nationwide
As a pioneer in distance learning since 1985, Liberty University’s online nursing programs are designed to prepare practicing nurses to serve with integrity by teaching advanced skills from an ethical perspective. Liberty's programs are based on industry best practices and up-to-date research – so you can get the tools you need to stay on the cutting edge of nursing care and innovation.
Enrollment: Nationwide
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Top 10 Nursing Schools in Illinois
Chicago is home to many private schools that have developed a strong reputation for their nursing programs. A few state schools have also established themselves as regional and national leaders for nursing education.
Here is our selection of Illinois' top 10 nursing schools.
This is a panel-reviewed selection based on a number of factors, including,
- Reputation
- NCLEX pass rate
- Tuition
- Acceptance rate, when available
- Only ACEN or CCNE-accredited schools are eligible
Nurse Panel
Our selection panel includes 5 Registered Nurses with over 55 years of combined nursing experience and 7 nursing degrees.
- Tracy Everhart, MSN, RN, CNS
- Tyler Faust, MSN, RN
- Chaunie Brusie, BSN, RN
- Kathleen Gaines MSN, RN, BA, CBC
- Leah Helmbrecht, BSN, RN
Because nursing careers take different forms, the top 10 Illinois nursing schools are ranked in no particular order.
DePaul University is the nation’s largest Catholic school in the middle of Chicago. Its mission statement says it focuses on education, and while that might sound obvious, its nursing schools show why. Though DePaul does not offer a traditional BSN program, it does offer a five-year combined BS and MSN program.
Current RNs can also bypass their BSN entirely and enroll in the RN to MSN program, which most schools don’t offer. You’ll have to pay to go to this private school, but the nursing options are vast.
- Public or Private? Private
- Acceptance Rate: 70%
- Percent Enrolled Online: 20%
- In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $726
- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $726
- Address: 1 E Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL
- Website
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Median Earnings 2 Years After Completing a BSN: N/A
As you might have guessed, Saint Xavier University is another Chicago-based Catholic school. And, as you might also have guessed, SXU is home to one of Illinois’ top nursing programs. Students can choose from a traditional BSN, an online RN to BSN, or a second-degree BSN. An MSN is also offered by SXU, both as an entire program and as a graduate certificate.
Nursing scholarships are also offered to help cover tuition, so this can be an affordable degree for some students. Saint Xavier University has earned the prestigious center of excellence in nursing education from the National League of Nursing every year since 2007.
- Public or Private? Private
- Acceptance Rate: 84%
- Percent Enrolled Online: 8%
- In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $680
- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $680
- Address: 3700 W 103rd St, Chicago, IL
- Website
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Median Earnings 2 Years After Completing a BSN: $65,475
Not only is the University of Illinois at Chicago home to one of the top nursing programs in the state, but it also offers in-state tuition to Illinois residents. That makes earning a traditional BSN here much more affordable than at other schools. Six campuses are also available to nursing students in Northern and Central Illinois, including Chicago, Peoria, Quad Cities, Rockford, Springfield, and Urbana.
Some first-year students can also get guaranteed admission into the College of Nursing, so you could know if you’re set to become a nurse before you start your freshman year. Also, don’t worry about the relatively low NCLEX pass rate; this doesn’t represent the program's overall quality.
- Public or Private? Public
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
- Percent Enrolled Online: 12%
- In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $455
- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $898
- Address: 601 S Morgan, Chicago, IL
- Website
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Median Earnings 2 Years After Completing a BSN: $66,394
Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs
Gain the skills and credentials to advance into nurse management and leadership roles, while laying the groundwork to pursue future nurse practitioner or advanced practice roles. Complete your courses online, on your schedule, at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing.
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
GCU’s RN-BSN program is tailored to meet the needs of the RN adult learner and to maximize the strengths that the working RN already possesses. Transfer up to 90 credits and earn a BSN in as little as 12 months. GCU’s online classes allow you to study at the times that work for your schedule while still enjoying a close connection with your classmates and instructor via online discussions.
Enrollment: Nationwide
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.
Enrollment: Nationwide
The University of Texas at Arlington’s online programs are designed to help you achieve more in your nursing practice with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. They offer convenient, flexible options for completing your RN to BSN online, designed to fit into your busy schedule.
Enrollment: Nationwide
As a pioneer in distance learning since 1985, Liberty University’s online nursing programs are designed to prepare practicing nurses to serve with integrity by teaching advanced skills from an ethical perspective. Liberty's programs are based on industry best practices and up-to-date research – so you can get the tools you need to stay on the cutting edge of nursing care and innovation.
