Nursing Programs in Aurora, IL

2026 Best Nursing Schools in Aurora

#1

Aurora University

Aurora, IL - Private 4-year - aurora.edu

Bachelor's - Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Campus Based - Visit Website

Aurora University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program stands out for its immediate immersion into nursing courses from the first year, a rarity among colleges. Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the program boasts a 95% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate, surpassing national averages. Students benefit from state-of-the-art simulation labs and clinical rotations, preparing them for diverse healthcare settings. The curriculum covers essential topics like anatomy, pharmacology, and leadership, alongside opportunities to join nursing-focused campus organizations. With a median annual salary of $86,070 for registered nurses and a 6% job growth projection, AU's BSN program is a gateway to a rewarding career in nursing.

• Immediate nursing courses start.
• 95% NCLEX-RN pass rate.
• State-of-the-art simulation labs.
• Diverse clinical rotation opportunities.
• Accredited by CCNE.
• Covers anatomy, pharmacology, leadership.
• Join nursing campus organizations.
• Median salary $86,070.
• 6% job growth projected.
• Prepares for diverse healthcare settings.

*IPEDS 2024 statistics, sourced from NCES. https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

Entry-Level ADN & BSN Programs in Aurora, IL

Taking a plunge into a new career can feel scary and intimidating. Yet the field of nursing is easy to enter for those with and without a healthcare background. Aurora, IL, offers several entry-level LPN to RN, ADN, & BSN programs suitable for people in various circumstances. Because nursing is in demand and offers competitive wages, investing in nursing education is a choice that pays off sooner than you think.

LPN to RN Programs

Caring for patients daily is part and parcel of what being a nurse is all about. From providing essential comfort and care to tending to wounds and bandages, Licensed Practical Nurses help patients better cope with their illnesses. LPNs who want to advance their careers and do more for their patients can do so by obtaining their associate degree in nursing. Joliet Junior College, outside of Aurora, IL, offers a hands-on LPN to RN bridge program that lets dedicated LPNs complete their degree in about a year. Affordable and with small cohorts, the bridge program readies students to test for the RN license upon graduation.

ADN Programs

With only a two-year degree, registered nurses can earn a competitive wage and obtain job security that professionals with four-year degrees might envy. Waubonsee Community College, close to Aurora, Illinois, has an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Nursing that prepares students for the theoretical and clinical world of nursing. The curriculum covers nursing fundamentals as well as mental health, women’s health, and advanced concepts. Affordable and pragmatic, the program readies graduates to complete the NCLEX-RN exam.

Direct-Entry BSN Programs

Nurses with BSNs are leading the way in advancing the profession; they are at the forefront of evidence-based patient care and treatment. Top hospitals prefer to hire nurses with BSNs, which means they can earn a higher salary and work in selected units right from the start of their careers. Aurora University, headquartered right in the heart of Aurora, Illinois, offers a traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing for students with the long-term commitment and dedication to become a career nurse.

Find out more about Illinois Accelerated BSN Programs.

RN to BSN/MSN Programs in Aurora, IL

Going back to school to advance your career once meant having to take a leave of absence from work, a luxury many professionals could not afford. Today flexible and distance learning bridge programs have simplified the process of earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or even a Master's of Science in Nursing. Such RN to BSN and RN to MSN programs in Aurora, IL can be completed at the pace, schedule, and timeframe of working nurses.

RN to BSN Programs

Accelerated formats and distance learning options enable working nurses to advance their careers without having to slow down in other areas of their lives. Elmhurst College near Aurora, Illinois offers nursing students an intensive RN to BSN program at a fast-moving 8-week pace. Students complete their courses at a one-class-a-week pace either by attending class on-campus or via a distance learning format. The bridge program requires the completion of 2 onsite clinicals that can be arranged with faculty.

Find out more about Illinois RN to BSN Programs.

RN to MSN Programs

Nurses who know they want to specialize in a nurse practitioner specialty or simply reach higher roles within their organizations may wish to go straight to an RN to MSN program to earn a master's degree. Lewis University near Aurora offers an RN to MSN program where students can choose between the following specialties: Nursing Education, Nursing Administration, or Nurse Practitioner.

Find out more about Illinois RN to MSN Programs.

APRN & Nurse Practitioner Programs in Aurora, IL

Nurses are relied on throughout the healthcare system to treat both acute and chronic illnesses as well as to make crucial decisions regarding a patient’s long term treatment plan. RNs with unencumbered licenses can become leaders and nursing administrators by earning their advanced degrees or certifications. Universities have developed flexible and partially online advanced nursing degrees to accommodate employed RNs. Graduates of such Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs in Aurora, Illinois can also command lucrative compensation and more readily move into healthcare or nursing administration positions.

MSN Programs

Nurses are entering executive roles at hospitals and are training, leading and educating junior-level nurses to perform their job duties at the highest levels. Clinical nurses who are ready to become educators or leaders can earn their Master of Science in Nursing online from Benedictine University outside of Aurora, IL. The Catholic university offers these MSN programs to nurses who are looking to become leaders in the field and transition away from providing individual patient care.

Find out more about Illinois Nurse Practitioner Programs.

Post-Master’s Certificate Programs

Obtaining a second graduate degree in nursing can be costly and time-consuming. A post-grad certificate, however, can be a cost and time-effective way to enter a new specialty within the larger field of nursing. Lewis University outside Aurora, Illinois offers post-grad certs such as Nursing Education, Healthcare Systems Leadership and School Nurse to nurses with existing grad degrees. The certs are designed for busy professional nurses who are seeking a change in their career trajectory from clinical nursing to education or administration.

Learn more about Illinois Post-Master's Certificate Programs.

DNP Programs

When nurses earn their Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees, the apex of the nursing profession, they become leaders both inside and outside the clinical setting. They may advise RNs on patient care treatment options as well as advise policymakers on healthcare delivery options. Located near Aurora, IL, the University of St. Francis, a Catholic institute of higher learning, offers a prestigious DNP to dedicated nurses. The program can be completed partially online and is designed to be convenient for working APRNs.

Learn more about Illinois DNP Programs.