10 Best Nursing Schools in Chicago, Illinois Today (Ranked)

With a wide array of top-ranking best nursing schools in Chicago, you have countless opportunities to learn, gain hands-on experience, and network with professionals in the field.

Besides, Chicago’s healthcare sector is bustling and diverse, making it a vibrant place to start or grow your nursing career.

From private research institutions to public universities, there’s a program to fit every aspiring nurse’s needs. Most of these reputable institutions are typically ranked among the best nursing programs in Chicago, across Illinois, and nationwide.

Based on our ranking methodology, we’ve listed the 10 very best nursing schools in Chicago today. We also highlight the different programs they offer, their NCLEX-RN pass rates, alumni salary data, and students’ ratings.

Our rankings consider factors like the average NCLEX pass rates from the last 4 years, typical federal debt upon graduation, reported alumni salaries, and the school’s overall reputation.

Here’s a List of the 10 Best Nursing Schools in Chicago

1. Loyola University Chicago- Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing

Loyola University Chicago (LUC) is a private research university that was established in 1870 by the Society of Jesus, making it one of the largest Catholic universities in the US.

LUC’s Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, which started its first bachelor’s nursing program in 1935, works with top medical facilities in Chicago like Advocate Lutheran General Hospital and Northwestern Memorial Hospital. This gives you a chance for great hands-on clinical experiences.

In terms of financial aid, the school offers a range of scholarships. One of these is the Westlake Nursing Scholarship.

It provides up to $20,000 each year for tuition to undergraduate and graduate students, including those enrolled in the RN to BSN and ABSN tracks- for those living or working in the healthcare field in West Suburban Cook County.

According to federal data, students who complete a bachelor’s nursing program at LUC typically have about $25,000 in federal student loan debt. Those who finish a master’s program usually have about $59,750 in federal student debt.

List of LUC Undergraduate Nursing Programs:

• Traditional BSN Program

• Accelerated BSN Program

•  RN to BSN Program- online

List of LUC Graduate Nursing Programs:

• MSN Program- Nursing and Healthcare Administration

• DNP Program:
  • Nurse Practitioner Tracks
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist Tracks
  • Systems Leadership Track

• Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science (PhD)

List of LUC Nursing Post-Graduate Certificate Programs:

• Nurse Practitioner Tracks

• Clinical Nurse Specialist Tracks

LUC NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

Salary Data for LUC Nursing Graduates

Overall LUC Student Ratings

2. Lewis University- College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Lewis University is a private institution with roots going back to 1932. It’s located in Romeoville, just 30 miles from Chicago. For over 40 years, it’s been helping nursing students kick-start their careers.

As a nursing student, you get to practice and learn in simulation hospital rooms and labs with lifelike manikins. You learn up-to-date techniques, improve your problem-solving skills, and make decisions based on patient symptoms in a safe, supportive environment.

You also gain practical experience at more than 20 clinical sites, including leading hospitals such as AMITA Health Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital and Advocate Christ Medical Center.

Financial help is available in the form of grants like the Lasallian Grant, work-study programs, tuition payment plans, and many scholarships.

If you work for an organization in partnership with Lewis, you might even qualify for reduced tuition. For instance, Lewis nursing grads working at Silver Cross Hospital can receive up to $27,000 in student loan help.

According to federal data, bachelor’s degree nursing grads from Lewis usually have about $25,000 in federal student loan debt, while those with master’s degrees typically have about $47,832 in debt.

List of Lewis University Undergraduate Nursing Programs:

• Traditional BSN Program

• BAC to BSN Program- ABSN

• RN to BSN Program

List of Lewis University Graduate Nursing Programs:

• MSN Program
  • Healthcare Systems Leadership
  • Nursing Education
  • Nurse Practitioner Tracks
  • School Nurse
  • MSN / MBA

• DNP Program

Lewis University NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

Salary Data for Lewis University Nursing Graduates

Overall Lewis University Student Ratings

3. Rush University- College of Nursing

Rush University is a private institution founded in 1972 but has a long history in nursing education that goes back to 1885. It only offers graduate-level nursing programs and is dedicated to leading healthcare transformation and promoting health equity.

Being part of Rush University Medical Center gives students fantastic opportunities for hands-on clinical experience. Plus, there are other clinical sites across the Chicago area for students to learn.