Enrollment: Nationwide
As a college (rather than a university), Elmhurst is going to have much smaller class sizes than you’d see at other schools. However, as a college, you can practically be guaranteed that what they offer is well worth the tuition. Elmhurst’s Department of Nursing has six main programs, including three at the undergraduate and three at the graduate level. The Master’s Entry in Nursing Practice is meant for students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree who would prefer to earn a master’s degree instead of another bachelor’s degree.
- Public or Private? Private
- Acceptance Rate: 76%
- Percent Enrolled Online: 16%
- In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $1,132
- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $1,132
- Address: 190 Prospect Ave, Elmhurst, IL
- Website
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Median Earnings 2 Years After Completing a BSN: $63,832
Yet another Catholic school, the University of St. Francis, sets itself apart from others in two ways: they aren’t based in Chicago, and they have a unique BSN program. The traditional BSN boasts an impressive NCLEX pass rate, likely due to the emphasis on experiential learning. Students are connected to the field they’re most interested in, such as long-term care or mental health, and are allowed to gain clinical experience. If you’re interested in a specific nursing niche, then St. Francis is definitely worth considering.
- Public or Private? Private
- Acceptance Rate: 58%
- Percent Enrolled Online: 50%
- In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $875
- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $875
- Address: 500 N Wilcox St, Joliet, IL
- Website
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Median Earnings 2 Years After Completing a BSN: $67,166
Loyola may be one of the more expensive universities on this list, but it's also among the top private Catholic schools in the nation. The university also has an incredible network of local healthcare facilities for clinical rotations. Although the school assigns clinical locations at random, students are guaranteed to gain experience at top-notch facilities.
The university also invests in diversity and inclusion. Most recently, the Sisters of the Resurrection gave a $4 million endowment that supports scholarships for students in the CARE (Collaboration, Access, Resources, and Equity) Pathway, increasing the ability for students from diverse backgrounds to attend this prestigious program.
- Public or Private? Private
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
- Percent Enrolled Online: 13%
- In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $885
- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $885
- Address: 1032 W. Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL
- Website
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Median Earnings 2 Years After Completing a BSN: $66,195
Illinois State University is relatively small for a public school, with only 18,000 undergraduate students. This means students can get a small school atmosphere without the high costs of private schooling. For nursing students, particularly BSN students, small classes often mean more attention from professors.
Of course, small classes won’t mean much to students earning the online RN to BSN, online Master’s in Nursing Systems Administration, or online DNP. However, the small class sizes could be one of the reasons graduates tend to pass the NCLEX at such a high rate.
- Public or Private? Public
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Percent Enrolled Online: 5%
- In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $395
- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $789
- Address: North and School Streets, Normal, IL
- Website
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Median Earnings 2 Years After Completing a BSN: $65,194
The name says it all. Not to be confused with another school by a similar name on this list, Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing offers just about every type of nursing degree you can think of. However, before applying to the BSN program, students should know that SFMC doesn’t offer any of the required liberal arts courses. Instead, they must complete all their pre-requisite courses at a different accredited institution.
After two years of school, students can transfer to SFMC to complete a comprehensive nursing degree. The college also offers the opportunity for qualified students who have completed their junior year of high school to apply for early acceptance.
- Public or Private? Private
- Acceptance Rate: N/A
- Percent Enrolled Online: 38%
- In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $681
- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $681
- Address: 511 NE Greenleaf St, Peoria, IL
- Website
- Retention Rate: N/A
- Median Earnings 2 Years After Completing a BSN: $59,674
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1, nursing students will get a more personalized education at Lewis University. The highlight of Lewis’ nursing program is the traditional BSN, a program that consistently sees graduates pass the NCLEX with a rate of over 90%.
Additionally, Lewis taps into Chicago’s extensive network of healthcare facilities so students can get clinical experience that relates directly to their career goals. Also, the annual tuition rate could be much worse, considering Lewis University is a private Catholic school based in Chicago.
- Public or Private? Private
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Percent Enrolled Online: 20%
- In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $1,056
- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $1,056
- Address: One University Parkway, Romeoville, IL
- Website
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Median Earnings 2 Years After Completing a BSN: $67,995
The tuition looks high, but, on average, Illinois Wesleyan University students earn enough scholarships and grants to cover over half the tuition. This can make earning a BSN from Illinois Wesleyan pretty affordable. But the coolest thing about the school is the BSN program.
The curriculum is structured so nursing students can study abroad and still graduate on time. Minors in health, human services management, and Hispanic studies are also available to BSN students. This degree is unlike any other, and plenty of students can find a reason to like what Illinois Wesleyan is offering.
- Public or Private? Private
- Acceptance Rate: 42%
- Percent Enrolled Online: 0%
- In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $1,675
- Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour: $1,675
- Address: 1312 N Park St, Bloomington, IL
- Website
- Retention Rate: 82%
- Median Earnings 2 Years After Completing a BSN: $62,775
Nurse Salary and Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS),
- There were 129,260 registered nurses (RN) employed in Illinois in 2021 making it one of the top employers for nurses.
