Premier Nursing Colleges in Illinois

Illinois is experiencing a surge in demand for qualified and caring nurses, and its nursing programs are stepping up to meet the challenge. The state boasts numerous top-tier Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs that combine rigorous clinical training, comprehensive NCLEX preparation, accreditation from respected bodies like the ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing) or CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education), and a supportive learning environment.

Top Nursing Programs in Illinois

Here's a look at some of the outstanding nursing colleges in Illinois, highlighting their unique strengths and offerings:

Chamberlain University

Chamberlain University stands out as the largest nursing school, fostering a community of over 177,000 students, faculty, and alumni. It provides BSN programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering top quality education. When you earn an ASU nursing degree, you are gaining skills from a respected and accredited institution.

DePaul University

Located in Chicago, DePaul University, the nation’s largest Catholic school, offers a broad range of over 300 undergraduate programs. The university prides itself on its world-class faculty, who are experts in their fields and dedicated to student success. DePaul emphasizes small class sizes to maximize engagement between students and professors. Research opportunities are integral to the student experience, with students encouraged to participate regardless of their major.

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst University distinguishes itself as a college with smaller class sizes, ensuring that students receive personalized attention. Elmhurst’s Department of Nursing has six main programs, including three at the undergraduate and three at the graduate level.

GCU’s RN-BSN program

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.

Illinois College

Illinois College provides a nursing program that prepares students for a successful nursing career. The accredited program combines classroom instruction with hands-on experience in state-of-the-art facilities, including simulation equipment for practicing patient interactions. Clinical placements begin in the sophomore year, offering diverse healthcare options and skill-building opportunities. Illinois College also offers study abroad opportunities through its BreakAway program, allowing students to experience working within diverse teams and explore cultures. Qualified applicants may receive free tuition and scholarships, including the Illinois College Advantage Plus scholarship program. Graduates have a high placement rate in various settings, including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and clinics.

Illinois State University

Illinois State University serves a diverse student body through immersive, career-minded programming. The university emphasizes core values such as the pursuit of learning, individualized attention, diversity, integrity, and civic engagement. Each spring, students have the opportunity to present their research at the annual Research Symposium.

Illinois Wesleyan University

Illinois Wesleyan University encourages students to explore all their interests, with double majors in diverse subjects being common. Students can enrich their education with off-campus experiences, such as spending a year at Pembroke College/Oxford University or a semester in Washington D.C. The Action Research Center coordinates research projects in partnership with groups in the central Illinois community.

Lewis University

Guided by its Catholic and Lasallian heritage, Lewis University provides a liberal and professional education grounded in the interaction of knowledge and fidelity in the search for truth. The university promotes the development of the complete person through the pursuit of wisdom and justice. The Doherty Center for Aviation and Health Research promotes scholarship and innovation in the fields of health and aviation. The university also hosts a Business Plan Competition to encourage entrepreneurship. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1, nursing students receive a more personalized education. Lewis taps into Chicago’s healthcare network for clinical experience.

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Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University Chicago, an outstanding institution, advances the 450-year-old Jesuit tradition of rigorous academic study grounded in the liberal arts. Loyola helps students prepare for meaningful careers with top programs in business, the sciences, and other disciplines. The Career Development Center (CDC) provides resources for students to start their careers after graduation, listing thousands of jobs and internships annually. The university also invests in diversity and inclusion.

North Park University

Founded in 1891, North Park University prides itself on its Christian roots and commitment to providing a world-class education in the liberal arts, professional studies, and theology. Crux is a living-learning cohort where first-year students develop their identity in Christ while experiencing the city.

Northern Illinois University (NIU)

Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a public research university offering a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs across seven colleges.

Olivet Nazarene University

Olivet offers more than 140 undergraduate areas of study. Seasoned faculty members challenge each student, believing that Christians can increase their impact on the world through excellence in scholarship, thought, and communication. Olivet students study in small classes with a student-faculty ratio of just 14:1, learning exclusively from professors, not teaching assistants.