As for financial aid, Rush offers merit scholarships for diverse and underrepresented nursing students. If you’re pursuing a DNP or Nursing PhD and plan to teach nursing, you could qualify for the Nurse Faculty Loan Repayment Program.

This program forgives up to 85% of your loan if you serve as a full-time nursing faculty member for a certain period.

According to federal data, nursing students who complete a master’s program at Rush typically have around $90,484 in federal student loan debt. Those who complete a doctoral program typically have about $69,789 in federal student debt.

The relatively high debt makes Rush one of the more expensive nursing schools in Chicago.

List of Rush University Graduate Nursing Programs:

• MSN- Generalist Entry Master’s (GEM) Clinical Nurse Leader program

• MSN Nursing Leadership: Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) program 

• DNP Program:
  • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
  • Nurse Practitioner Tracks
  • Anesthesia
  • Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Public Health
  • Transformative Leadership: Population Health
  • Transformative Leadership: Systems

List of Rush University Nursing Post-Graduate Certificate Programs:

• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

• Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Rush University NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

Salary Data for Rush University Nursing Graduates

Overall Rush University Student Ratings

4. Elmhurst University- Department of Nursing

Elmhurst University is a private non-profit university, founded in 1871. It’s affiliated with the United Church of Christ. The university is located around 16 miles west of downtown Chicago.

The university’s nursing department aims to train nurses who are ready for professional practice and leadership, serving the diverse needs of our society.

Elmhurst helps find clinical placements as close to your community as possible, making it easier to get practical experience.

In terms of financial aid, Elmhurst offers a range of scholarships. One notable example is the American Dream Fellowship Competition, which supports first-generation college students.

The competition offers full tuition for four years to the winner, a four-year annual stipend of $10,000 for second place, and $1,000 per year for other participants who complete the competition rounds.

According to federal data, students graduating from Elmhurst’s bachelor’s nursing program typically have about $20,135 in federal student loan debt, and those graduating from the master’s program usually have around $41,000 in federal student loan debt.

The low debt levels mean that Elmhurst is one of the more affordable institutions among the best nursing schools in Chicago.

List of Elmhurst Undergraduate Nursing Programs:

• Traditional BSN Program

• Accelerated BSN Program

• RN to BSN Program

List of Elmhurst Graduate Nursing Programs:

• MSN Program:
  • Nurse Administrator
  • Nurse Educator
  • Clinical Nurse Leader

• MSN- Master’s Entry in Nursing Practice (MENP) Program

• RN to MSN Program

• DNP Program

Elmhurst NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

Salary Data for Elmhurst Nursing Graduates

Overall Elmhurst Student Ratings

5. DePaul University- School of Nursing

DePaul University is a private Catholic institution founded by the Vincentians in 1898, and is named after Saint Vincent de Paul. The university’s School of Nursing is committed to improving health for individuals, families, and communities through nursing science.

The school has connections to over 75 clinical sites in the Chicago area, providing a wide range of opportunities for hands-on clinical experience.

On the financial aid front, DePaul claims to provide more than $52 million in scholarships annually to incoming freshmen. The scholarships include the DePaul Double Demon Scholarship. This provides a 25% automatic discount on any graduate coursework for students who have already graduated from DePaul.

According to federal data, students who finish a master’s nursing program at DePaul typically have around $101,373 in federal student loan debt. Those who complete a doctoral program usually have about $98,328 in federal student debt.

List of DePaul Undergraduate Nursing Programs:

• Traditional BSN Program

List of DePaul Graduate Nursing Programs:

• MSN- Master’s Entry to Nursing Practice (MENP) Program for non-nurses

• RN to MSN Program

• DNP Program:
  • Nurse Practioner Tracks
  • Nurse Anesthetist
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Nurse Midwife

List of DePaul Nursing Post-Graduate Certificate Programs:

• Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner

• Family Nurse Practitioner

DePaul NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

Salary Data for DePaul Nursing Graduates

Overall DePaul Student Ratings

6. North Park University- School of Nursing and Health Sciences

North Park University is a private Christian university in Chicago, Illinois, established in 1891 by the Evangelical Covenant Church. The university’s nursing school aims to train health professionals to lead lives of service and significance, grounded in Christian values.

As a nursing student at North Park, you get hands-on experience at top-rated hospitals and clinics throughout Chicago, thanks to the university’s partnerships. Some of these clinical sites include Swedish Hospital, NorthShore University HealthSystem, and St. Francis Hospital.