- Nurses in Illinois earned a median wage of $78,260, slightly higher than the national median of $77,300.
Students that choose to study in Illinois are priming themselves for a career in-state in two ways:
- Illinois schools structure their curriculum to meet Illinois’ standards for nursing.
- Many universities have close connections with local hospitals and healthcare facilities.
Also, many schools are in the Chicago area, easily the largest city in Illinois. Living in urban areas can make networking and finding a job much easier.
However, before starting a career in Illinois, nurses must first pass the NCLEX to become an RN. Also, many hospitals and healthcare environments are expecting nurses to have a minimum of a BSN.
Next Steps
After reviewing colleges and finding some that feel like a good fit, you’ll want to begin the application process. This can be a long process, but you’ll want to make sure you’re picking the perfect school for you.
-
Contact each school’s admissions offices. You won’t want to waste any time applying to schools you won’t be eligible for. Get in contact with admissions representatives early to make sure you’re eligible.
-
Check each nursing programs’ admission requirements. Typically, students will have to meet additional requirements to be eligible for nursing school. You will probably be expected to have a GPA of 2.75 or higher, and you’ll need to complete prerequisite courses prior to applying.
-
Prepare your application. Application requirements will vary from school to school, but most schools will require:
-
- ACT and/or SAT scores
- High school transcript (GPA)
- College entrance essay(s)
- Letter(s) of recommendation
Additional materials may be required, so check with the admissions office early on during the process.
If at any point you feel confused or lost, contact an admissions representative. Their job is to help you through the application process.
Important Considerations When Comparing Schools
A high NCLEX pass rate may be tempting, but that doesn’t guarantee that any graduate will pass the NCLEX the following year. It’s tempting to judge schools exclusively on one or two factors, but you need to spend time looking at each school’s benefits. Some factors to consider include:
- Annual tuition and total nursing program cost
- Financial aid, scholarships, and grants offered
- Cost of living on-campus or in the area
- Distance from hospitals
- School and nursing program acceptance rate
- NCLEX pass rate
- Type of program (BSN or associate degree)
- Program outcomes
- School’s accreditation (regional and national)
Why you should care about the nursing program’s accreditation
To be eligible for federal financial aid and the NCLEX, you need to earn a BSN from an accredited university. Earning a degree at a non-accredited school could make finding a job incredibly difficult.
The two nursing accreditation organizations to look for are
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
If a school is accredited by one of these institutions, then its nursing program adheres to strict national standards.
Getting a License in Illinois
Illinois isn’t yet part of the Enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact (eNLC) but their legislation is pending, so the licensing requirements already meet eNLC standards.
To become licensed, you’ll need to:
While you can become a nurse in Illinois while studying in another state, the safest bet is to study at an Illinois school. Until Illinois officially becomes a member of the eNLC, studying out of state isn’t worth the risk if your goal is to work in Illinois. However, it is important to note that if you do attend an accredited university out of state you can take the NCLEX in Illinois. Just to keep in mind!
Conclusion
Thousands of nurses work in Illinois, and many more jobs are going to open up in the future. Students who earn a degree in Illinois typically gain clinical experience at some of the top healthcare institutions in the area, helping them form connections that could lead to a job. There are tons of great schooling options, so it’s up to you to pick the program that’s best for you!
Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs
Gain the skills and credentials to advance into nurse management and leadership roles, while laying the groundwork to pursue future nurse practitioner or advanced practice roles. Complete your courses online, on your schedule, at Purdue Global’s School of Nursing.
Enrollment: Nationwide, but certain programs have state restrictions. Check with Purdue for details.
GCU’s RN-BSN program is tailored to meet the needs of the RN adult learner and to maximize the strengths that the working RN already possesses. Transfer up to 90 credits and earn a BSN in as little as 12 months. GCU’s online classes allow you to study at the times that work for your schedule while still enjoying a close connection with your classmates and instructor via online discussions.
Enrollment: Nationwide
The University of Texas at Arlington’s online programs are designed to help you achieve more in your nursing practice with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. They offer convenient, flexible options for completing your RN to BSN online, designed to fit into your busy schedule.
Enrollment: Nationwide
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.
Enrollment: Nationwide
As a pioneer in distance learning since 1985, Liberty University’s online nursing programs are designed to prepare practicing nurses to serve with integrity by teaching advanced skills from an ethical perspective. Liberty's programs are based on industry best practices and up-to-date research – so you can get the tools you need to stay on the cutting edge of nursing care and innovation.
Enrollment: Nationwide
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