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Best Value Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Illinois

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2023 Best Value Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Illinois

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices

16 Schools Ranked
$17,295 Avg Tuition & Fees*

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 Master's Degree 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 16 schools in Illinois to see which master's degree 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.

Top Value Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Illinois

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
30 Total Awards
$11,773 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Illinois State University to be the best value school for nursing students who want to pursue a master’s degree in Illinois. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 30 students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Illinois State are $11,773 per year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Illinois State. In 2019-2020 about 81% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Illinois State not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #4 on our Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois list.

Full Illinois State University Report

17 Total Awards
$9,316 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a great place for nursing students working on their master’s degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, the fairly large public school awarded 17 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at SIUE are $9,316 per year.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at SIUE. In 2019-2020 about 86% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Report

#3

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois
24 Total Awards
$14,674 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Governors State University is a great place for nursing students working on their master’s degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. GSU is a small public school situated in University Park, Illinois. It awarded 24 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

GSU graduate students pay an average of $14,674 in tuition and fees each year.

Online graduate courses are available at GSU, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 35% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#4

McKendree University

Lebanon, Illinois
25 Total Awards
$9,756 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend McKendree University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. McKendree University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Lebanon, Illinois that handed out 25 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at McKendree are $9,756 a year.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at McKendree. During the 2019-2020 year, about 68% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on McKendree University

#5

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
56 Total Awards
$13,839 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent master’s degree programs at University of St Francis helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value nursing schools in Illinois. Joliet, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 56 students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at University of Saint Francis are $13,839 per year.

Online graduate courses are available at University of Saint Francis, 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 89% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

University of Saint Francis did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois list.

Read More…

#6

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
27 Total Awards
$11,390 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #6, Northern Illinois University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their master’s degree. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at NIU are $11,390 per year.

One thing to take note of is that NIU does offer online graduate classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 43% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Northern Illinois University

#7

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois
85 Total Awards
$12,190 Average Tuition & Fees

Olivet Nazarene University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Olivet Nazarene University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Bourbonnais, Illinois that handed out 85 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Olivet Nazarene are $12,190 per year.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Olivet Nazarene. In 2019-2020 about 97% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Olivet Nazarene University Report

#8

Lewis University

Romeoville, Illinois
104 Total Awards
$14,960 Average Tuition & Fees

Lewis University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #8 on the list. Lewis is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Romeoville, Illinois. It awarded 104 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Lewis are $14,960 a year.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Lewis. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 85% took at least some of their classes online.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Lewis is ranked #3 for overall quality in Illinois.

Read full report on Lewis University

#9

North Park University

Chicago, Illinois
31 Total Awards
$14,184 Average Tuition & Fees

North Park University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #9 on the list. North Park University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 31 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

North Park graduate students pay an average of $14,184 in tuition and fees each year.

North Park does have options available for those who want to take online graduate 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 92% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#10

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
94 Total Awards
$17,400 Average Tuition & Fees

Bradley University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Bradley is located in Peoria, Illinois and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 94 master’s degrees to qualified students.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Bradley are $17,400 a year.

Bradley does have options available for those who want to take online graduate 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 95% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Bradley did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois list.

Read More…

#11

University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
101 Total Awards
$28,468 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. UIC is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 101 master’s degrees to qualified students.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at UIC are $28,468 a year.

One thing to take note of is that UIC does offer online graduate classes in some areas. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 95% took at least some of their classes online.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Report

#12

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, Illinois
22 Total Awards
$15,450 Average Tuition & Fees

Saint Xavier University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 22 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

SXU graduate students pay an average of $15,450 in tuition and fees each year.

One thing to take note of is that SXU does offer online graduate classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 63% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Saint Xavier University

#13

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
61 Total Awards
$19,894 Average Tuition & Fees

Loyola University Chicago came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Loyola University Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 61 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Loyola Chicago graduate students pay an average of $19,894 in tuition and fees each year.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Loyola Chicago. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 92% took at least some of their classes online.

Loyola Chicago did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois list.

Read More…

#14

Benedictine University

Lisle, Illinois
138 Total Awards
$19,640 Average Tuition & Fees

Benedictine University landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value master’s degree nursing programs. Benedictine U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lisle, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 138 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Benedictine U are $19,640 a year.

Online graduate courses are available at Benedictine U, 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 100% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#15

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
200 Total Awards
$18,341 Average Tuition & Fees

DePaul University landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value master’s degree nursing programs. DePaul is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 200 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

DePaul graduate students pay an average of $18,341 in tuition and fees each year.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at DePaul. In fact, around 96% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full DePaul University Report

#16

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
32 Total Awards
$32,800 Average Tuition & Fees

Elmhurst University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Elmhurst is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Elmhurst, Illinois. It awarded 32 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Elmhurst are $32,800 per year.

One thing to take note of is that Elmhurst does offer online graduate classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 64% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

Best Value Nursing Master's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 16 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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