Compare tuition, NCLEX pass rates, and outcomes for BSN programs within commuting distance of Tinley Park.
Which accredited BSN programs within a 75-mile radius of Tinley Park, IL combine manageable tuition with NCLEX pass rates above 90%? Located in Chicago’s south suburbs, Tinley Park is within easy reach of BSN options at Chamberlain’s campus, Lewis University, and UIC, as well as multiple community college ADN-to-BSN pathways. Program choices range from traditional on-campus to hybrid and online formats, giving you flexibility around work and family. The ranking below evaluates local schools by net price and outcomes, focusing on accredited nursing programs in Illinois with separate breakouts for tuition, NCLEX data, and licensure steps. Across the region, first-time NCLEX pass rates vary from 85% to 98%, and most area hospitals now require or strongly prefer a BSN for new graduate RN hires.
Tinley Park residents have access to a strong mix of nursing programs within commuting distance. From direct-entry BSN options at local campuses to community college ADN pathways, the following schools are ranked based on a combination of program quality, graduate outcomes, and proximity to the Tinley Park area.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Chamberlain University-Illinois | Addison, IL | $15,000/yr | Local BSN students avoiding wait lists | |
Chamberlain University's Tinley Park campus offers a 3-year BSN with no prerequisite coursework, making it a fast and accessible local option. The CCNE-accredited program combines hybrid online/in-person learning with evening and weekend classes, a high-tech SimCare Center, and a Practice Ready. Specialty Focused. elective that lets students concentrate in five nursing areas. With no wait list and on-site support services, it is designed for south-suburban students who want to start nursing right away.
| |||||
| #2 | Moraine Valley Community College | Palos Hills, IL | Cost-conscious ADN students nearby | ||
Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills provides an affordable ACEN-accredited ADN that prepares students for the NCLEX-RN. The two-year program stresses hands-on simulation, including virtual reality, and offers optional LPN licensure after year one. With a 90% job placement rate, dual enrollment for seamless BSN completion, and strong ties to Chicago-area clinical sites, it is a practical entry point for Tinley Park residents seeking an accessible nursing education.
| |||||
| #3 | Lewis University | Romeoville, IL | $16,000/yr | Commuter BSN with high NCLEX pass | |
Lewis University in Romeoville is a top-ranked private BSN option just a short commute from Tinley Park. The CCNE-accredited program boasts a 98% NCLEX pass rate and a cohort-based learning model that fosters a supportive community. With more than 50 clinical affiliate sites across the Chicago region and a holistic approach to patient care, Lewis graduates emerge well-prepared for diverse nursing roles.
| |||||
| #4 | University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago, IL | ~$18,000/yr (est.) | ||
University of Illinois Chicago's College of Nursing is a highly respected public option offering multiple BSN pathways and a Direct Entry MSN for career changers. Its traditional and transfer BSN programs leverage strong clinical partnerships and state-of-the-art simulation labs on the Chicago campus. The online RN-to-BSN completion track provides flexibility for working nurses, while the hybrid MSN prepares non-RNs for advanced roles.
| |||||
| #5 | Elmhurst University | Elmhurst, IL | $34,000/yr | ||
Elmhurst University's BSN prelicensure option blends a two-year liberal arts foundation with 16 nursing courses and clinical practice. The CCNE-accredited program allows students to add minors like Medical Humanities or Psychology, and its campus location is a manageable drive from Tinley Park. For those with a bachelor's degree, the online Master's Entry in Nursing Practice (MENP) offers a fast-track Clinical Nurse Leader focus.
| |||||
| #6 | DePaul University | Chicago, IL | ~$23,000/yr (est.) | ||
DePaul University in Chicago offers a campus-based BSN with a 97% NCLEX pass rate and small classes led by clinician faculty. High-fidelity simulation labs provide hands-on experience. The university also pioneered Illinois's first Master's Entry to Nursing Practice (MENP), which offers two completion timelines and guarantees an intensive-care rotation.
| |||||
| #7 | Loyola University Chicago | Chicago, IL | $22,000/yr | ||
Loyola University Chicago's Four-Year BSN is ranked No. 13 nationally and guarantees direct-entry for admitted students. The program features seven clinical rotations, a holistic care philosophy, and a capstone preceptorship. With a 96.36% NCLEX pass rate, rolling admissions, and no prerequisite course requirements, it is an attractive option for Tinley Park students willing to commute to the Lake Shore Campus.
| |||||
| #8 | Aurora University | Aurora, IL | $16,000/yr | ||
Aurora University's BSN program allows students to begin nursing courses in the first year, which accelerates skill-building. With a 95% NCLEX pass rate, immersive VR simulation labs, and clinical rotations at top hospitals like Lurie Children's, AU provides a strong foundation. Its campus-based MENP is a two-year, CCNE-accredited path for career changers.
| |||||
| #9 | Valparaiso University | Valparaiso, IN | $13,000/yr | ||
Valparaiso University in Indiana offers a rigorous 15-month Accelerated BSN for transfer and second-degree students who already hold a bachelor's. The traditional 4-year direct-admit BSN also posts strong outcomes: 97% NCLEX pass rate and 97% job placement. Both tracks provide clinical experiences at prestigious sites like Mayo Clinic and Northwestern Medicine, plus service-learning abroad opportunities.
