Best institutions to study Practical Nursing in Illinois
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ambria College of Nursing Hoffman Estates Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $64,712 | 16 | — | — | $11,878 |
| 2 | Verve College Oak Brook Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $63,593 | 102 | — | — | $14,933 |
| 3 | Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Public · Certificate degree | $56,008 | 181 | 63% | — | $7,500 |
| 4 | CAAN Academy of Nursing Matteson Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $55,822 | 26 | — | — | $22,398 |
| 5 | Illinois Central College East Peoria Public · Certificate degree | $55,604 | 554 | 49% | — | $12,700 |
| 6 | MDT College of Health Sciences Chicago Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $54,894 | 144 | 50% | $27,375 | $26,250 |
| 7 | Shawnee Community College Ullin Public · Certificate degree | $54,323 | 108 | 60% | — | $11,162 |
| 8 | Capital Area Career Center Springfield Public · Certificate degree | $52,517 | 134 | 100% | — | $12,918 |
| 9 | Rend Lake College Ina Public · Certificate degree | $49,729 | 90 | 63% | — | — |
| 10 | Black Hawk College Moline Public · Certificate degree | $45,993 | 194 | 40% | — | $12,467 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).
Top skills
What Nursing Assistants earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Practical Nursing programs in Illinois.
Which Practical Nursing program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Ambria College of Nursing tops the list at $64,712. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Nursing Assistants earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Nursing Assistants in Illinois is $45,230 (median $45,960), across about 68,640 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Practical Nursing program?+
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Nursing Assistants?+
The national job outlook is about +2.3% growth with around 204,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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