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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Nursing in Illinois

85 Ranked Colleges
21,995 Degrees Awarded
$29,400 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois” ranking.

Nursing is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 3rd of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 322,592 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2019-2020, nursing graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $70,916 and had an average of $25,426 in loans still to pay off.

Across Illinois, there were 21,995 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $71,879 and $21,916 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois” ranking analyzed 85 colleges that offered a degree in nursing. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their nursing program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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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 “Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Nursing in Illinois

1
St. John's crest
St. John's College
Springfield, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend St. John’s College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois. St. John’s is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Springfield, Illinois. It awarded 57 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full St. John’s Nursing Report

1
Lakeview College of Nursing crest
Lakeview College of Nursing
Danville, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Lakeview College of Nursing. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois. Lakeview College of Nursing is located in Danville, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 61 ’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Nursing at Lakeview College of Nursing

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Saint Anthony College of Nursing. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois. SACN is located in Rockford, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 93 ’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.

Full SACN Nursing Report

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois list. Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Peoria, Illinois. It awarded 163 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Nursing at Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Chamberlain University - Illinois. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois. Chamberlain - Illinois is a large school located in Addison, Illinois that handed out 12,645 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at Chamberlain - Illinois

6
Oak Point crest
Oak Point University
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #6, Oak Point University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s nursing degrees to 458 students in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at Oak Point University

7

Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois ranking. Located in Rock Island, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 74 degrees to qualified ’s nursing students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences Nursing Report

8

Blessing Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois ranking. Quincy, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s nursing degrees to 68 students in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Blessing Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences Nursing Report

9
Methodist College crest
Methodist College
Peoria, Illinois

Methodist College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #9. Methodist College is a small school located in Peoria, Illinois that handed out 184 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Nursing at Methodist College

10
Ambria College of Nursing crest
Ambria College of Nursing
Hoffman Estates, Illinois

Ambria College of Nursing ranked #10 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois list. Located in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, this small private for-profit school awarded 29 degrees to qualified ’s nursing students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at Ambria College of Nursing

11

Northwestern College - Bridgeview came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois ranking. NC is located in Bridgeview, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 86 ’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Full NC Nursing Report

12
Rush University crest
Rush University
Chicago, Illinois

Rush University ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois list. Rush University is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 388 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at Rush University

13

Rasmussen University - Illinois landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois ranking. Rockford, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s nursing degrees to 450 students in 2020-2021.

Full Rasmussen University - Illinois Nursing Report

14
Rockford crest
Rockford University
Rockford, Illinois

With a ranking of #14, Rockford University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois list. Rockford is a small school located in Rockford, Illinois that handed out 72 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Nursing at Rockford University

15
University of Saint Francis crest
University of St Francis
Joliet, Illinois

With a ranking of #15, University of St Francis did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois list. University of St Francis is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Joliet, Illinois. It awarded 212 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of St Francis Nursing Report

16
Olivet Nazarene crest
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois

With a ranking of #16, Olivet Nazarene University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois list. Bourbonnais, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s nursing degrees to 222 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at Olivet Nazarene

17
SXU crest
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, Illinois

Saint Xavier University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois ranking. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 158 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Nursing at SXU

18

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois ranking. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 526 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Nursing at SIUE

19
North Park crest
North Park University
Chicago, Illinois

North Park University ranked #19 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 111 degrees to qualified ’s nursing students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate 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.

Full North Park Nursing Report

20
Bradley crest
Bradley University
Peoria, Illinois

Bradley University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Peoria, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 283 degrees to qualified ’s nursing students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at Bradley University

21
Millikin crest
Millikin University
Decatur, Illinois

With a ranking of #21, Millikin University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois list. Located in Decatur, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 79 diplomas to qualified ’s nursing students in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Nursing at Millikin

22
Olney Central College crest
Olney Central College
Olney, Illinois

Olney Central College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #22. This small school is located in Olney, Illinois, and it awarded 67 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Nursing at Olney Central College

23
Morton College crest
Morton College
Cicero, Illinois

Morton College ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois list. This small school is located in Cicero, Illinois, and it awarded 88 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Morton College Nursing Report

24
McKendree crest
McKendree University
Lebanon, Illinois

With a ranking of #24, McKendree University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois list. McKendree is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lebanon, Illinois. It awarded 87 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full McKendree University Nursing Report

25
Lewis crest
Lewis University
Romeoville, Illinois

Lewis University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Nursing Major in Illinois ranking. Lewis University is located in Romeoville, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 253 ’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at Lewis

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