Best colleges for Registered Nursing in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Chamberlain University - Illinois, Benedictine University and Saint Xavier University are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. Chamberlain University - Illinois leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $83,188, College Scorecard. Chamberlain University - Illinois, University of Illinois Chicago and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Illinois: 12,128, 582 and 439 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 84 Illinois colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 19,675 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chamberlain University - Illinois Addison Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $83,188 | 12,128 | 42% | $29,024 | $39,146 |
| 2 | Benedictine University Lisle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $80,136 | 68 | 50% | $23,570 | $17,188 |
| 3 | Saint Xavier University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $78,285 | 151 | 57% | $12,935 | $27,188 |
| 4 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,869 | 304 | 73% | $33,454 | $27,000 |
| 5 | Lewis University Romeoville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,766 | 269 | 67% | $17,632 | $27,000 |
| 6 | University of St Francis Joliet Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,811 | 136 | 67% | $15,591 | $30,700 |
| 7 | Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,629 | 40 | 75% | $26,849 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,557 | 196 | 49% | — | $31,000 |
| 9 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,045 | 582 | 62% | — | $20,500 |
| 10 | Western Illinois University Macomb Public · Bachelor's degree | $74,490 | 30 | 45% | — | $23,750 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ambria College of Nursing Hoffman Estates Private for-profit · Associate degree | $75,461 | 25 | — | — | $36,518 |
| 2 | Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills Public · Associate degree | $73,137 | 79 | 40% | — | $19,345 |
| 3 | College of Lake County Grayslake Public · Associate degree | $72,472 | 80 | 37% | — | $12,005 |
| 4 | Elgin Community College Elgin Public · Associate degree | $71,721 | 78 | 41% | — | $10,793 |
| 5 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine Public · Associate degree | $70,929 | 74 | 48% | — | $15,000 |
| 6 | Oakton College Des Plaines Public · Associate degree | $69,434 | 42 | 37% | — | $10,000 |
| 7 | Richland Community College Decatur Public · Associate degree | $68,635 | 31 | 60% | — | $11,000 |
| 8 | Rock Valley College Rockford Public · Associate degree | $68,229 | 37 | 37% | — | $15,750 |
| 9 | Rasmussen University - Illinois Rockford Private for-profit · Associate degree | $68,119 | 364 | 43% | $19,427 | $30,500 |
| 10 | John A Logan College Carterville Public · Associate degree | $67,691 | 50 | 46% | — | $12,187 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in Illinois
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chamberlain University - Illinois Addison Private for-profit | 12,128 | $83,188 |
| 2 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 582 | $75,045 |
| 3 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public | 439 | $71,161 |
| 4 | Rush University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 384 | Not reported |
| 5 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 379 | $72,709 |
| 6 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 304 | $76,869 |
| 7 | Lewis University Romeoville Private not-for-profit | 269 | $76,766 |
| 8 | Elmhurst University Elmhurst Private not-for-profit | 207 | $73,820 |
| 9 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public | 196 | $75,557 |
| 10 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 195 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 74 Illinois colleges offering Registered Nursing
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
Chamberlain University - Illinois (12,128 graduates a year), University of Illinois Chicago (582 graduates a year) and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (439 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 84 Illinois colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, Chamberlain University - Illinois leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $83,188, College Scorecard. Benedictine University and Saint Xavier University follow. By degrees awarded, Chamberlain University - Illinois is the largest, with 12,128 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Chamberlain University - Illinois tops the list at $83,188. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Illinois is $94,360 (median $95,990), across about 138,910 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree 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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