For our 2024 rankings of prelicensure BSN programs, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac compiled an extensive database of student performance on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Aspiring registered nurses in the United States must pass this examination before they may commence practice. Thus, student performance on the NCLEX-RN exam provides an excellent benchmark for comparing the relative quality of bachelor’s degree programs.
We used our database to calculate each program’s NCLEX-RN pass rate among first-time test-takers. This is the standard program assessment metric reported by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation’s Division of Professional Regulation, as well as by the test’s administrator, Pearson Vue. Whenever possible, we calculated this first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate over an extensive period of time, typically the past decade of student performance. We then used this metric to rank all of Illinois’s prelicensure BSN programs accordingly.
#1: Saint Anthony College of Nursing
97.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate3301 North Mulford Road
Rockford, Illinois 61114
https://www.osfhealthcare.org/sacn97.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 77 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#2: Lewis University
96.1% first-time NCLEX pass rateOne University Parkway
Romeoville, Illinois 60446
https://www.lewisu.edu96.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 125 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#3: Trinity Christian College
95.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate6601 West College Drive
Palos Heights, Illinois 60463
https://www.trnty.edu95.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 32 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#4: Illinois State University
95.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate110 South University Street
Normal, Illinois 61790
https://www.illinoisstate.edu95.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 157 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#5: Bradley University
94.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate1501 West Bradley Avenue
Peoria, Illinois 61625
https://www.bradley.edu94.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 83 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#6: Loyola University Chicago
92.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate1032 West Sheridan Road
Chicago, Illinois 60660
https://www.luc.edu92.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 260 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#7: Dominican University
91.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate7900 West Division Street
River Forest, Illinois 60305
https://www.dom.edu91.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 35 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2016 through 2021
#8: Western Illinois University
91.8% first-time NCLEX pass rateOne University Circle
Macomb, Illinois 61455
https://www.wiu.edu91.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 24 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#9: Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing & Health Sciences
91.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate3609 North Marx Drive
Quincy, Illinois 62305
https://www.brcn.edu91.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 57 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#10: Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences
90.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate2122 25th Avenue
Rock Island, Illinois 61201
https://www.trinitycollegeqc.edu90.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 43 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#11: Aurora University
90.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate347 South Gladstone Avenue
Aurora, Illinois 60506
https://www.aurora.edu90.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 108 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#12: University of St. Francis
90.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate500 Wilcox Street
Joliet, Illinois 60435
https://www.stfrancis.edu90.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 84 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#13: St. John's College of Nursing
89.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate729 East Carpenter Street
Springfield, Illinois 62702
https://www.hshs.org/stjohnscollege89.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 52 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#14: Illinois Wesleyan University
89.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate1312 Park Street
Bloomington, Illinois 61701
https://www.iwu.edu89.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 39 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#15: Olivet Nazarene University
88.6% first-time NCLEX pass rateOne University Avenue
Bourbonnais, Illinois 60914
https://www.olivet.edu88.6% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 113 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#16: Elmhurst University
88.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate190 Prospect Avenue
Elmhurst, Illinois 60126
https://www.elmhurst.edu88.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 56 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#17: Northern Illinois University
88.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate1240 Normal Road
DeKalb, Illinois 60115
https://www.niu.edu88.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 136 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#18: Millikin University
87.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate1184 West Main Street
Decatur, Illinois 62522
https://www.millikin.edu87.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 46 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#19: Saint Xavier University
85.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate3700 West 103rd Street
Chicago, Illinois 60655
https://www.sxu.edu85.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 136 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#20: Methodist College
85.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate7600 North Academic Drive
Peoria, Illinois 61615
https://www.methodistcol.edu85.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 139 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#21: Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing
84.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate511 NE Greenleaf Street
Peoria, Illinois 61603
https://www.osfhealthcare.org/sfmccon84.7% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 145 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#22: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
84.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate125 Peck Service Road, Suite 2117
Edwardsville, Illinois 62025
https://www.siue.edu84.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 209 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#23: North Park University
84.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate3225 West Foster Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60625
https://www.northpark.edu84.1% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 75 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#24: Chamberlain University
84.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate1221 North Swift Road
Addison, Illinois 60101
https://www.chamberlain.edu84.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 684 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#25: University of Illinois Chicago
81.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate845 South Damen Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60612
https://www.uic.edu81.8% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 164 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#26: Rockford University
81.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate5050 East State Street
Rockford, Illinois 61108
https://www.rockford.edu81.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 60 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#27: Lakeview College of Nursing
78.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate903 North Logan Avenue
Danville, Illinois 61832
https://www.lakeviewcol.edu78.2% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 117 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#28: Oak Point University
76.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate1431 North Claremont Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60622
https://www.oakpoint.edu76.9% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 244 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#29: Roosevelt University
76.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate430 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60605
https://www.roosevelt.edu76.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 19 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2017 through 2021
#30: Chicago State University
65.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate9501 South King Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60628
https://www.csu.edu65.3% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 31 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2012 through 2021
#31: Illinois College
50.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate1101 West College Avenue
Jacksonville, Illinois 62650
https://www.ic.edu50.0% first-time NCLEX pass rate
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Average of 10 students graduated per year
Data analyzed from 2021 through 2021