2023 Best Nursing 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.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Nursing Degree Search has created the Best Nursing Schools in Illinois to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 52 schools in Illinois to see which ones offered the best programs for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Schools in Illinois
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Loyola University Chicago to be the best school for nursing students in Illinois.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,930 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $652. Once they receive their degree, Loyola Chicago graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $47,459 during the early year of their career.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Oakton Community College is a great place for nursing students.
Degree recipients from Oakton Community College accumulate an average of $13,638 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Oakton Community College graduates make an average of $42,340 annually.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend College of Lake County. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Illinois list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,341 in student loans. During the early years of their career, College of Lake County graduates make an average of $53,083 annually.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend William Rainey Harper College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Illinois list.
On average, students take out $15,850 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Harper College graduates make an average of $43,420 annually.
The excellent programs at University of St Francis helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Illinois.
On average, students take out $28,383 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $332. Once they receive their degree, University of Saint Francis graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $60,805 during the early year of their career.
Bradley University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Illinois ranking.
Degree recipients from Bradley accumulate an average of $25,068 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $575 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Bradley graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $52,822 during the early year of their career.
Illinois State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Illinois list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,109 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $312 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Illinois State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $44,092 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #8, Lewis University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
Degree recipients from Lewis accumulate an average of $23,413 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $411 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Lewis graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,984 during the early year of their career.
McKendree University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
Degree recipients from McKendree accumulate an average of $24,607 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $207 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, McKendree graduates make an average of $47,532 annually.
University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #10 on the list.
On average, students take out $19,801 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $259, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UIC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $53,836 during the early years of their career.
Benedictine University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Illinois ranking.
On average, students take out $26,886 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $337, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Benedictine U graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $47,484 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #12, Kaskaskia College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
Degree recipients from Kaskaskia College accumulate an average of $9,217 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Kaskaskia College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,724 during the early years of their career.
Elmhurst University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #13 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,567 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $321, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Elmhurst graduates make an average of $47,474 annually.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
On average, students take out $24,579 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $221 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from SIUE, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,746 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Joliet Junior College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
Degree recipients from Joliet Junior College accumulate an average of $13,642 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Joliet Junior College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,492 during the early years of their career.
Olivet Nazarene University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Illinois list.
Degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene accumulate an average of $27,166 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $364 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Olivet Nazarene, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,879 during the early years of their career.
Millikin University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Illinois ranking.
On average, students take out $31,442 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $430, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Millikin, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $49,675 during the early years of their career.
North Park University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #18 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,826 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $263, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, North Park graduates make an average of $49,147 annually.
Northern Illinois University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Illinois list.
On average, students take out $25,759 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $216 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, NIU graduates make an average of $48,041 annually.
Waubonsee Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Illinois ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,413 in student loans.After graduating from Waubonsee, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,527 during the early years of their career.
Lincoln Land Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Illinois ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,579 in student loans. During the early years of their career, LLCC graduates make an average of $34,692 annually.
City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,569 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Malcolm X College graduates make an average of $34,354 annually.
Read full report on City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College
Governors State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Illinois ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,123 in student loans. During the early years of their career, GSU graduates make an average of $44,233 annually.
Parkland College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
Degree recipients from Parkland College accumulate an average of $12,167 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Parkland College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,662 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #25, Morton College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
Degree recipients from Morton College accumulate an average of $12,317 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Morton College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,716 during the early year of their career.
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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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