2024 Rankings: The 60 Best Nursing Schools in Illinois

Educating a diverse student body of more than 1,300 individuals, UIC College of Nursing is consistently among the top ten nursing schools nationwide by National Institutes of Health research funding. The college also has three specialty programs that are frequently ranked in the top tier by U.S. News & World Report: family nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology nurse practitioner, and nursing administration. UIC offers nursing degree programs at its flagship campus in Chicago as well as regional sites in Peoria, Quad Cities, Rockford, Springfield, and Urbana. Nursing students have access to seven health science colleges at the university, enabling enhanced interprofessional classroom and clinical opportunities.

Founded in 1889 to address a lack of healthcare services, Chamberlain University continues to increase access to nursing education nationwide. Chicago is just one of over twenty Chamberlain locations across the country. The school offers a three-year BSN program, geared towards students who want to accelerate their degree with summer study. The Chicago campus graduates hundreds of new nurses annually, by far the largest prelicensure BSN program in the state. Despite the school’s size, students receive highly individualized attention, enabling them to pass the NCLEX exam at an 84% rate over the past decade. At the graduate level, Chamberlain University offers a fully online MSN program with tracks for nurse educators, nurse executives, nursing informatics, healthcare policy, population health, and several nurse practitioner specialties. Each MSN track is also available as a standalone graduate certificate. Finally, Chamberlain offers a post-master’s DNP with leadership-themed elective focus areas in advanced practice, education, and healthcare systems.

Mennonite College of Nursing (MCN) offers a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs. Approximately 150 BSN graduates from the college appear for the NCLEX exam annually, with an excellent pass rate of 94-99% every single year over the past decade. MCN students have access to a 10,000-square-foot Nursing Simulation Laboratory, enjoy an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio in clinical settings, and can travel to five international locations for nursing experiences. The college is focused on diversity and recently received a $1.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services towards increasing nursing education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The College of Nursing and Health Professions at Lewis University has forty years of experience educating nurses. Lewis offers a full range of nursing programs including traditional BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN with six specialization options, a dual MSN/MBA degree, post-master’s certificates, and a doctor of nursing practice. The college graduates 110-140 prelicensure BSN students each year, who have achieved a remarkable 96% NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. Lewis students learn through one-on-one faculty interactions in state-of-the art simulation labs, and they experience diverse patient populations though the college’s 50+ clinical affiliations. Many courses are also offered online to accommodate a variety of schedules.

USF’s Cecily & John Leach College of Nursing draws on its Catholic heritage of community service. The school offers a broad range of baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral nursing degrees, including a popular RN-to-BSN bridge program for existing nurses with an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or hospital diploma. The school has a small graduating class of 60-90 traditional BSN students who consistently perform very well on the NCLEX licensure exam. Indeed, USF’s first-time NCLEX pass rate over the last decade has been an impressive 91%. Students have access to a virtual simulation laboratory, and they can take advantage of acute and long-term care clinical experiences in a variety of community settings.

DePaul’s School of Nursing was the first in Illinois to offer a two-year Master’s Entry to Nursing Practice (MENP) program for non-nurses. The school also conducts a traditional undergraduate BSN program, an RN-to-MSN pathway for nurses who hold an ADN or hospital diploma, and a DNP program with specializations for aspiring nurse anesthetists, family nurse practitioners, and adult-gerontology nurse practitioners. The MENP program graduates almost 200 students annually, with an impressive 90% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. DePaul’s pass rate on the nurse anesthesia certification exam has reached a stellar 100% in recent years. Students enjoy a network of more than 75 clinical sites and state-of-the-art facilities across two campuses in Lincoln Park and North Chicago.

St. John’s College of Nursing offers traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, RN-to-BSN, and MSN programs. The traditional BSN is designed for students who have already completed 56 semester hours of lower-division coursework, while the accelerated BSN is designed for students who have already received a bachelor’s degree in another field. Across these two prelicensure programs, St. John’s students have maintained a strong 90% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam over the past decade. The RN-to-BSN program is an online, postlicensure pathway for nurses who hold an unencumbered RN license and have graduated from an accredited diploma or ADN program. The MSN program has two focal areas: nursing administration / leadership and family nurse practitioner.

