Best Nursing Programs in Illinois (2026)
Nursing programs in Illinois span community-college ADN paths, BSN programs at four-year universities, and accelerated BSN options. The schools below are ranked by NCLEX pass rates (where available), graduation rate, and net price — for families weighing both cost and outcomes.
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#1
Chamberlain University-Illinois
Addison, IL
Net Price
$38,263/yr
Median Earnings
$96,897
Grad Rate
39%
Nursing Share
100.0%
#2
Methodist College
Peoria, IL
Net Price
$41,238/yr
Median Earnings
$71,324
Grad Rate
55%
Nursing Share
97.4%
#3
Pacific College of Health and Science
Chicago, IL
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$34,096
Grad Rate
68%
Nursing Share
100.0%
#4
Rush University
Chicago, IL
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$91,211
Grad Rate
—
Nursing Share
100.0%
#5
Lakeview College of Nursing
Danville, IL
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$88,107
Grad Rate
—
Nursing Share
100.0%
#6
Saint Anthony College of Nursing
Rockford, IL
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$85,334
Grad Rate
—
Nursing Share
100.0%
#7
St. John's College
Springfield, IL
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$84,869
Grad Rate
—
Nursing Share
100.0%
#8
Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing
Peoria, IL
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$80,384
Grad Rate
—
Nursing Share
100.0%
#9
Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Rock Island, IL
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$74,463
Grad Rate
—
Nursing Share
100.0%
#10
Blessing Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Quincy, IL
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$70,103
Grad Rate
—
Nursing Share
100.0%
#11
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
Net Price
$34,420/yr
Median Earnings
$104,255
Grad Rate
96%
Nursing Share
0.9%
#12
University of St Francis
Joliet, IL
Net Price
$15,961/yr
Median Earnings
$69,137
Grad Rate
65%
Nursing Share
44.4%
#13
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL
Net Price
$13,042/yr
Median Earnings
$87,599
Grad Rate
86%
Nursing Share
3.9%
#14
Bradley University
Peoria, IL
Net Price
$22,469/yr
Median Earnings
$76,013
Grad Rate
75%
Nursing Share
15.3%
#15
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$36,340/yr
Median Earnings
$78,431
Grad Rate
73%
Nursing Share
12.0%
#16
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$22,443/yr
Median Earnings
$90,804
Grad Rate
73%
Nursing Share
0.3%
#17
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, IL
Net Price
$27,863/yr
Median Earnings
$76,193
Grad Rate
74%
Nursing Share
10.8%
#18
Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, IL
Net Price
$23,165/yr
Median Earnings
$67,398
Grad Rate
67%
Nursing Share
18.0%
#19
Aurora University
Aurora, IL
Net Price
$19,385/yr
Median Earnings
$64,180
Grad Rate
60%
Nursing Share
23.4%
#20
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$9,540/yr
Median Earnings
$73,666
Grad Rate
62%
Nursing Share
14.9%
#21
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL
Net Price
$26,059/yr
Median Earnings
$68,390
Grad Rate
83%
Nursing Share
1.5%
#22
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$10,171/yr
Median Earnings
$64,661
Grad Rate
56%
Nursing Share
21.2%
#23
DePaul University
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$27,108/yr
Median Earnings
$75,602
Grad Rate
68%
Nursing Share
3.9%
#24
Augustana College
Rock Island, IL
Net Price
$21,153/yr
Median Earnings
$67,144
Grad Rate
73%
Nursing Share
5.2%
#25
Illinois State University
Normal, IL
Net Price
$17,829/yr
Median Earnings
$67,557
Grad Rate
66%
Nursing Share
9.1%
Why a Nursing degree?
Registered Nursing has 1.4% unemployment and a median salary of $93,600. The U.S. nurse shortage is structural, not cyclical — these jobs aren't going anywhere.
Common career paths: Registered Nurse · Nurse Practitioner · Critical Care Nurse · Pediatric Nurse · Public Health Nurse
Typical starting salary range: $70,000–$93,600
Find your best fit, not just the highest rank
Our 2-minute quiz weights cost, earnings, graduation rate, and other priorities to your family — and matches you to schools that actually fit, not just the top of a list.
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