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Best Colleges for Nursing in Illinois

The best colleges for a Nursing degree in Illinois, led by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Loyola University Chicago and DePaul University. Each school is shown with its acceptance rate, tuition, and average SAT so you can weigh Nursing programs side by side.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best college for Nursing in Illinois?

Based on our rankings, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the top-ranked college for Nursing in Illinois. Other top choices include Loyola University Chicago, DePaul University, Wheaton College.

What are the best Nursing schools?

The best Nursing schools, based on program-specific federal data including median earnings and graduate counts, are University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Loyola University Chicago, DePaul University. Our rankings use College Scorecard field-of-study data rather than editorial opinion.

How much does it cost to study Nursing?

The average out-of-state tuition among top Nursing programs is approximately $35,609 per year. However, costs vary significantly — many schools offer generous financial aid packages that can reduce the effective cost.

How long does it take to get a Nursing degree?

A bachelor's degree in Nursing typically takes four years of full-time study. Some programs offer accelerated tracks or combined bachelor's-to-master's options that can extend or shorten the timeline.

How are these Nursing rankings determined?

Our major rankings are independently calculated from U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study (CIP) data — primarily median earnings 4 years after graduation and program scale (graduate count), with a 10+ annual graduates minimum per program. They are not derived from US News or any other publication.

Career outcomes for Nursing graduates

Among the top 10 ranked Nursing programs, the average early-career salary is approximately $63,674 per year. Below are the highest-paying Nursing programs based on federal College Scorecard earnings data reported by graduates four years after completion.

  1. 1. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — Champaign, IL · 42.4% acceptance · SAT 1,440 · $35,124 tuition · 85% grad rate
  2. 2. Loyola University Chicago — Chicago, IL · 81.6% acceptance · SAT 1,297 · $53,710 tuition · 73% grad rate
  3. 3. DePaul University — Chicago, IL · 75.9% acceptance · SAT 1,262 · $45,999 tuition · 68% grad rate
  4. 4. Wheaton College — Wheaton, IL · 87.4% acceptance · SAT 1,380 · $45,546 tuition · 85% grad rate
  5. 5. University of St Francis — Joliet, IL · 65.3% acceptance · SAT 1,141 · $38,110 tuition · 67% grad rate
  6. 6. Western Illinois University — Macomb, IL · 71.2% acceptance · $15,264 tuition · 45% grad rate
  7. 7. Northern Illinois University — Dekalb, IL · 69.8% acceptance · $13,248 tuition · 49% grad rate
  8. 8. Olivet Nazarene University — Bourbonnais, IL · 55.9% acceptance · SAT 1,117 · $38,900 tuition · 61% grad rate
  9. 9. Augustana College — Rock Island, IL · 62.7% acceptance · SAT 1,165 · $51,598 tuition · 73% grad rate
  10. 10. North Park University — Chicago, IL · 68.5% acceptance · $36,710 tuition · 58% grad rate
  11. 11. Lewis University — Romeoville, IL · 71.3% acceptance · SAT 1,096 · $39,200 tuition · 67% grad rate
  12. 12. Eastern Illinois University — Charleston, IL · 65.4% acceptance · SAT 1,000 · $16,217 tuition · 47% grad rate
  13. 13. Illinois Wesleyan University — Bloomington, IL · 39.3% acceptance · SAT 1,275 · $57,704 tuition · 75% grad rate
  14. 14. Quincy University — Quincy, IL · 50.9% acceptance · SAT 1,098 · $37,140 tuition · 45% grad rate
  15. 15. Millikin University — Decatur, IL · 66.7% acceptance · SAT 1,034 · $26,892 tuition · 55% grad rate
  16. 16. McKendree University — Lebanon, IL · 71.7% acceptance · $34,740 tuition · 53% grad rate
  17. 17. Concordia University-Chicago — River Forest, IL · 92.8% acceptance · $37,488 tuition · 36% grad rate
  18. 18. Elmhurst University — Elmhurst, IL · 73.6% acceptance · SAT 1,151 · $42,955 tuition · 70% grad rate
  19. 19. Chicago State University — Chicago, IL · 43.3% acceptance · $12,754 tuition · 15% grad rate
  20. 20. Benedictine University — Lisle, IL · 95.2% acceptance · $35,940 tuition · 50% grad rate
  21. 21. Dominican University — River Forest, IL · 90.3% acceptance · SAT 1,002 · $38,978 tuition · 55% grad rate
  22. 22. Aurora University — Aurora, IL · 80.9% acceptance · SAT 1,076 · $29,170 tuition · 60% grad rate

Best Colleges for Nursing in Illinois on PickACampus