Elmhurst University’s Department of Nursing and Health Sciences offers a traditional prelicensure BSN, an RN-to-BSN completion pathway, and an MSN program with a master’s entry option and three concentrations (clinical nurse leader, nurse educator, nurse administrator). Over the past decade, graduates of the traditional BSN program have passed the NCLEX exam at a 90% rate on their first attempt. Master’s entry students have fared even better, posting a stellar 96% NCLEX pass rate since the program’s inception. Elmhurst is focused on innovation: the school’s preoperative nursing course was the first of its kind in the Chicago area. Located just 16 miles from downtown Chicago, the university’s students have access to a wealth of premier institutes for clinical studies.

The SIUE School of Nursing provides traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, and RN-to-BSN degree programs for undergraduates. It also offers three distinct MSN tracks (healthcare informatics, nurse education, healthcare and nursing administration) and a DNP program with two specialization options (nurse anesthesia, family nurse practitioner). BSN graduates have maintained a solid 84% NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. SIUE students learn in active classroom settings and a high-technology simulation laboratory, and they are guaranteed clinical placement among the school’s 28 community partners in the St. Louis metropolitan area. SIUE pursues a federally funded program called SNAP, which is designed to recruit racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse high school graduates.

Governors State University’s nursing curriculum incorporates the latest recommendations from the Carnegie Foundation Report and the Institute of Medicine. The Department of Nursing aims to educate nurse leaders who will address the challenges of local, regional, and national healthcare reform. The school has 15 full-time nursing faculty and primarily offers graduate programs, including a DNP and three MSN concentrations (nursing administration, CNS in adult healthcare, FNP). Governors State also conducts a completely online RN-to-BSN completion program for registered nurses.

Millikin University’s School of Nursing offers BSN, MSN, and DNP degree programs. The BSN program has both a traditional prelicensure pathway and an online RN-to-BSN pathway. The MSN program has a track for RNs who already hold a BSN degree, as well as a master’s entry into nursing practice: prelicensure (MENP-PL) track for aspiring nurses with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. The DNP has four options: BSN-to-DNP nurse anesthesia, BSN-to-DNP family nurse practitioner, MSN-to-DNP family nurse practitioner, and DNP completion for APRNs. A school nurse certificate is also available. Traditional BSN graduates have scored an 88% pass rate on the NCLEX exam over the past decade, while their MENP-PL counterparts have achieved a perfect 100% pass rate eight out of the last nine years.

Methodist College offers baccalaureate and master’s degree programs in nursing, with several options at each degree level. The BSN has a traditional prelicensure track, an RN-to-BSN completion pathway, and an accelerated second degree track. Students also have the option to add a certificate, such as gerontology, or a minor in fields like arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, or mathematics and science. The college graduates 130-180 students annually across the prelicensure BSN tracks. These students have passed the NCLEX-RN licensure exam at an 84% first-attempt rate over the past decade. The MSN program offers generalist, nurse educator, and nurse leader executive tracks. The program also recently launched a prelicensure option for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field.

The School of Nursing at Illinois Wesleyan University offers a traditional BSN program that allows students to pursue a minor in Hispanic studies, human services management, or health. The program has several unique features including collaborative research opportunities with nursing faculty, facilities that simulate hospital and home healthcare settings, internships across several healthcare fields, study abroad trips, and early clinical experiences. School of Nursing students also benefit from the program’s 100% job placement rate. Over the past decade, the BSN program has graduated 30-40 students each year who achieved an excellent 91% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN licensure exam.

Northern Illinois University’s School of Nursing offers a traditional BSN program that consists of 61-64 nursing credits and 31-33 non-nursing credits. Sample courses for the program include Genetics & Human Genomics, Microbiology, and Nursing Ethics & the Law. Students enjoy a wide range of clinical experiences with over 230 regional healthcare partners, a dedicated advisor, and a Student Success Program that helps students meet program demands. Over the past decade, graduates of the four-year BSN program have achieved an 88% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. NIU’s School of Nursing also offers an online RN-to-BSN, an MSN with two specializations (education, FNP), a post-master’s certificate in nurse education, and a DNP with FNP focus.

Ambria College of Nursing has several options for aspiring nurses: an LPN certificate, two ADN pathways (traditional, LPN-to-RN), and an RN-to-BSN degree completion program. With day, evening, fulltime, and parttime schedules, Ambria’s flexible LPN and LPN-to-RN programs can be completed in just 12 months. The traditional ADN is a two-year program that prepares graduates for initial RN licensure, and the RN-to-BSN is a fast-track program that students can complete in just eight months. Ambria’s ADN program graduates about fifty students annually, with a strong 90% NCLEX-RN pass rate since the program’s inception. The classes of 2019 and 2020 scored NCLEX-RN pass rates of 96% and 100%, respectively. Ambria graduates another 40-50 LPN candidates each year, with a stellar 95% NCLEX-PN pass rate over the past decade. Indeed, five of the past six graduating LPN classes scored a perfect 100% NCLEX-PN pass rate.

