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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing in Illinois

40 Ranked Colleges
2,943 Degrees Awarded
$6,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 313,362 nursing students received their degree, making the major the 3rd most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, nursing graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $67,065 and had an average of $26,282 in loans still to pay off.

Across Illinois, there were 21,261 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $67,215 and $24,483 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 2,943 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,469 and $14,548 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois” ranking analyzed 40 colleges that offered a degree in nursing. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent nursing programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the nursing program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Nursing Schools

The nursing school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing in Illinois

#1

Joliet Junior College

Joliet, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Joliet Junior College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois. This fairly large school is located in Joliet, Illinois, and it awarded 157 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Joliet Junior College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $4,693 for illinois associate degree nursing students per year to attend Joliet Junior College.

Full Joliet Junior College Nursing Report

#2

Elgin Community College

Elgin, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Elgin Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois list. ECC is a medium-sized school located in Elgin, Illinois that handed out 99 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

ECC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend ECC is $4,185 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students.

Read full report on Nursing at ECC

#3

Rasmussen University - Illinois

Rockford, Illinois

Out of the 40 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Rasmussen University - Illinois landed the #3 spot on the list. Rasmussen University - Illinois is located in Rockford, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 321 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Rasmussen University - Illinois also took the #2 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Rasmussen University - Illinois is $18,744 for illinois associate degree nursing students.

Read more about Nursing at Rasmussen University - Illinois

#4

Oakton Community College

Des Plaines, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Oakton Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois list. Located in Des Plaines, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 88 degrees to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

Oakton Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $6,141 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students per year to attend Oakton Community College.

Full Oakton Community College Nursing Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 154 students in 2019-2020.

Malcolm X College also took the #3 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College is $3,689 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students.

Read more about Nursing at City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College

#6

Moraine Valley Community College

Palos Hills, Illinois

Moraine Valley Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois ranking, coming in at #6. Moraine Valley Community College is located in Palos Hills, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 89 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

MVCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $2,422 for illinois associate degree nursing students per year to attend Moraine Valley Community College.

Read more about Nursing at MVCC

#7

Waubonsee Community College

Sugar Grove, Illinois

Waubonsee Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois list. Waubonsee Community College is a public institution located in Sugar Grove, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 88 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Waubonsee, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Waubonsee Community College is $5,130 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students.

Read more about Nursing at Waubonsee

#8

Danville Area Community College

Danville, Illinois

Danville Area Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois ranking, coming in at #8. This small school is located in Danville, Illinois, and it awarded 51 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Danville Area Community College is $5,399 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students.

Full Danville Area Community College Nursing Report

#9

Lincoln Land Community College

Springfield, Illinois

Lincoln Land Community College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois ranking. LLCC is a small school located in Springfield, Illinois that handed out 85 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois associate degree nursing students list, LLCC has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $6,168 for illinois associate degree nursing students per year to attend LLCC.

Full Lincoln Land Community College Nursing Report

#10

Lake Land College

Mattoon, Illinois

Lake Land College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois list. Lake Land College is a public institution located in Mattoon, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 77 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Lake Land College is $4,468 for illinois associate degree nursing students.

Full Lake Land College Nursing Report

#11

Southwestern Illinois College

Belleville, Illinois

Southwestern Illinois College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois ranking. Southwestern Illinois College is a medium-sized public school situated in Belleville, Illinois. It awarded 80 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,098 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students per year to attend SWIC.

Read full report on Nursing at Southwestern Illinois College

#12

Illinois Central College

East Peoria, Illinois

Illinois Central College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois ranking, coming in at #12. ICC is a medium-sized public school situated in East Peoria, Illinois. It awarded 90 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

ICC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for ICC is $9,578 for illinois associate degree nursing students.

Read more about Nursing at ICC

#13

Kishwaukee College

Malta, Illinois

Kishwaukee College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois list. Kishwaukee College is a public institution located in Malta, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 59 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Kishwaukee College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Kishwaukee College is $5,782 for illinois associate degree nursing students.

Full Kishwaukee College Nursing Report

#14

College of DuPage

Glen Ellyn, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

College of DuPage ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois list. Located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, this large public school handed out 110 degrees to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

COD also took the #11 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $7,566 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students per year to attend College of DuPage.

Read more about Nursing at COD

#15

Parkland College

Champaign, Illinois

With a ranking of #15, Parkland College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois list. This medium-sized school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 89 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Parkland College also took the #15 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $8,993 for illinois associate degree nursing students per year to attend Parkland College.

Full Parkland College Nursing Report

#16

Carl Sandburg College

Galesburg, Illinois

Carl Sandburg College landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois ranking. Carl Sandburg College is a public institution located in Galesburg, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 54 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Carl Sandburg College, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Carl Sandburg College is $2,792 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students.

Read more about Nursing at Carl Sandburg College

#17

College of Lake County

Grayslake, Illinois

College of Lake County came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois ranking. College of Lake County is a public institution located in Grayslake, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 70 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at College of Lake County, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend College of Lake County is $4,735 for illinois associate degree nursing students.

Read more about Nursing at College of Lake County

#18

Highland Community College

Freeport, Illinois

Highland Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois ranking, coming in at #18. Freeport, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 41 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Highland Community College is $6,637 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students.

Full Highland Community College Nursing Report

#19

Triton College

River Grove, Illinois

Triton College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois list. Triton College is a public institution located in River Grove, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 44 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Triton College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $4,988 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students per year to attend Triton College.

Read more about Nursing at Triton College

#20

Prairie State College

Chicago Heights, Illinois

With a ranking of #20, Prairie State College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois list. Prairie State College is a small school located in Chicago Heights, Illinois that handed out 58 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Prairie State College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Prairie State College is $7,669 for illinois associate degree nursing students.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Nursing at Prairie State College

#21

Richland Community College

Decatur, Illinois

Richland Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois ranking. This small school is located in Decatur, Illinois, and it awarded 45 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Richland Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Richland Community College is $4,794 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students.

Read more about Nursing at Richland Community College

#22

Black Hawk College

Moline, Illinois

Black Hawk College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois list. This small school is located in Moline, Illinois, and it awarded 51 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,706 for illinois associate degree nursing students per year to attend BHC.

Read more about Nursing at Black Hawk College

#23

William Rainey Harper College

Palatine, Illinois

William Rainey Harper College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois list. This fairly large school is located in Palatine, Illinois, and it awarded 105 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Harper College, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $7,532 for illinois associate degree nursing students per year to attend Harper College.

Read more about Nursing at Harper College

#24

Morton College

Cicero, Illinois

Morton College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois list. Morton College is located in Cicero, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 77 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Morton College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Morton College is $4,236 for illinois associate degree nursing students.

Read more about Nursing at Morton College

#25

Kankakee Community College

Kankakee, Illinois

Kankakee Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois ranking. Kankakee, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 46 students in 2019-2020.

Kankakee Community College also took the #18 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Kankakee Community College is $6,436 for illinois associate degree nursing students.

Read more about Nursing at Kankakee Community College

Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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