When it comes to financial aid, North Park offers a variety of scholarships. For instance, the Delores Johnson Founders scholarship provides a 35% tuition reduction to full-time employees of non-profit organizations or government agencies.

Also, the university offers tuition discounts to employees of partner hospitals who enroll in nursing graduate, post-graduate, and degree completion programs. The partner hospitals are Swedish Hospital (35% tuition discount!), Northwest Community Hospital, Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, and NorthShore University HealthSystem.

According to federal data, students graduating from North Park’s bachelor’s nursing program usually have about $26,793 in federal student loan debt, and those graduating from the master’s program generally have around $26,500 in federal student loan debt.

List of North Park Undergraduate Nursing Programs:

• BSN Program

List of North Park Graduate Nursing Programs:

• MSN Program:
  • Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Leadership and ManagementLeader

• MSN- Direct Entry Program

• DNP Program

List of North Park Nursing Post-Graduate Certificate Programs:

• Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

• Family Nurse Practitioner

North Park NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

Salary Data for North Park Nursing Graduates

Overall North Park University Student Ratings

7. Chamberlain University Illinois- College of Nursing

Chamberlain University is a private, for-profit school that focuses on healthcare and nursing education. It has many locations across the U.S., including its main campus in Addison, Illinois, and another in Chicago. The school has a rich history of training nurses going back over 120 years.

Chamberlain’s mission is to train diverse healthcare professionals who can improve the health of people, families, communities, and nations. It offers hands-on practice in its SIMCARE CENTER™, where students can learn basic nursing skills on high-tech patient simulators.

On financial aid, Chamberlain has partnerships with various healthcare institutions like Advocate Aurora Health and the American Nurses Association – Illinois, offering reduced tuition for employees of these organizations.

According to federal data, Bachelor’s degree nursing students at Chamberlain graduate with around $22,213 in federal student loan debt. Master’s degree students typically have about $42,611 in federal debt.

Nursing students who complete a postgraduate certificate program have around $30,922 in debt, and those graduating from a doctoral program have about $39,000 in federal student loan debt.

List of Chamberlain Illinois Undergraduate Nursing Programs:

• BSN Program- Day or Evening/Weekend or online

• RN to BSN Program

List of Chamberlain Illinois Graduate Nursing Programs:

• MSN:
  • Nurse Practioner Tracks
  • Healthcare Policy
  • Nurse Educator
  • Nurse Executive
  • Nursing Informatics
  • Population Health

• Accelerated MSN Program- with Clinical Nurse Leadership Option

• RN to MSN Program

• DNP Program:
  • Healthcare Systems Leadership
  • Educational Leadership
  • Advanced Practice Leadership

List of Chamberlain Illinois Nursing Post-Graduate Certificate Programs:

• Nurse Practioner Tracks

• Healthcare Policy

• Nursing Education

• Nursing Informatics

• Nursing Leadership

• Population Health

Chamberlain Illinois NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

Salary Data for Chamberlain Illinois Nursing Graduates

Overall Chamberlain Student Ratings

8. Saint Xavier University- School of Nursing

Saint Xavier University (SXU) is a private Catholic university in Chicago, established in 1846 by the Sisters of Mercy. They started their nursing program in 1935, which focuses on education, service, and compassion, reflecting the Mercy values.

The university’s nursing program aims to deliver top-notch education guided by Mercy values, which encourage scholarship, compassion, and lifelong learning. Their goal is to prepare exceptional nurses who can work in diverse, global communities.

As a nursing student at SXU, you do your clinical rotations at prominent healthcare facilities across the Greater Chicago area. Some of these include Advocate Christ Medical Center, Comer Children’s Hospital, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, and the University of Chicago Medicine, among others.

In terms of financial aid, SXU offers numerous scholarships which you can explore using their quite convenient scholarship directory. They also provide Nursing Graduate Assistantships and grants.

According to federal data, students graduating from SXU’s bachelor’s nursing program typically have around $26,030 in federal student loan debt, and those graduating from the master’s program have about $26,874 in federal student loan debt.