The BSN program at Trinity Christian College prepares generalists to begin practice in all areas of clinical nursing. The 120-credit program features Christian faculty, hands-on experience, a worldwide alumni network, and a perfect 100% rate of graduate employment. Sample coursework includes health assessment promotion, mental healthcare nursing, principles of community health, and therapeutic nursing intervention. The college’s BSN graduates have enjoyed a phenomenal 99.5% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the past six years.

The Gail & Richard Lumpkin School of Nursing is a core part of Eastern Illinois University’s College of Health and Human Services. The school offers both a traditional prelicensure BSN and an online RN-to-BSN completion pathway. The traditional BSN program launched in the fall of 2020. Prospective nursing majors first complete a year of prerequisite and general education courses. They then apply to be fulltime nursing students at the end of freshman year. The program requires at least 124 credit hours of study, and it prepares graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensure examination. Students have access to clinical experiences that span both rural and large-organization settings, as well as state-of-the-art simulation laboratories. EIU’s RN-to-BSN program is designed for registered nurses with an associate degree or nursing diploma. The curriculum of eleven courses – ten nursing core courses and a senior seminar – may be completed entirely online in as little as 14 months.

CAAN Academy of Nursing is a nonprofit entity designed to help adult learners enter the nursing profession. Accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools, the institution offers two prelicensure nursing programs. CAAN launched its 59-week practical nursing certificate program over a decade ago. During the past ten years, LPN graduates have enjoyed an 88% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-PN licensure exam, including several years with a perfect pass rate. Recent LPN graduating classes have also enjoyed a 100% job placement rate. In 2018, CAAN launched a new LPN-to-RN bridge program that awards an associate degree and prepares students for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam.

The School of Nursing at Western Illinois University offers three nursing programs: a pre-nursing curriculum, a traditional prelicensure BSN, and an RN-to-BSN pathway conducted 100% online. The pre-nursing program prepares students to apply to the prelicensure BSN program by satisfying all general education and support course requirements. The prelicensure BSN program builds upon this foundation to prepare students for initial RN licensure. WIU has achieved a strong 91% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX examination over the past decade. Finally, the online RN-to-BSN program is for working RNs seeking a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Verve College is a professional career certification and training institute with more than twenty years of experience. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation approved the college’s practical nursing program in 2007, and the first class graduated in 2008. The 1,080-hour program may be completed in 14 to 15 months fulltime. Verve College offers its students a full suite of career services including job placement assistance, resume development, and interview coaching. Recent graduates have earned some of the nation’s highest pass rates on the NCLEX-PN licensure examination, including a perfect 100% pass rate in 2017 and a 98% pass rate in 2020.

The School of Health Sciences at Southern Illinois University launched a nursing program in the fall of 2020 to address the nursing shortage within the region. This competitive program trains around 300 students annually. Specific pathways include a traditional BSN, a 12-month accelerated BSN, and an RN-to-BSN degree completion program. To enhance their degree, students may add a minor in health care management. Students take coursework on critical topics like nursing clinical theory, adult nursing, and pathophysiology. SIU offers several nursing internships, including the nursing immersion internship, nursing leadership internship, and complex care internship. Graduates of the traditional and accelerated BSN pathways are prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and gain initial licensure in the field.

Capital Area School of Practical Nursing offers an accelerated LPN program that can be completed in just nine months. The 1,330-hour program, which includes 868 theory hours and 462 clinical hours, is divided into four quarters that must be taken in sequence. Nursing theory is taught during daytime hours, and clinical placements are on four- to six-week rotations. Students may enter CASPN in either August or February of each year. Upon completion of the program, they receive a certificate and are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN licensure exam. Over the past decade, the school’s 100-plus annual graduates have recorded a strong 91% first-time NCLEX pass rate.

