Top Nursing Schools in Illinois
This page lists 88 schools in Illinois that reported awards in licensed nursing education to the U.S. Department of Education for 2023-24 — including 33 practical/vocational nursing (LPN/LVN), 42 associate degree (ADN), 39 bachelor's (BSN), 25 master's and 11 Doctor of Nursing Practice award levels. By ownership, 50 public, 32 private nonprofit and 6 private for-profit. 78 appear in the CCNE or ACEN accreditor directories for at least one nursing program level. The largest concentrations are in Chicago (9), Rockford (5), Peoria (3) and Quincy (3).
Data last reviewed: October 6, 2026
Sources: IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education) / CCNE directory / ACEN directory / official school websites
Listing does not certify educational quality or guarantee licensure eligibility. Verify details with the school before applying.
Listed alphabetically. Inclusion is editorial selection, not a ranking — see our methodology. How schools are selected
Verified program profiles (24)
See all 24 programs →Individual programs whose details we verified on the school's own website, each fact with a source.
| Program | School | Award / pathway | Format | Tuition (basis) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) - Campus Option | Chamberlain University-Illinois | BSN | On-campus, Hybrid | Not published |
| Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) - Online Option | Chamberlain University-Illinois | BSN | Online coursework, Hybrid | Not published |
| Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) | Chamberlain University-Illinois | DNP, MSN-to-DNP | Online coursework | Not published |
| MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner | Chamberlain University-Illinois | MSN, FNP | Online coursework | Not published |
| MSN - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner | Chamberlain University-Illinois | MSN, PMHNP | Online coursework | Not published |
| Online RN to BSN Option | Chamberlain University-Illinois | BSN, RN-to-BSN | Online coursework | Not published |
Schools (88)
| School | Location | Ownership | Nursing awards / programs | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambria College of Nursing | Hoffman Estates, IL | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN, ADN | — |
| Aurora University | Aurora, IL | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Benedictine University | Lisle, IL | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, Grad Cert-Leadership | CCNE |
| Black Hawk College | Moline, IL | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Blessing Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences | Quincy, IL | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN | CCNE |
| Bradley University | Peoria, IL | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-Leadership, MSN-PMHNP, Post-Master's-FNP, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP | CCNE |
| CAAN Academy of Nursing | Matteson, IL | Private nonprofit | ADN | ACEN |
| CALC Institute of Technology | Alton, IL | Private for-profit | LPN/LVN | — |
| Capital Area Career Center | Springfield, IL | Public | LPN/LVN | ACEN |
| Career Center of Southern Illinois | Red Bud, IL | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN | — |
| Carl Sandburg College | Galesburg, IL | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| Chamberlain University-Illinois | Addison, IL | Private for-profit | BSN, RN-BSN, MSN, MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-CNL, Post-Master's-FNP, Post-Master's-PMHNP, DNP, MSN-DNP | CCNE |
| Chicago State University | Chicago, IL | Public | BSN | ACEN |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College | Chicago, IL | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn, IL | Public | CNA, LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| College of Lake County | Grayslake, IL | Public | CNA, ADN | ACEN |
| Danville Area Community College | Danville, IL | Public | LPN/LVN, ADN | ACEN |
| DePaul University | Chicago, IL | Private nonprofit | BSN, MSN, Post-Master's, Post-Master's-FNP, DNP | CCNE |
| Dominican University | River Forest, IL | Private nonprofit | BSN | CCNE |
| Eastern Illinois University | Charleston, IL | Public | BSN | CCNE |
Before you apply in Illinois
- Prelicensure nursing programs must be approved by the state's board of nursing. Check the board's current list for the campus you will attend.
- Program accreditation (CCNE, ACEN or CNEA) is separate from state approval and from the institution's own accreditation. Each school page shows which records we found and where.
- Online programs based in another state may not accept residents of Illinois. See online coursework and clinical requirements.