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.
#1
Chamberlain University-Illinois
Addison, IL
Net Price
$31,837/yr
Median Earnings
$92,405
Grad Rate
45%
Nursing Share
100.0%
#2
Methodist College
Peoria, IL
Net Price
$41,787/yr
Median Earnings
$69,800
Grad Rate
62%
Nursing Share
98.3%
#3
Pacific College of Health and Science
Chicago, IL
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$26,209
Grad Rate
72%
Nursing Share
100.0%
#4
St. John's College-Department of Nursing
Springfield, IL
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$86,331
Grad Rate
—
Nursing Share
100.0%
#5
Lakeview College of Nursing
Danville, IL
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$84,522
Grad Rate
—
Nursing Share
100.0%
#6
Saint Anthony College of Nursing
Rockford, IL
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$77,709
Grad Rate
—
Nursing Share
100.0%
#7
Rush University
Chicago, IL
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$75,194
Grad Rate
—
Nursing Share
100.0%
#8
Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing
Peoria, IL
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$72,850
Grad Rate
—
Nursing Share
100.0%
#9
Blessing Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Quincy, IL
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$72,430
Grad Rate
—
Nursing Share
100.0%
#10
Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Rock Island, IL
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$58,743
Grad Rate
—
Nursing Share
100.0%
#11
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
Net Price
$29,167/yr
Median Earnings
$89,363
Grad Rate
96%
Nursing Share
1.3%
#12
University of St Francis
Joliet, IL
Net Price
$13,006/yr
Median Earnings
$63,926
Grad Rate
66%
Nursing Share
42.2%
#13
Midwest College of Oriental Medicine-Skokie
Skokie, IL
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$44,136
Grad Rate
—
Nursing Share
100.0%
#14
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL
Net Price
$14,355/yr
Median Earnings
$81,054
Grad Rate
85%
Nursing Share
4.2%
#15
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$36,079/yr
Median Earnings
$71,530
Grad Rate
75%
Nursing Share
14.0%
#16
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, IL
Net Price
$28,199/yr
Median Earnings
$70,871
Grad Rate
78%
Nursing Share
10.7%
#17
Bradley University
Peoria, IL
Net Price
$22,719/yr
Median Earnings
$66,852
Grad Rate
74%
Nursing Share
15.8%
#18
Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, IL
Net Price
$24,185/yr
Median Earnings
$61,462
Grad Rate
68%
Nursing Share
22.2%
#19
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$18,425/yr
Median Earnings
$82,592
Grad Rate
74%
Nursing Share
0.2%
#20
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL
Net Price
$26,975/yr
Median Earnings
$63,756
Grad Rate
86%
Nursing Share
1.4%
#21
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$10,974/yr
Median Earnings
$68,740
Grad Rate
61%
Nursing Share
14.7%
#22
Augustana College
Rock Island, IL
Net Price
$22,736/yr
Median Earnings
$62,971
Grad Rate
76%
Nursing Share
7.5%
#23
Aurora University
Aurora, IL
Net Price
$18,838/yr
Median Earnings
$58,709
Grad Rate
59%
Nursing Share
22.9%
#24
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL
Net Price
$17,028/yr
Median Earnings
$66,099
Grad Rate
65%
Nursing Share
10.8%
#25
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, IL
Net Price
$10,970/yr
Median Earnings
$58,656
Grad Rate
58%
Nursing Share
21.5%
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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