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Most Popular Nursing Doctor's Degree Schools in Illinois

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2023 Most Popular Nursing Doctor's Degree Schools in Illinois

19 Schools Ranked

It's not easy to decide which nursing program to enroll in when you have so many options available. 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 Most Popular Nursing Doctor'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 19 schools in Illinois to see which doctor's degree programs were the most popular for nursing students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.

Learn more about these popular schools below:

565 Total Awards
$14,090 Average Tuition & Fees

Our 2023 rankings named Chamberlain University - Illinois the most popular school in Illinois for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree. Chamberlain - Illinois is a large private for-profit school situated in Addison, Illinois. It awarded 565 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 93% of those degree recipients were women.

Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Chamberlain - Illinois. Every graduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Full Chamberlain University - Illinois Report

#2

Rush University

Chicago, Illinois
199 Total Awards

You’ll be in good company if you attend Rush University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Rush University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 199 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 88% were women.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Rush University does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In fact, around 74% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Rush University

134 Total Awards
$17,277 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 19 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Chicago landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the large public school handed out 134 doctor’s degree awards in 2020-2021.

Around 90% of those degree recipients were women.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UIC does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 95% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on University of Illinois at Chicago

69 Total Awards
$9,316 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Edwardsville, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctor’s degrees to 69 students in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 74% were women.

SIUE does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 86% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#5

Bradley University

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

Out of the 19 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Bradley University landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in Peoria, Illinois, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 44 doctor’s degree awards in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 89% were women.

One thing to take note of is that Bradley 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 Bradley University Report

36 Total Awards
$36,765 Average Tuition & Fees

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree nursing programs. North Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctor’s degrees to 36 students in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 64% were women.

One thing to take note of is that RFUMS does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 18% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

#7

DePaul University

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

DePaul University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 33 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.

One thing to take note of is that DePaul does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In fact, around 96% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full DePaul University Report

#8

Loyola University Chicago

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

Loyola University Chicago ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 22 doctor’s degree awards in 2020-2021.

Around 95% of those degree recipients were women.

Loyola Chicago does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. 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.

Read full report on Loyola University Chicago

#9

Millikin University

Decatur, Illinois
14 Total Awards

Millikin University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree nursing programs. Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Decatur, Illinois that handed out 14 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 71% were women.

Millikin 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. In 2019-2020 about 61% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Millikin University Report

#10

McKendree University

Lebanon, Illinois
11 Total Awards

McKendree University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. McKendree University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Lebanon, Illinois that handed out 11 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 91% of those degree recipients were women.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at McKendree. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 68% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#11

Lewis University

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

Lewis University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree nursing programs. Romeoville, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctor’s degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

Around 100% of those degree recipients were women.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Lewis. In fact, around 85% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#11

Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford, Illinois
6 Total Awards
$18,987 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #11, Saint Anthony College of Nursing did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree. Located in Rockford, Illinois, the very small private not-for-profit school handed out 6 doctor’s degree awards in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.

Read full report on Saint Anthony College of Nursing

#11

University of St Francis

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

University of St Francis ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. University of St Francis is a small private not-for-profit school located in Joliet, Illinois that handed out 6 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.

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.

Read More…

5 Total Awards
$8,740 Average Tuition & Fees

Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing is a very small private not-for-profit school located in Peoria, Illinois that handed out 5 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.

St. Francis Medical Center College of Nursing does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 98% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing

#14

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
5 Total Awards
$9,773 Average Tuition & Fees

Illinois State University landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree nursing programs. Located in Normal, Illinois, the large public school handed out 5 doctor’s degree awards in 2020-2021.

Around 100% of those degree recipients were women.

Online graduate courses are available at Illinois State, 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, 81% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full Illinois State University Report

#16

Oak Point University

Chicago, Illinois
4 Total Awards
$15,349 Average Tuition & Fees

Oak Point University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree nursing programs. Oak Point is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 4 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 75% of those degree recipients were women.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Oak Point. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 71% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Oak Point University

#16

Northern Illinois University

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

Northern Illinois University ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in Illinois list. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large public school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 4 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at NIU. In fact, around 43% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Northern Illinois University

#18

North Park University

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

With a ranking of #18, North Park University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree. North Park University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 2 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 100% of those degree recipients were women.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at North Park. During the 2019-2020 year, about 92% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on North Park University

#19

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois
1 Total Awards
$8,320 Average Tuition & Fees

Governors State University landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree nursing programs. GSU is located in University Park, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 doctor’s degrees to qualified students.

Around 100% of those degree recipients were women.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at GSU. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 35% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Governors State University

Most Popular Nursing Doctor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 19 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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