2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in Illinois
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices
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. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
The Best Value Nursing Schools in Illinois ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 52 schools in Illinois to see which programs offered the best value experiences for nursing students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
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Top Value Nursing Schools in Illinois
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found John A Logan College to be the best value school for nursing students in Illinois. John A Logan College is a public institution located in Carterville, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 299 degrees in 2020-2021.
John A Logan College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,980 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $15,763 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, John A Logan College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,518 during the early year of their career.
The excellent programs at Lincoln Land Community College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value nursing schools in Illinois. LLCC is a small public school situated in Springfield, Illinois. It awarded 364 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at LLCC are $10,068 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,579 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, LLCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,692 during the early year of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Kaskaskia College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in Illinois list. Kaskaskia College is a small public school located in Centralia, Illinois that handed out 337 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Kaskaskia College are $12,330 a year. On average, students take out $9,217 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Kaskaskia College graduates make an average of $35,724 annually.
Out of the 52 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Highland Community College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Highland Community College is a small public school located in Freeport, Illinois that handed out 152 degrees in 2020-2021.
Highland Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,846 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $14,039 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Highland Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,169 during the early year of their career.
Out of the 52 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, College of Lake County landed the # 5 spot on the list. Grayslake, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 577 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at College of Lake County are $12,824 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $15,341 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, College of Lake County graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $53,083 during the early year of their career.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, College of Lake County is ranked #3 for overall quality in Illinois.
Rend Lake College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #6 on the list. Rend Lake College is located in Ina, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 110 degrees to qualified students.
Rend Lake College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,750 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $11,058 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Rend Lake College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $53,704 during the early years of their career.
Elgin Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #7 on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Elgin, Illinois, and it awarded 114 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at ECC are $9,516 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,212 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, ECC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,352 during the early year of their career.
William Rainey Harper College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #8 on the list. William Rainey Harper College is a fairly large public school located in Palatine, Illinois that handed out 501 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Harper College are $11,682 per year. On average, students take out $15,850 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Harper College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,420 during the early year of their career.
Harper College also took the #4 spot in our Best Nursing Schools in Illinois rankings.
Oakton Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Illinois list. Oakton Community College is located in Des Plaines, Illinois and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 249 degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Oakton Community College are $12,462 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,638 in student loans.After graduating from Oakton Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,340 during the early years of their career.
Oakton Community College also took the #2 spot in our Best Nursing Schools in Illinois rankings.
Black Hawk College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Illinois ranking. BHC is a small public school situated in Moline, Illinois. It awarded 133 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BHC are $7,650 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $14,141 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, BHC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,746 during the early year of their career.
Lake Land College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #11 on the list. Mattoon, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 191 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Lake Land College are $13,906 per year. On average, students take out $10,683 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Lake Land College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $33,991 during the early year of their career.
Moraine Valley Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Illinois ranking. MVCC is a public institution located in Palos Hills, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 255 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at MVCC are $9,334 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $15,006 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, MVCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,287 during the early year of their career.
Waubonsee Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #13 on the list. Waubonsee is a medium-sized public school situated in Sugar Grove, Illinois. It awarded 204 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Waubonsee are $10,076 per year. On average, students take out $13,413 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Waubonsee, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,527 during the early years of their career.
Governors State University landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Governors State University is a small public school located in University Park, Illinois that handed out 57 degrees in 2020-2021.
GSU undergraduate students pay an average of $17,620 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $28,123 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, GSU graduates make an average of $44,233 annually.
Carl Sandburg College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Illinois list. Carl Sandburg College is a small public school located in Galesburg, Illinois that handed out 69 degrees in 2020-2021.
Carl Sandburg College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,760 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $9,267 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Carl Sandburg College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,200 during the early year of their career.
Morton College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Illinois list. Morton College is a public institution located in Cicero, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 170 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Morton College are $11,524 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $12,317 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Morton College graduates make an average of $36,716 annually.
Illinois State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Illinois list. This large public school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 326 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Illinois State are $24,172 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,109 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $312. During the early years of their career, Illinois State graduates make an average of $44,092 annually.
Illinois State also claimed a spot on our Best Nursing Schools in Illinois list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Kishwaukee College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in Malta, Illinois, the small public school handed out 128 degrees in 2020-2021.
Kishwaukee College undergraduate students pay an average of $13,800 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $15,536 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Kishwaukee College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,796 during the early year of their career.
Southwestern Illinois College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Southwestern Illinois College is a medium-sized public school located in Belleville, Illinois that handed out 254 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SWIC are $5,940 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $12,518 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, SWIC graduates make an average of $36,934 annually.
Prairie State College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Located in Chicago Heights, Illinois, the small public school handed out 159 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Prairie State College are $11,064 a year. On average, students take out $18,272 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Prairie State College graduates make an average of $43,210 annually.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, the fairly large public school handed out 526 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SIUE are $11,496 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,579 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $221, assuming you 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.
John Wood Community College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. John Wood Community College is a small public school located in Quincy, Illinois that handed out 84 degrees in 2020-2021.
John Wood Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,190 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $12,040 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, John Wood Community College graduates make an average of $32,078 annually.
Rock Valley College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #23 on the list. Rock Valley College is a medium-sized public school located in Rockford, Illinois that handed out 184 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Rock Valley College are $17,564 per year. On average, students take out $12,314 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Rock Valley College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,063 during the early years of their career.
Richland Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Illinois ranking. Located in Decatur, Illinois, the small public school handed out 146 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Richland Community College are $19,260 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $12,918 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Richland Community College graduates make an average of $42,438 annually.
City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Illinois ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the medium-sized public school handed out 364 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Malcolm X College are $14,430 a year. On average, students take out $16,569 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Malcolm X College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,354 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
- 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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