2023 Best Nursing Basic Certificate 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.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Nursing Degree Search has developed this Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Illinois ranking. This report analyzed 35 schools in Illinois to see which ones offered the best basic certificate 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 Basic Certificate Schools in Illinois
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Oakton Community College the best school in Illinois for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
Students from Illinois who attend Oakton Community College full time pay an average of $10,446 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,462.
Oakton Community College 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 91% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means William Rainey Harper College is a great place for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $9,870 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Harper College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $11,682.
One thing to take note of is that Harper College does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 86% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
The excellent basic certificate programs at College of Lake County helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Illinois.
In-state students pay an average of $9,632 in tuition and fees if they attend College of Lake County full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,824.
College of Lake County 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.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Kaskaskia College is a great place for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Kaskaskia College is $7,530. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $12,330.
Kaskaskia College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 54% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Illinois list.
Online courses are available at Malcolm X College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 97% took at least some of their classes online.
Read full report on City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College
Lincoln Land Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Illinois ranking.
In-state students pay an average of $6,840 in tuition and fees if they attend LLCC full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,068.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since LLCC does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 81% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Black Hawk College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Illinois list.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since BHC does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 71% took at least some of their classes online.
Joliet Junior College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate nursing programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Joliet Junior College is $12,570. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $13,410.
Joliet Junior College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 96% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
South Suburban College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Illinois ranking.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $11,033 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend SSC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $12,683.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since SSC does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 79% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Illinois Valley Community College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate nursing programs.
Students from Illinois who attend IVCC full time pay an average of $12,952 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $13,942.
One thing to take note of is that IVCC does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 73% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Morton College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Illinois ranking.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $9,476 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Morton College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,524.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Morton College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 94% took at least some of their classes online.
Parkland College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Illinois list.
Students from Illinois who attend Parkland College full time pay an average of $11,580 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,930.
One thing to take note of is that Parkland College does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 61% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Waubonsee Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Illinois list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Waubonsee is $9,271. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,076.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Waubonsee. 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.
Kishwaukee College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #14 on the list.
Students from Illinois who attend Kishwaukee College full time pay an average of $9,390 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $13,800.
Kishwaukee College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. 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.
Sauk Valley Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #15 on the list.
In-state students pay an average of $11,580 in tuition and fees if they attend Sauk Valley Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,840.
Sauk Valley Community College 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 84% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #16, Highland Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
Highland Community College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $6,846. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Highland Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 52% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #17, John A Logan College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
Students from Illinois who attend John A Logan College full time pay an average of $5,960 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,980.
Online courses are available at John A Logan College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 46% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #18, Moraine Valley Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $8,118 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend MVCC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,334.
MVCC 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 78% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #19, Prairie State College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $9,342 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Prairie State College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $11,064.
Prairie State College 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 80% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Elgin Community College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate nursing programs.
In-state students pay an average of $7,140 in tuition and fees if they attend ECC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,516.
Online courses are available at ECC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 74% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Lake Land College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #21 on the list.
In-state students pay an average of $8,104 in tuition and fees if they attend Lake Land College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $13,906.
Online courses are available at Lake Land College, 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, 69% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Heartland Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Illinois list.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $9,810 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Heartland Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $14,550.
One thing to take note of is that Heartland Community College does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 75% took at least some of their classes online.
Kankakee Community College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in Illinois list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Kankakee Community College is $13,200. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $25,560.
Kankakee Community College 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 fact, around 67% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Richland Community College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate nursing programs.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $9,090 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Richland Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $19,260.
Online courses are available at Richland Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 59% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #25, Rend Lake College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $6,000 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Rend Lake College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,750.
Rend Lake College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 72% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
View Best Nursing Basic Certificate 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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