Compare tuition, NCLEX pass rates, and program formats for accredited nursing programs near Addison, IL.
Registered nurses in the Chicago metro area earn a median annual wage of $85,440, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Addison sits in DuPage County, within commuting distance of major healthcare employers like Advocate Health, Northwestern Medicine, and Loyola Medicine, a geography that gives nursing students access to clinical rotations in high-acuity settings earlier than in many other regions.
Within a 75-mile radius, BSN programs range from traditional campus tracks at state universities to accelerated online and hybrid options. While proximity to Chicago’s medical centers is an advantage, the real differentiators are NCLEX pass rates and net price, especially for students considering nursing schools Mokena. Evaluating programs on those outcomes, not just location or reputation, separates the strongest top nursing schools in Illinois from the rest.
Our ranking of the best nursing schools near Addison, IL evaluates accredited BSN and ADN programs based on affordability, student outcomes, and accessibility to the Chicagoland community. Whether you're a recent high school graduate or a career changer, these schools offer pathways from associate to bachelor’s degrees, with a focus on clinical preparation and NCLEX success.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
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| #1 | Chamberlain University-Illinois | Addison, IL | $15,000/yr | DuPage County commuters seeking flexible hybrid BSN | |
Located right in Addison, Chamberlain University’s BSN program offers a flexible hybrid format with evening, weekend, and online options to fit working students. The CCNE-accredited curriculum includes hands-on simulation and clinical placements throughout the Chicago area, and the school boasts a strong alumni network and multiple start dates per year. Its Addison campus provides local convenience for DuPage County residents.
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| #2 | University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago, IL | ~$18,000/yr (est.) | In-state students pursuing a public research university | |
As Illinois’ flagship public nursing school, UIC offers in-state tuition and a highly respected BSN with multiple entry pathways, including a direct-entry track. The university is a top choice for Illinois residents and provides a pipeline through community college partnerships for RN-to-BSN transfers. Its Chicago location affords extensive clinical experiences in leading medical centers.
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| #3 | Lewis University | Romeoville, IL | $16,000/yr | Aspiring nurses wanting high NCLEX pass rate | |
Situated in nearby Romeoville, Lewis University’s CCNE-accredited BSN earns high marks with a 98% NCLEX pass rate and more than 50 clinical affiliate sites across Chicagoland. The cohort-based program emphasizes holistic care and includes robust support for professional development through nursing organizations.
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| #4 | Elgin Community College | Elgin, IL | |||
Elgin Community College’s long-standing ADN program combines affordability with ACEN accreditation and a solid track record of preparing students for the NCLEX-RN. The program features partnerships for seamless RN-to-BSN completion, making it an excellent starting point for nurses who plan to continue their education.
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| #5 | Kishwaukee College | Malta, IL | |||
Kishwaukee College’s A.A.S. in Nursing emphasizes QSEN competencies and offers high-fidelity simulation in its modern labs. With a 95% job placement rate and an RN-to-BSN partnership with NIU, it provides a practical pathway into the profession.
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| #6 | Elmhurst University | Elmhurst, IL | $34,000/yr | ||
Elmhurst University’s BSN prelicensure option builds on a strong liberal arts foundation and includes a direct-entry MSN track for career changers. The CCNE-accredited program emphasizes clinical practice and offers minors to tailor the degree.
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| #7 | Moraine Valley Community College | Palos Hills, IL | |||
Moraine Valley Community College’s ADN program stands out for its cutting-edge simulation technology, including virtual reality, and its dual enrollment option for a BSN. The ACEN-accredited program boasts a 90% job placement rate and affordable in-district tuition.
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| #8 | DePaul University | Chicago, IL | ~$23,000/yr (est.) | ||
DePaul University’s BSN program combines small classes with high-fidelity simulation and an impressive 97% NCLEX pass rate. The school also offers a Master’s Entry to Nursing Practice for those with a non-nursing bachelor’s.
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| #9 | Loyola University Chicago | Chicago, IL | $22,000/yr | ||
Loyola’s BSN is nationally ranked and features guaranteed direct-entry, seven clinical rotations, and a 96% first-time NCLEX pass rate. The program’s focus on social justice and holistic care sets it apart.
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| #10 | Gateway Technical College | Kenosha, WI | |||
Gateway Technical College’s ADN program offers three start dates and no waitlist, with hands-on simulation and international service learning opportunities. Graduates report median earnings of $86,798, making it a solid value.
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What factors go into ranking nursing schools near Addison, IL? We focused on practical measures that reflect affordability, student success, and flexibility.
This is the average amount undergraduates pay after grants and scholarships are subtracted from total costs. It’s an institution‑level figure, not a guaranteed price for every student, but it offers a useful gauge of relative affordability across schools.
We use the college‑wide completion rate because nursing‑specific data aren’t widely available. A strong overall graduation rate often signals effective academic advising, tutoring, and other support systems that benefit nursing students as well.
Schools offering traditional, accelerated, online, or evening BSN tracks received preference because multiple pathways make it easier to balance work, family, and coursework.
Only regionally accredited programs made the list. Accreditation is essential for licensure eligibility, federal financial aid, and graduate study.
A program's first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate is a straightforward indicator of how effectively its curriculum prepares students for licensure. While no single metric defines quality, consistently strong pass rates suggest that graduates leave with the clinical judgment and test-taking readiness to succeed on exam day.
Based on 2022 data, these BSN programs within a 75-mile radius of Addison, IL, reported the following first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates:1
These figures represent a single year’s results, and annual fluctuations are normal. When available, reviewing multi-year trends or the most recent Illinois Board of Nursing reports can offer a more stable picture of a program’s performance.
The total cost of a nursing degree isn't just the tuition on the website. Net price, what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is often far lower, especially at public community colleges. Below we compare net price against median student debt for eight affordable nursing programs near Addison, Illinois.
A high starting salary means little if you're buried in loan payments. That's why comparing earnings after graduation against debt is essential, and BSN programs in the Addison area vary notably in how well they set students up for financial stability.
The simplest way to gauge a program's value is its earnings-to-debt ratio: how median graduate earnings stack up against typical student borrowing. Among nursing schools near Addison, Chamberlain University-Illinois leads the pack. Its graduates report median earnings of around $92,400 a decade after starting college, while carrying median debt of just under $21,000. That yields a ratio of roughly 4.4 times debt in annual earnings, a figure that significantly outpaces every other school in the region.
By contrast, other well-regarded programs show more modest ratios. University of Illinois Chicago, for example, combines median earnings near $68,700 with debt around $16,700, for a ratio of about 4.1. Loyola University Chicago, Lewis University, and the University of St Francis all land in the 3.0 range. While still strong, these numbers underscore why sticker price and location don't tell the whole story. Graduates from some schools in the area are likely to see a faster return on their tuition investment.
Of course, raw median earnings matter, too. Chamberlain graduates report median wages over $92,000, well above figures from other area programs like Aurora University ($58,700) or Elmhurst University ($61,500). However, those figures reflect institutional data across all majors, not nursing alone. Program-level earnings data are not yet available for BSN completers specifically, so these numbers should be viewed as a broad signal rather than a precise nursing salary.
When available, direct nursing graduate earnings, especially early-career wages one and two years out, will provide the clearest picture of how quickly nurses in Addison-area programs recoup their education costs. For now, prospective students can use earnings-to-debt ratios and median borrowing levels to identify schools that tend to produce solid financial outcomes for their graduates.
Here are answers to the most common questions about nursing schools in Addison, Illinois. We’ve gathered details on programs, costs, and outcomes to help you make an informed decision.