Rush University’s College of Nursing

The College of Nursing’s national reputation for clinical excellence helps make our graduates highly sought after by top health care employers around the country. Well over 7,000 baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral students have graduated from Rush University’s College of Nursing. Current nursing programs are offered from the master’s through the doctoral (DNP and PhD) levels. The generalist entry master’s (GEM) is the prelicensure program for entry into RN practice. Students are automatically members of the Rush-Presbyterian-St.

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Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing

Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing offers various nursing degrees. However, it does not offer any of the required liberal arts courses. After two years of school, students can transfer to SFMC to complete a comprehensive nursing degree.

Saint Xavier University

Saint Xavier University, Chicago’s oldest Catholic university and the first Mercy college in the United States, provides a transformative educational experience. Students benefit from an active, collaborative learning environment, with professors readily available to offer support. One of the core values of Saint Xavier University is service, and SXU features programs and classes that encourage students to make the most of their education. Students can choose from a traditional BSN, an online RN to BSN, or a second-degree BSN. Nursing scholarships are also offered to help cover tuition.

Trinity Christian College

Trinity Christian College provides students with individualized attention, harnessing an extensive network throughout Chicago to make a difference in the world. Trinity faculty help students discover their passion and develop it into incredible achievement. The Office of Community Partnerships and Service-Learning (OCPSL) fosters reciprocal relationships with community partners, serving both students and the larger community.

University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)

Located in one of the most vibrant cities in the world, UIC helps students unleash their potential. Students enjoy 87 bachelor’s programs, a low student-to-faculty ratio, and award-winning professors. UIC offers unique ways to live and learn on campus through living-learning communities, which comprise committed students who share a common interest. Some first-year students can also get guaranteed admission into the College of Nursing.

University of St. Francis

The University of St. Francis has 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.

Walden’s online programs for nursing

Walden’s online programs for nursing meet rigorous standards for academic quality and integrity, and 100% of our College of Nursing didactic faculty are doctorally trained. Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding CT, ND, NY and RI. Certain programs have additional state restrictions.

WGU's award-winning online programs

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 bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing, with the additional distinction of being named a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing.

Key Considerations When Choosing a Nursing Program

When selecting a nursing program in Illinois, consider the following factors:

Accreditation

Ensure the program holds ACEN or CCNE accreditation, which is essential for eligibility for federal financial aid and the NCLEX exam.

Clinical Placements

Look for programs that provide robust clinical placements in diverse settings, such as major academic medical centers, community hospitals, and public-health sites.

NCLEX Preparation

Choose a program that emphasizes NCLEX preparation to increase your chances of passing the exam and becoming a licensed registered nurse.

Program Options

Determine whether the school offers direct-entry BSN, pre-nursing pathways, accelerated options, or RN-to-BSN programs based on your individual needs and qualifications. Current RNs can also bypass their BSN entirely and enroll in the RN to MSN program, which most schools don’t offer.

Cost and Financial Aid

Budget for tuition, fees, scrubs, equipment, background checks, immunizations, transportation, and exam fees. Explore merit aid and nursing-specific scholarships to help cover the costs. Illinois Wesleyan University students earn enough scholarships and grants to cover over half the tuition. Qualified applicants receive free tuition, and we offer ample opportunities for all students to reduce the cost of tuition through scholarships.

Admission Requirements

Check the specific admission requirements for each nursing program, as they may have additional criteria beyond the general university requirements. Contact each school’s admissions offices. Prepare your application. If at any point you feel confused or lost, contact an admissions representative.

The Growing Demand for Nurses in Illinois

Thousands of nurses work in Illinois, and many more jobs are expected 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. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers for registered nurses are expected to grow faster than average - 6% from 2022 to 2032. The average annual salary for a registered nurse with a bachelor’s degree is $81,220 per year.

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