Compare tuition, NCLEX pass rates, and outcomes for Chicago's highest-ranked nursing programs.
The Chicago metropolitan area employed more than 85,000 registered nurses in 2025, one of the nation’s highest concentrations of RN jobs. Major academic medical centers, including Rush University Medical Center, Northwestern Memorial, and the University of Chicago Medicine, create dense clinical training pathways and drive demand for BSN-prepared nurses.
Prospective students can choose among traditional four-year BSN programs, accelerated tracks for career-changers, or affordable ADN-to-BSN bridges at community colleges. The range of options reflects the region’s dual emphasis on workforce readiness and upward mobility. As hospital systems expand nurse residency programs and private-university tuition continues to climb, the central challenge is balancing upfront cost with long-term earnings and reliable clinical placement access.
Chicago's nursing education landscape stands out for its access to major academic medical centers, a wide range of public and private programs, and strong hospital partnerships that give students clinical experience in urban and underserved communities. The 2026 ranking below brings together BSN, ADN, and direct-entry MSN pathways across the Chicago metro and Illinois, highlighting schools that balance affordability, graduation outcomes, and post-graduation earnings. Use this list to compare program formats, accreditation, and standout strengths before building your shortlist.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago, IL | ~$18,000/yr (est.) | Chicago-residing students seeking urban clinical placements | |
This public research university anchors a six-campus Illinois nursing system with its Chicago flagship, offering traditional BSN, RN to BSN, and direct-entry MSN pathways. Students train in state-of-the-art simulation labs and complete clinical rotations across Chicago's major health systems, including UI Health. The institution-wide graduation rate is 62%, and median earnings among former students reach about $68,740. UIC's strong statewide transfer ecosystem makes it a natural next step for ADN graduates from Illinois community colleges. CCNE accredited
CCNE accredited
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| #2 | DePaul University | Chicago, IL | ~$23,000/yr (est.) | Working professionals needing part-time MENP options | |
This private Chicago university offers a campus-based BSN with small classes taught by faculty clinicians and a 97% licensure pass rate. Students practice in simulation labs with high-fidelity mannequins and complete clinical rotations at over 75 sites across the Chicago area. The institution-wide graduation rate is 68%, and median earnings among former students are about $68,751. DePaul also hosts Illinois' first Master's Entry to Nursing Practice (MENP) program for career changers with no nursing background. CCNE accredited
CCNE accredited
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| #3 | Chamberlain University-Illinois | Addison, IL | ~$32,000/yr (est.) | Career changers needing evening and weekend classes | |
This private university operates both an Addison campus and a Chicago campus, offering a hybrid BSN that combines online coursework with in-person simulation and evening or weekend classes. The three-year program requires 122 credit hours and carries no prerequisites, making it accessible to students from many backgrounds. Chamberlain reports a 91% licensure pass rate and a total program tuition of $94,550, with flat tuition that does not vary by state residency. Median earnings among former students are about $92,405, the highest in this ranking. Military benefits
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| #4 | Lewis University | Romeoville, IL | ~$17,000/yr (est.) | ||
This private Catholic university in Romeoville, about 30 miles southwest of Chicago, offers a cohort-based BSN with clinical rotations at more than 50 affiliate sites, many in the Chicago metro. The program reports a 98% NCLEX pass rate and requires a 3.0 GPA for transfer admission, with SAT, ACT, or TEAS scores. Institution-wide graduation rate is 67%, and median earnings among former students are about $66,099. Lewis is consistently recognized among Illinois' top nursing programs. CCNE accredited
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| #5 | Illinois State University | Normal, IL | ~$19,000/yr (est.) | ||
This public university in Normal offers three BSN pathways: a traditional campus program, an online RN to BSN, and a 15-month accelerated BSN for second-degree students. The traditional BSN admits only in the fall and features state-of-the-art simulation labs with high-fidelity manikins and virtual reality. Institution-wide graduation rate is 65%, and median earnings among former students are about $62,117. Illinois State's Mennonite College of Nursing has educated nurses for over 100 years.
Rolling admissionsFully online option
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| #6 | Saint Anthony College of Nursing | Rockford, IL | $25,000 – $30,000/yr (est.) | ||
This private Catholic college in Rockford offers a BSN with a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio and a 98% NCLEX pass rate reported for 2023, above both state and national averages. Students attend class at two campus locations, including a health sciences center with simulation lab space. The institution-wide graduation rate is not available, but median earnings among former students are about $77,709. Saint Anthony also offers an RN to BSN track and a High School Early Entry option.
