Nursing Programs in Chicago, IL
Chicago is a fantastic city in which to begin your career in nursing. With one of the highest employment rates of nurses in the country and an average salary of $77,430 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Chicago also has a plethora of nursing training programs for students to choose from. From entry-level programs aimed at those new to the nursing field to career advancement programs for experienced nurses, Chicago has a program that fits your career goals.
To get started in nursing or to advance your nursing career, check out our accredited program listings sections below:
Entry Level ADN, BSN, & MSN Programs in Chicago, IL
In the Chicago area, there are some entry-level training programs for students who want to become registered nurses. These programs all prepare students to take the NCLEX RN licensing exam for their first jobs as RNs. Program options include LPN to RN bridge programs that help licensed practical nurses become RNs, Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs, and direct-entry Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs.
LPN to RN Programs
Transitioning to an RN role is a popular career path for experienced LPNs, and some schools offer special LPN to RN bridge programs to help LPNs take the next step in their careers. Many of these programs provide course credit or proficiency credit for prior LPN coursework, which makes these bridge programs faster to complete than a traditional ADN or BSN program. The LPN to RN program at Ambria College of Nursing is one example of a Chicago area school that provides credit for prior coursework.
ADN Programs
ADN programs are offered at community colleges and vocational schools and provide a foundational education in nursing in around two years of study. Oakton Community College’s ADN program has coursework in nutrition, pharmacology, nursing care concepts, and pediatric nursing.
Direct-Entry BSN Programs
Another option for entry-level nursing programs for students new to nursing is traditional BSN programs. BSN programs are typically four-year bachelor’s programs that include liberal arts general education courses and nursing major courses. The BSN program at Robert Morris University in Chicago includes public education and career management coursework in addition to anatomy and physiology, organic chemistry, microbiology, pharmacology, healthcare research, and the fundamentals of nursing careers across the lifespan, community nursing, and leadership.
Find out more about Illinois Accelerated BSN Programs.
Direct-Entry MSN Programs
A less common pathway to becoming a registered nurse is a direct-entry MSN program, which allows students with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing subject to earn a master’s in nursing. These programs are a good fit for students who want to transition careers into nursing and would like to make an advanced degree. The direct-entry MSN program at DePaul University is a two-year accelerated program that prepares students for administrative, educational, or advocacy roles in nursing.
Find out more about Illinois Accelerated MSN Programs.
Chicago RN Program NCLEX-RN Pass Rates
| Chicago | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN Students Total | 3,449 | 6,784 |
| NCLEX-RN Students Passed | 2,794 | 5,649 |
| NCLEX-RN Pass Rate | 81.0% | 83.3% |
Top Ranked Accredited Nursing Programs in Chicago
Listed below are the top nursing schools in Chicago based on our RegisteredNursing.org RN program rankings for Illinois out of 79 other accredited programs offered in the state:
- Ambria College of Nursing - #4
- College of DuPage - #16
- Dominican University - #18
- Harper College - #20
- Lewis University - #5
- Oakton Community College - #14
- Rush University - #3
- Trinity Christian College - #1
| School | Contact Information |
|---|---|
Ambria College of Nursing
| 5210 Trillium Blvd Hoffman Estates, IL 60192 (847) 397-0300 |
Benedictine University
| 5700 College Road Isle, IL 60532 (630) 829-6000 |
CAAN Academy of Nursing
| 4747 Lincoln Mall Dr Matteson, IL 60443 (708) 983-1645 |
Chamberlain University
| 3005 Highland Parkway Downers Grove, IL 60515 (877) 751-5783 |
Chicago State University
| 9501 S King Dr Chicago, IL 60628 (773) 995-2000 |
City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X
| 1900 W Jackson Blvd Chicago, IL 60612 (312) 850-7000 |
College of DuPage
| 425 Fawell Blvd Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 (630) 942-2380 |
DePaul University
| 2320 N Kenmore Ave Chicago, IL 60614 (773) 687-1000 |
Dominican University
| 7900 West Division Street River Forest, IL 60305 (708) 366-2490 |
Elmhurst College
| 190 S Prospect Ave Elmhurst, IL 60126 (630) 617-3400 |
Harper College
| 1200 W Algonquin Rd Palatine, IL 60067 (847) 925-6000 |
Instituto College
| 2520 S. Western Ave Chicago, IL 60608 (773) 890-0055 |
Lewis University
| One University Parkway Romeoville, IL 60446 (815) 836-5245 |
Loyola University Chicago
| 1032 W Sheridan Rd Chicago, IL 60660 (773) 274-3000 |
Moraine Valley Community College
| 9000 W. College Pkwy Palos Hills, IL 60465 (708) 974-4300 |
Morton College | 3801 S Central Ave Cicero, IL 60804 (708) 656-8000 |
North Park University
| 3225 W Foster Ave Chicago, IL 60625 (800) 888-6728 |
Northwestern College | 7725 S. Harlem Ave Bridgeview, IL 60455 (888) 205-2283 |
Oakton Community College
| 1600 East Golf Road Des Plaines, IL 60016 (847) 635-1600 |
Prairie State College
| 202 S Halsted St Chicago Heights, IL 60411 (708) 709-3500 |
Rasmussen College
| 1400 West Normantown Road Romeoville, IL 60446 (815) 306-2600 |
Resurrection University
| 1431 N Claremont Ave Chicago, IL 60622 (773) 252-6464 |
Robert Morris University Illinois
| 401 S. State Street Chicago, IL 60605 (800) 762-5960 |
Roosevelt University
| 430 S. Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60605 (312) 341-3500 |
Rush University
| 600 S Paulina St Chicago, IL 60612 (312) 942-5000 |
Saint Xavier University
| 3700 West 103rd Street Chicago, IL 60655 (773) 298-3706 |
South Suburban College
| 15800 State St South Holland, IL 60473 (708) 596-2000 |
Trinity Christian College
| 6601 W College Dr Palos Heights, IL 60463 (708) 597-3000 |
Triton College
| 2000 5th Ave River Grove, IL 60171 (708) 456-0300 |
University of Illinois at Chicago
| 1200 W Harrison St Chicago, IL 60607 (312) 996-7000 |
RN to BSN/MSN Programs in Chicago, IL
Many ADN-educated nurses decide to go back to school to pursue a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in order to earn a higher salary and move into more senior nursing positions. The best option for these nurses is a special RN to BSN or RN to MSN bridge program that builds on their previous nursing coursework and experience to deliver a higher degree in less time.
