2027 Best Nursing Schools in Illinois
Nursing programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their nursing programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 82 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for nursing students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Nursing in Illinois
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Nursing
No school ranked higher than Rosalind Franklin University Of Medicine And Science this year for nursing. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of North Chicago. Rosalind Franklin University Of Medicine And Science awarded about 55 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Rosalind Franklin University Of Medicine And Science earn a median of $223,679 early in their careers.
Get the full nursing details for Rosalind Franklin University Of Medicine And Science
Loyola University Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nursing, ranking #2. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. About 304 nursing degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $111,912 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the nursing program at Loyola University Chicago
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 582 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $87,290 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
Get the full nursing details for University Of Illinois At Chicago
A rank of #4 makes Illinois State University one of the top schools for nursing. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 379 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $90,432 in their early career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $23,075 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for Illinois State University
Benedictine University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lisle. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. Benedictine University awarded about 68 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Benedictine University earn around $90,860 in the first couple years of their career. Benedictine University graduates carry a median of $17,188 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from Benedictine University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #6 position for nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 439 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $118,455. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates carry a median of $23,043 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Lewis University earned the #7 position for nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 269 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Lewis University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $90,066 in their early career. Lewis University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full nursing details for Lewis University
College Of Lake County landed the #8 spot for nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Grayslake. There were roughly 80 nursing students who graduated with this degree at College Of Lake County in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $72,472 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,005.
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Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois came in at #9 for nursing this year. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois is a very large private for-profit school located in the suburb of Addison. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12,128 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $109,135 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $39,146 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois
Joliet Junior College placed #10 among the best nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. About 117 nursing degrees were awarded at Joliet Junior College in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $71,988 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,617 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from Joliet Junior College
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #11 among the best nursing schools. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 74 nursing degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $46,566 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,730.
Read more about the nursing program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Harper College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. There were roughly 74 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Harper College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $70,929 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from Harper College
City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a large public school located in the city of Chicago. City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College awarded about 158 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College earn a median of $70,086 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,660 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College
Bradley University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 151 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Bradley University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $95,389 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from Bradley University
Northern Illinois University landed the #15 spot for nursing this year. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. About 196 nursing degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $91,491. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for Northern Illinois University
Rush University placed #16 among the best nursing schools. Rush University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Rush University awarded about 384 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Rush University earn a median of $100,700 early in their careers. Rush University graduates carry a median of $31,206 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for Rush University
Eastern Illinois University came in at #17 for nursing this year. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. Eastern Illinois University graduates 47% of students within six years. There were roughly 55 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $43,603 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,293.
More information about a degree in nursing from Eastern Illinois University
Lake Land College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Mattoon. About 80 nursing degrees were awarded at Lake Land College in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Lake Land College earn a median of $63,651 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,950.
More information about a degree in nursing from Lake Land College
College Of Dupage placed #19 among the best nursing schools. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. About 120 nursing degrees were awarded at College Of Dupage in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from College Of Dupage earn around $69,105 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for College Of Dupage
University Of St Francis ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 136 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of St Francis in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of St Francis earn around $94,166 in the first couple years of their career. University Of St Francis graduates carry a median of $30,700 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing program at University Of St Francis
Saint Francis Medical Center College Of Nursing placed #21 among the best nursing schools. Saint Francis Medical Center College Of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. Saint Francis Medical Center College Of Nursing awarded about 192 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Saint Francis Medical Center College Of Nursing earn a median of $91,413 early in their careers. Saint Francis Medical Center College Of Nursing graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for Saint Francis Medical Center College Of Nursing
Aurora University came in at #22 for nursing this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Aurora. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Aurora University awarded about 182 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Aurora University generally make around $72,520. Aurora University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Depaul University came in at #23 for nursing this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 68% of students finish within six years. Depaul University awarded about 195 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $140,906 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,340 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for Depaul University
Saint Xavier University earned the #24 position for nursing this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Saint Xavier University awarded about 151 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Saint Xavier University earn around $95,130 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,188.
Get the full nursing details for Saint Xavier University
Elmhurst College came in at #25 for nursing this year. Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elmhurst. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 207 nursing degrees were awarded at Elmhurst College in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $79,656 in their early career. Elmhurst College graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from Elmhurst College
Rest of the Top 50 Nursing Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong nursing education:
View All Nursing Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 82 schools evaluated.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