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| #7 | Bradley University | Peoria, IL | ~$23,000/yr (est.) | ||
This private university in Peoria offers a traditional BSN and a 15-month accelerated BSN, with clinical rotations at two major hospital systems and access to a Level 1 trauma center. The accelerated program emphasizes immediate clinical experience and urban and rural healthcare settings. Institution-wide graduation rate is 76%, and median earnings among former students are about $66,852. Bradley reports that nearly all graduates pass the NCLEX on the first attempt. CCNE accredited
CCNE accredited
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| #8 | Lake Land College | Mattoon, IL | $2,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
This public community college in Mattoon offers a three-year Associate Degree Nurse program that is ACEN accredited and consistently ranked among the top three in Illinois. Students complete clinical rotations across central and southeastern Illinois hospitals and long-term care facilities. Tuition is affordable, and the program has dual enrollment agreements with several Illinois universities for seamless BSN completion. Median earnings among former students are about $38,877. ACEN accredited
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| #9 | Elgin Community College | Elgin, IL | ~$6,000/yr (est.) | ||
This public community college in Elgin offers an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing with over 50 years of history, accredited by ACEN and approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The program prepares students for the NCLEX-RN and includes partnerships for RN-to-BSN and RN-to-MSN completion. Institution-wide graduation rate is 41%, and median earnings among former students are about $45,516. ACEN accredited
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| #10 | William Rainey Harper College | Palatine, IL | ~$12,000/yr (est.) | ||
This public community college in Palatine offers a two-year Associate in Applied Science Degree in Nursing (AAS-RN) with 68 credit hours and limited enrollment. The program reports a 93% licensure pass rate and a 91% job placement rate. NUR-prefixed courses cost 1.5 times the regular tuition rate. Institution-wide graduation rate is 48%, and median earnings among former students are about $48,071.
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Our Chicago nursing program rankings are built on transparent, publicly available data that cuts through marketing claims.
These rankings do not incorporate NCLEX pass rates, clinical placement quality, faculty ratios, or subjective reputation measures. That omission is intentional: we present a cost-and-outcomes snapshot; for a broader perspective, explore our list of top nursing schools in Illinois to weigh those qualitative factors based on your own priorities.
Keep in mind that net price is an institutional average after aid, so your actual cost will depend on your financial aid package and residency status.
The table below compares key cost and outcomes metrics for the top-ranked nursing programs in Chicago, focusing on in-state affordability, net price after aid, and return on investment. Data is drawn from the latest IPEDS and College Scorecard figures available in 2026.
| School | In-State Tuition | Net Price | Graduation Rate | Median Earnings (10 yr) | Median Debt | Student-Faculty Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Valley Community College | $15,239 | $2,232 | 41.8% | $40,810 | $8,233 | 15:1 |
| Lake Land College | $8,342 | $2,254 | 58.3% | $38,877 | $6,188 | 13:1 |
| Moraine Valley Community College | $8,502 | $2,829 | 39.8% | $43,892 | $9,500 | 21:1 |
| Carl Sandburg College | $8,000 | $3,662 | 50.0% | $35,274 | $4,909 | 15:1 |
| Richland Community College | $10,800 | $3,741 | 60.3% | $38,793 | $8,256 | 15:1 |
| Kishwaukee College | $9,120 | $4,574 | 44.8% | $39,657 | $9,395 | 18:1 |
| Danville Area Community College | $7,440 | $4,777 | 44.9% | $34,867 | $7,218 | 16:1 |
| Highland Community College | $7,216 | $5,713 | 44.9% | $37,928 | $8,029 | 13:1 |
| Elgin Community College | $7,140 | $6,026 | 41.1% | $45,516 | $7,390 | 21:1 |
| Kaskaskia College | $7,770 | $6,477 | 48.8% | $38,801 | $3,750 | 21:1 |
In 2024, all Illinois nursing programs reported a combined NCLEX pass rate of 87%, slightly below the national average of 91%.1 While these figures encompass ADN, BSN, and diploma programs, they offer a baseline for evaluating Chicago-area schools.