List of SXU Undergraduate Nursing Programs:

• Traditional BSN Program

• Accelerated BSN Program

• LPN to BSN Program

List of SXU Graduate Nursing Programs:

• MSN Program:
  • Clinical Leadership
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Educator

List of SXU Nursing Post-Graduate Certificate Programs:

• Clinical Leadership

• Family Nurse Practitioner

• Nurse Educator

SXU NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

Salary Data for SXU Nursing Graduates

Overall SXU University Student Ratings

9. University of Illinois at Chicago- College of Nursing

The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) is a large public university located close to the city center of Chicago. It’s the largest university in the Chicago area.

UIC started offering nursing education in 1873 and officially established a School of Nursing in 1951. The UIC College of Nursing aims to improve healthcare for everyone, focusing on community collaborations that promote fairness and social justice.

UIC nursing students mainly do their clinical placements at the University of Illinois Hospital (UI Health).

However, they also partner with other reputable names like Advocate Health Care, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, and Northwestern Memorial Hospital. These sites are spread across both the city and suburbs of Chicago.

In terms of financial aid, UIC offers graduate assistantships and scholarships. Scholarships are given based on academic achievement, financial need, and leadership/service experience.

Federal data shows that students graduating from UIC’s bachelor’s nursing program typically have around $15,000 in federal student loan debt. Those graduating from the master’s program usually have about $97,999 in federal debt.

Students obtaining a first professional degree typically have around $87,542 in federal student debt.

List of UIC Undergraduate Nursing Programs:

• BSN Program

List of UIC Graduate Nursing Programs:

• MSN Program

• MSN for non-RNs Program

• DNP Program:
  • Post MSN
  • BSN to DNP
  • RN (with a non-nursing bachelor’s) to DNP

• Nursing PhD

UIC NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

Salary Data for UIC Nursing Graduates

Overall UIC University Student Ratings

10. Oak Point University- College of Nursing

Oak Point University, previously known as Resurrection University, is a private institution in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1914. Oak Point has two campuses – one in Wicker Park and the other in Oak Brook.

The university has Simulation Centers resembling real healthcare settings, providing you with realistic clinical experiences. The Wicker Park campus even has a Simulation Center that used to be a functioning Intensive Care Unit.

When it comes to financial aid, Oak Point offers work/study programs, payment plans through Nelnet, and a variety of scholarships for nursing students.

For instance, the Florence Nightingale Scholarship, worth $3,000, is given to an undergraduate or graduate student based on both merit and financial need.

Federal data shows that students graduating from Oak Point’s bachelor’s nursing program usually have about $25,000 in federal student loan debt. Those who complete the master’s program typically have about $61,500 in federal student loan debt.

List of Oak Point Undergraduate Nursing Programs:

• BSN Program

• BSN for RN Program

List of Oak Point Graduate Nursing Programs:

• MSN Program:
  • Nurse Educator
  • Nurse Practitioner Tracks

• DNP Program

List of Oak Point Nursing Post-Graduate Certificate Programs:

• Psychiatric-Mental Health NP

• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP

Oak Point NCLEX-RN Pass Rates

Salary Data for Oak Point Nursing Graduates

Overall Oak Point University Student Ratings

Nurse Salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin Metro Area

Why Consider Best Nursing Schools in Chicago?

Illinois is facing a growing need for nurses due to an aging population and many experienced nurses nearing retirement. This situation makes it an ideal time for you to consider a career in this noble field of nursing.

To tackle the nursing shortage, various initiatives are in place. For example, the University of Illinois at Chicago and City Colleges of Chicago have a joint program allowing students to earn their nursing degrees faster.

Also, the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center was set up to, among other things, offer resources for nursing students, including information on affordable education options and scholarships.

Even better, several hospitals have partnered with local nursing schools to offer discounted tuition, making nursing education more affordable. Sometimes up to 35% discount like in the Swedish hospital partnership with North Park University.

So, consider joining one of the best nursing programs in Chicago. It’s a golden opportunity to begin or further your career in such a fulfilling yet vital profession.

FAQs

Disclaimer:

• Information on these programs may change without notice. So, we cannot guarantee their authenticity and accuracy. You’d have to check with the school and do further research. Our review list is simply for guidance and cannot be relied upon exclusively without research on your part.
• Before enrollment, check with your state regarding licensing rules or whether your desired program meets your home state’s certification requirements and licensure.
• If you are an administrator/staff for one of the schools listed in this article, and you would like to issue corrections or updates on your program’s information, please contact us here.

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