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Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois

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2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois

38 Colleges
$57,601 Avg Salary
$21,889 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing Associate Degree School for You

Nursing is the most popular major in Illinois with 21,938 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021.

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which healthcare program is right for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Healthcare Degree Search has developed this Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Our analysis looked at 38 schools in Illinois to see which associate degree programs offered the best educational experiences for healthcare students. Factors related to overall quality of the school, post-graduation earnings, average student debt, and more accumulated were considered when coming up with this list.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois

Check out the nursing associate degree programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.

Top 10 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools

#1

Ambria College of Nursing

Hoffman Estates, IL

Our analysis found Ambria College of Nursing to be the best school for nursing students who want to pursue a associate degree in Illinois. Ambria College of Nursing is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Hoffman Estates.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Ambria College of Nursing carry an average student debtload of $32,601.

Full Nursing at Ambria College of Nursing Report

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Rasmussen University - Illinois is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the city of Rockford, Rasmussen University - Illinois is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Rasmussen University - Illinois accumulate an average of around $32,326 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $175.

Read full report on Nursing at Rasmussen University - Illinois

#3

Oakton Community College

Des Plaines, IL

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Oakton Community College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois list. Located in the small city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

Nursing majors at Oakton Community College take out an average of $11,885 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read More…

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend William Rainey Harper College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois list. Harper College is a large public school located in the large suburb of Palatine.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Harper College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $19,644.

Read full report on Nursing at William Rainey Harper College

#5

Parkland College

Champaign, IL

The excellent associate degree programs at Parkland College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Illinois. Parkland College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Champaign.

On average, nursing graduates from Parkland College take out $10,582 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Parkland College

#6

Waubonsee Community College

Sugar Grove, IL

Waubonsee Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois list. Located in the rural area of Sugar Grove, Waubonsee is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Waubonsee carry an average student debtload of $17,386.

Full Nursing at Waubonsee Community College Report

#7

Joliet Junior College

Joliet, IL

Joliet Junior College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Joliet Junior College is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Joliet.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Joliet Junior College accumulate an average of around $20,094 in student debt.

Read More…

Lincoln Land Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the midsize city of Springfield, LLCC is a public school with a small student population.

Nursing majors at LLCC take out an average of $22,153 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Lincoln Land Community College

With a ranking of #9, Elgin Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. ECC is a medium-sized public school located in the midsize city of Elgin.

Nursing majors at ECC take out an average of $15,362 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Elgin Community College

#10

Morton College

Cicero, IL

Morton College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois list. Morton College is a small public school located in the suburb of Cicero.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Morton College accumulate an average of around $14,200 in student debt.

Full Nursing at Morton College Report

Best Nursing Colleges in the Great Lakes Region

Explore all the Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Ohio 13,973
Michigan 7,345
Indiana 7,922
Wisconsin 5,410

One of 30 majors within the healthcare area of study, nursing has other similar majors worth exploring.

Nursing Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 266,651
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 16,104
Nursing Administration 9,838
Nursing Practice 7,992
Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 5,092
Nursing Science 4,600
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 2,287
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing 2,021
Nurse Anesthetist 1,936
Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing 1,883
Critical Care Nursing 773
Geriatric Nurse/Nursing 563
School Nursing 553
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery 509
Clinical Nurse Leader 444
Clinical Nurse Specialist 419
Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing 331
Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing 181
Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing 57
Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing 53
Palliative Care Nursing 14
Forensic Nursing 14

Related Major Annual Graduates
Health & Medical Administrative Services 89,359
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 84,492
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 84,274
Allied Health Professions 82,308
Public Health 40,596

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • 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 the rest 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).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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