Founded over fifty years ago, Moraine Valley Community College is the second-largest community college in Illinois. The ADN program is a two-year special admission program which starts in either the fall or spring of each year. It features in-class high-fidelity simulations, hybrid and online courses, clinical experiences in hospital and community-based settings, and a 90% job placement rate immediately after graduation. The traditional ADN curriculum takes five semesters to complete, excluding summers. An LPN-to-RN bridge pathway is also available, and it may be completed in four consecutive semesters. Over the past decade, Moraine Valley’s ADN graduates have achieved a noteworthy 88% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN licensure exam.

CALC is a nationally accredited career institution that provides training for in-demand careers such as administration, engineering, and healthcare. The school’s practical nursing program integrates theory, laboratory work, and clinical experience to prepare graduates for initial LPN licensure. Since the program’s launch, students have achieved a near-perfect 99% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-PN licensure exam. The 15-month LPN curriculum is a fulltime course of study, comprised of four 15-week terms and one five-week term. Clinical experiences take place 24/7 during the program, so students must be available for all work shifts.

Chicago State University’s Department of Nursing sits within the College of Health Sciences. Students can earn either a BSN degree or an MSN degree. The BSN program prepares 20-50 graduates each year for the NCLEX-RN licensure examination, posting a 70% first-time pass rate over the past decade. BSN students have also achieved 100% graduation and job placement rates since 2015. The 45-credit MSN program is designed to prepare nurses for the challenges facing the profession in the 21st century. The program focuses on three specialties: community health nursing, nursing administration, and nursing education. Additional nursing specialties will be developed in the future.

Illinois Valley Community College offers an LPN certificate and an ADN degree. In just three semesters, LPN students are prepared either for entry-level positions at area hospitals or for entry into the IVCC ADN program. Approximately 20 students graduate the LPN program each year. Over the past decade, these individuals have scored an exceptional 97% pass rate on the NCLEX-PN licensure exam. The ADN curriculum includes nursing lectures and seminars, as well as clinical experiences at local hospitals, long-term care facilities, home healthcare agencies, physician’s offices, and clinics. Approximately 60 students graduate the ADN program each year. Over the past decade, these individuals have scored a strong 89% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN licensure exam.

Rasmussen University offers traditional ADN, LPN-to-RN, and RN-to-BSN programs at its four Illinois campuses. The traditional ADN program can be completed in 18 to 24 months. It offers small class sizes, four start dates, and an innovative option called Flex Choice. Flex Choice allows students to combine traditional courses and optional self-directed assessments for significant time and money savings. The LPN-to-RN bridge program can be completed in 12 to 18 months. It features a streamlined curriculum for current LPNs looking to advance to an RN role. Collectively, Rasmussen’s traditional ADN and LPN-to-RN students have scored an 80% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN licensure exam over the past six years. The RN-to-BSN program is conducted online and can be completed in as little as 18 months.

The College of Lake County provides 40 degree transfer programs and 200 career certificate options to more than 10,000 students. For aspiring nurses, CLC offers CNA, ADN, and BSN transfer pathways. The CNA program requires seven credit hours of blended coursework and clinical experiences at community health centers. The ADN program incorporates 73-74 credit hours, with coursework on nursing practice foundations, mental health nursing, family-centered nursing care, and medical-surgical nursing. Approximately 70-80 ADN graduates each year are prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. These students have averaged an 86% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. The college’s BSN transfer pathway offers the opportunity to transfer to a BSN program at a major university such as University of Illinois Chicago, Olivet Nazarene University, or University of St. Francis.

The ADN program at Elgin Community College goes well beyond the traditional classroom setting, delivering content through distance learning, simulations, multimedia, small group discussions, and laboratory practice. The college believes that this approach delivers more individualized instruction and places greater responsibility on each student for his/her education. Sample ADN courses include nursing practice, pharmacology, human anatomy, and physiology. The program graduates approximately 100 students annually. Over the past decade, these individuals have scored a 90% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN licensure examination.

The College of Nursing & Health Professions at Carl Sandburg College offers practical nursing, traditional ADN, and LPN-to-RN programs. The practical nursing curriculum prepares students to pass the NCLEX-PN licensure exam and assume entry-level LPN positions. Carl Sandburg graduates a small cohort of 15-30 LPN students each year, who have achieved a solid 83% NCLEX-PN pass rate over the past decade. The traditional ADN and LPN-to-RN programs prepare students to pass the NCLEX-RN licensure exam and assume entry-level RN positions. Carl Sandburg produces 40-60 ADN graduates each year, who have posted a respectable 79% NCLEX-RN pass rate over the past decade.