RN to BSN Programs
RN to BSN bridge programs help nurses with their associate’s degree earn their bachelor’s degree in nursing. Many of these programs are offered online, including the RN to BSN program at Chamberlain University, which can be completed in as little as three semesters of full-time study.
Find out more about Illinois RN to BSN Programs.
RN to MSN Programs
Another option for ADN-educated nurses is an RN to MSN program that provides a master’s degree in nursing without a BSN as a pre-requisite. The curriculum in these programs includes bachelor's level coursework in addition to MSN courses. The RN to MSN program at DePaul University is open to ADN-educated nurses with their bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing subject and includes only three bachelor's level nursing courses before allowing students to progress to masters-level work.
Find out more about Illinois RN to MSN Programs.
| School | Contact Information |
|---|---|
Benedictine University
| 5700 College Road Lisle, IL 60532 (630) 829-1153 |
Chamberlain University - Addison
| 1221 North Swift Road Addison, IL 60101 (630) 953-3660 |
Chamberlain University - Chicago
| 3300 North Campbell Ave Chicago, IL 60618 (773) 961-3000 |
Chamberlain University - Tinley Park
| 18624 West Creek Drive Tinley Park, IL 60477 (708) 560-2000 |
DePaul University
| 1 E. Jackson Chicago, IL 60604 (773) 325-1887 |
Elmhurst College
| 190 Prospect Avenue Elmhurst, IL 60126 (630) 617-3314 |
Lewis University | One University Parkway Romeoville, IL 60446 (815) 836-5245 |
Loyola University Chicago
| 1032 W Sheridan Rd Chicago, IL 60660 (708) 216-3582 |
Parkland College
| 2400 West Bradley Ave Champaign, IL (217) 351-2200 |
Purdue University Global
| 550 West Van Buren St Chicago, IL 60607 (866) 522-7747 |
Resurrection University
| 1431 North Claremont Ave Chicago, IL 60622 (773) 252-6464 x5347 |
Rush University
| 600 S. Paulina St. Chicago, IL 60612 (312) 942-2308 |
Saint Xavier University
| 3700 W. 103rd Street Chicago, IL 60655 (844) 468-6798 |
University of Illinois at Chicago | 1200 W Harrison St Chicago, IL 60607 (312) 996-7808 |
APRN & Nurse Practitioner Programs in Chicago, IL
For nurses who want to advance beyond their bachelor’s degree and seek leadership positions and advanced certifications, an advanced practice nursing program is the next step. APRN programs in the Chicago area include traditional MSN programs, post-graduate certificate programs, and doctoral programs.
MSN Programs
Traditional MSN programs are designed to prepare nurses with their BSN for advanced practice careers such as nurse practitioners, nurse educators, administrators, and clinical nurse leaders. Most MSN programs allow students to concentrate their studies in a particular practice area and prepare students to take the relevant certification exam for that specialty. Lewis University offers an MSN program with specialties in nursing education, healthcare systems leadership, adult/gerontology acute care and primary care nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialist, family nurse practitioner, psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner and school nurse.
Find out more about Illinois Nurse Practitioner Programs.
Post-Master's Certificate Programs
Graduate certificate programs are designed to help BSN and MSN-educated nurses become certified in a new specialty of advanced practice nursing. For instance, Loyola University Chicago has graduate certificate programs for BSN-educated nurses in oncology nursing and infection control, as well as APRN programs for nurses with their master’s degrees who would like to be certified as a particular type of nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist.
Find out more about Illinois Post-Master's Certificate Programs.
DNP & Ph.D. Programs
Doctoral programs in nursing are the highest level of education available to nurses. In the Chicago area, nurses can choose from Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) depending on their career goals. DNP programs prepare nurses for independent practice and other leadership roles, and Ph.D. programs prepare nurses for careers in nursing research or academia. Chicago's Rush University offers a variety of DNP specialty programs, as well as a Ph.D. program for interested students.
Find out more about Illinois DNP Programs.