Examining just BSN programs, Illinois posted an 85% pass rate in 2023, outperforming the national BSN rate of 82%.2 Updated 2024 and 2025 data for Illinois BSN programs specifically and breakdowns for individual Chicago schools are not yet available in a single public report. This gap means prospective students should consult the Illinois Board of Nursing’s annual NCLEX reports or contact programs directly for the most current stats.
Without program-level trend lines, it is not possible to identify which Chicago BSN programs consistently exceed 95% or have fallen below 80% over the past three years. However, many Chicago nursing schools have historically reported pass rates above the state average, and comparing a program’s multi-year trajectory to the 85% Illinois BSN benchmark and the most recent combined RN rate of 87% remains a practical gauge. A declining pattern or rates persistently under 80% warrant extra scrutiny, while stable or improving rates near or above 90% reflect strong NCLEX preparation.
Chicago's nursing education landscape is shifting to meet the needs of career-changers and working professionals. Several schools now offer accelerated BSN (ABSN) tracks that compress the core curriculum, while others provide evening, weekend, or hybrid formats for students balancing jobs and family.
ABSN programs in Chicago are designed for those who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field and want to enter nursing without starting over. They complete the didactic and clinical requirements in 12 to 18 months. Loyola University Chicago runs a 16-month hybrid or on-campus ABSN (2025-26). Saint Xavier University's on-campus ABSN is a full-time, 15-month path with no breaks. St. Augustine College at Lewis University offers an 18-month ABSN through a hybrid and in-person model that includes daytime, evening, and weekend courses; it requires a 3.0 minimum GPA and a prior non-nursing bachelor's.
UIC and DePaul do not have a named accelerated BSN. UIC focuses on traditional BSN pathways, and DePaul's accelerated pre-licensure offering is at the MSN level.
For those who need to keep working, Chamberlain University's Addison campus BSN program includes evening and weekend scheduling options along with a blend of online and on-campus learning. This type of structure allows students to maintain employment while progressing through nursing school.
A traditional BSN typically requires four years. An ABSN compresses that timeline to 12–18 months by building on previous college credit. RN-to-BSN bridge programs, often fully online, usually take 1–2 years depending on transfer credits and part-time or full-time enrollment.
For budget-conscious students, the most affordable nursing programs in the Chicago area are found at public community colleges, where associate degree pathways deliver RN eligibility at a fraction of the cost of a four-year BSN.
Illinois Valley Community College offers the lowest effective net price at $2,232 per year, reflecting what students typically pay after gift aid. Lake Land College follows at $2,254, and Moraine Valley Community College comes in at $2,829. These figures are averages, not guarantees, but they signal strong affordability for in-district learners.
All three are public two-year colleges with in-state tuition ranging from $3,822 to $4,415. Their out-of-state rates climb to $8,900-$16,385, but still undercut most private programs. High Pell Grant recipient shares, over 85% at each school, demonstrate that these programs serve economically diverse populations, reinforcing their role as accessible entry points into nursing.
Every prospective student should file the FAFSA to unlock federal grants and loans. Institutional scholarships can further reduce costs, and Illinois residents may qualify for state aid. After graduation, the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program can help offset debt for those working in underserved areas.
UIC College of Nursing’s primary clinical partner is the University of Illinois Hospital & Clinics (UI Health), with additional rotations at Advocate Health Care facilities.1 This direct pipeline into two of the region’s largest health systems gives students early exposure to high-acuity medical-surgical units, Level I trauma care, and specialty services from pediatrics to oncology.
The quality of a nursing school’s clinical placements shapes competency far more than any textbook or simulation lab. Hospitals that serve diverse, medically complex populations offer students the case variety needed to master assessment, intervention, and interdisciplinary communication. Strong sites also provide preceptor-to-student ratios that allow meaningful direct care hours, and they frequently become the hiring pipeline after graduation. A BSN program that embeds students in academic medical centers, where evidence-based practice, clinical research, and teaching occur simultaneously, accelerates professional growth.
Chicago compresses a remarkable number of nationally ranked hospitals into a compact metro area. UI Health, Rush University Medical Center, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Advocate Christ Medical Center, and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital all sit within miles of each other. This density means nursing students can rotate through multiple high-caliber institutions without relocating, gaining exposure to distinct organizational cultures and patient populations. Few other cities match Chicago’s concentration of Level I trauma centers and specialty facilities in the region.
Navigating nursing education in Chicago involves comparing program length, cost, clinical placements, and NCLEX outcomes. Here are answers to frequently asked questions to streamline your search for the right BSN program.
