2023 Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in Illinois
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which nursing program is right for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Also, there are a number of trade schools and bootcamp with offerings that you might find attractive.
The Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in Illinois ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 29 schools in Illinois to see which ones offered the best bachelor's degree programs for nursing students. Factors related to overall quality of the school, post-graduation earnings, average student debt, and more accumulated were considered when coming up with this list.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in Illinois
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Loyola University Chicago to be the best school for nursing students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Illinois.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $47,808 to cover tuition and fees at Loyola Chicago. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Loyola Chicago accumulate an average of $23,570 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Loyola Chicago, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 97% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Out of the 29 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois Wesleyan University landed the # 2 spot on the list.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $52,512 to cover tuition and fees at Illinois Wesleyan. The school does not offer an in-state discount. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,212 in student loans.
Out of the 29 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, McKendree University landed the # 3 spot on the list.
The average tuition and fees at McKendree is $33,050. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from McKendree accumulate an average of $24,607 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at McKendree. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 16% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Illinois State University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list.
Students from Illinois who attend Illinois State full time pay an average of $13,968 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $24,172. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,109 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Illinois State. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 98% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Out of the 29 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Concordia University, Chicago landed the # 5 spot on the list.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $34,310 to cover tuition and fees at Concordia University, Chicago. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Concordia University, Chicago accumulate an average of $26,522 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Concordia University, Chicago does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 50% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #6, University of St Francis did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree.
By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,383 in student loans.
University of Saint Francis does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 89% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Bradley University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #7 on the list.
If you want to attend Bradley, expect to pay an average of $36,360 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $25,068 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Bradley does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 98% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Lewis University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking.
The average tuition and fees at Lewis is $35,472. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Lewis accumulate an average of $23,413 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Lewis does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 91% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Aurora University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs.
The average tuition and fees at Aurora is $26,760. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,543 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Aurora. During the 2019-2020 year, about 96% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #10, Dominican University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree.
Dominican U does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $35,420. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $26,422 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Dominican U does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 96% took at least some of their classes online.
Elmhurst University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $39,400 to cover tuition and fees at Elmhurst. The school does not offer an in-state discount. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,567 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Elmhurst, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 90% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #12 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list.
Students from Illinois who attend UIC full time pay an average of $15,603 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $30,370. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,801 in student loans.
UIC does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 100% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Governors State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list.
In-state students pay an average of $10,108 in tuition and fees if they attend GSU full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $17,620. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $28,123 in loans while pursuing their degree.
GSU does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 69% took at least some of their classes online.
Benedictine University landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs.
Benedictine U does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $32,280. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Benedictine U accumulate an average of $26,886 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Benedictine U does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 100% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking.
If you want to attend SIUE, expect to pay an average of $11,496 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $24,579 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at SIUE, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 98% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Roosevelt University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking.
By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,098 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Roosevelt, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 71% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Trinity Christian College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #17 on the list.
Trinity Christian does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $33,275. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Trinity Christian accumulate an average of $29,340 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Trinity Christian, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 70% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Millikin University landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs.
Millikin does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $39,592. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $31,442 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Millikin does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 91% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #19, North Park University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree.
If you want to attend North Park, expect to pay an average of $33,050 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,826 in student loans.
North Park does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 84% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Wheaton College Illinois ranked #20 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list.
Wheaton College Illinois does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $40,820. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Wheaton College Illinois does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 37% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Olivet Nazarene University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #21 on the list.
Olivet Nazarene does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $37,440. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene accumulate an average of $27,166 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Olivet Nazarene does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 47% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Northern Illinois University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking.
NIU does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $14,738. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $25,759 in loans while pursuing their degree.
NIU does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 4% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Quincy University landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs.
Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Quincy U accumulate an average of $25,741 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Quincy U. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 71% took at least some of their classes online.
Western Illinois University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list.
The average tuition and fees at WIU is $13,297. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from WIU accumulate an average of $28,617 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at WIU. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 91% took at least some of their classes online.
Eastern Illinois University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $12,297 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend EIU. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $14,551. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $23,733 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at EIU. During the 2019-2020 year, about 60% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
View Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools Nationwide >
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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