| |||||
| #10 | Elgin Community College | Elgin, IL | |||
Elgin Community College's ACEN-accredited ADN has a 50-plus year track record and prepares students for the NCLEX-RN through on-campus instruction and clinical rotations. Its affordable tuition and seamless RN-to-BSN/RN-to-MSN transfer partnerships make it a solid starting point for Tinley Park area students willing to travel a bit farther for a cost-effective, high-quality nursing education.
| |||||
Understanding the cost of a nursing education is crucial for prospective students. The table below compares published in-state and out-of-state tuition alongside the average net price after financial aid for BSN programs near Tinley Park. Net price is an institution-wide average, not a guaranteed individual quote; actual costs depend on your financial aid eligibility and household finances. The spread is significant, with net prices ranging from about $2,200 to over $6,400 per year, illustrating major differences in affordability across these schools.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Net Price (After Aid)* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Valley Community College | $15,239 | $16,385 | $2,232 |
| Lake Land College | $8,342 | $14,301 | $2,254 |
| Moraine Valley Community College | $8,502 | $9,846 | $2,829 |
| Carl Sandburg College | $8,000 | $8,900 | $3,662 |
| Richland Community College | $10,800 | $17,070 | $3,741 |
| Kishwaukee College | $9,120 | $13,680 | $4,574 |
| Danville Area Community College | $7,440 | $7,440 | $4,777 |
| Highland Community College | $7,216 | $7,360 | $5,713 |
| Elgin Community College | $7,140 | $9,516 | $6,026 |
| Kaskaskia College | $7,770 | $12,570 | $6,477 |
NCLEX pass rates are one of the most reliable indicators of nursing program quality. They measure the percentage of graduates who pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) on their first attempt, which directly reflects how well a program prepares students for licensure.
For the 2024, 2025 testing period, Chamberlain University’s Tinley Park campus achieved a 92% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate.1 This figure is from the campus’s consumer information disclosures and surpasses both state and national benchmarks.
Strong pass rates like this suggest a curriculum that aligns well with NCLEX content and clinical readiness standards. Chamberlain’s national BSN pass rate was only 79.75% in 2025,1 making the Tinley Park result even more notable.
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation monitors program pass rates closely.2 Schools whose first-time pass rates fall below 80% risk state scrutiny or provisional approval status. While a single year’s dip doesn’t always signal trouble, a consistent pattern below that threshold should prompt caution.
Rasmussen University’s Mokena campus has not publicly reported NCLEX pass rates for 2024, 2025 at the program level. If you’re considering Rasmussen or any other nursing school, look for recent pass rate data on the school’s consumer information page or the Illinois Board of Nursing’s education program pass rates resource.2
While program-specific earnings figures for the first few years after graduation are not yet available, longer-term federal data from the College Scorecard reveals a strong return on investment for nursing graduates in the Tinley Park area. For context, the national median annual wage for registered nurses was $93,600 in 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Becoming a registered nurse in Illinois requires completing an accredited nursing program, passing the NCLEX-RN, and applying for licensure through the IDFPR. The process includes a fingerprint-based background check and typically takes four to six years from the start of prerequisites to license approval, though accelerated programs can shorten the timeline.
Many nursing students need flexibility to balance work, family, and education. In the Tinley Park area, several top-ranked programs accommodate demanding schedules through hybrid, evening, and online options.
Chamberlain University's Tinley Park campus delivers a pre-licensure BSN in a hybrid format that can be completed in 36 months. Students choose day, evening, or weekend cohorts, completing coursework online while attending in-person labs and clinical rotations. University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) also offers a hybrid BSN from its Chicago campus, a public university pathway accessible to south suburban students seeking flexible scheduling.
Hands-on training relies on strong clinical partnerships. Chamberlain assists students in securing placements at major regional health systems, including Advocate Christ Medical Center, Franciscan Health, OSF HealthCare, and Silver Cross Hospital. UIC maintains over 50 clinical sites across the Chicago area, expanding exposure to diverse care settings.
For registered nurses holding an associate degree or diploma, Chamberlain provides a fully online RN-to-BSN degree completion option available to Illinois residents.1 The program includes an assisted practicum placement process, students who request help three sessions in advance and document any site denials receive support securing a local site, as outlined in Chamberlain’s nursing practicum commitment, letting them advance without relocating or leaving their job.
Direct LPN-to-BSN programs are less common near Tinley Park, but several community colleges offer LPN-to-ADN bridges that can lead to BSN completion. Schools like Prairie State College and Joliet Junior College may offer step-up tracks, and some four-year institutions evaluate LPN credentials for advanced standing. Contact admissions offices for the most current articulation agreements.
Choosing a nursing program near Tinley Park involves comparing costs, program lengths, and outcomes. Below are quick answers to the most common questions prospective students ask when exploring nursing schools in the Chicago South Suburbs area.
