2023 Most Popular Nursing Schools in Illinois
Finding the Best Nursing 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 Most Popular Nursing Schools in Illinois ranking. This report analyzed 87 schools in Illinois to see which ones were the most popular programs for healthcare students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Nursing program at each school on the list.
2023 Most Popular Nursing Schools in Illinois
The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Nursing Colleges.
Top 15% Most Popular Nursing Schools
Our analysis found Chamberlain University - Illinois to be the most popular school for nursing students who want to pursue a degree in Illinois. Located in the large suburb of Addison, Chamberlain - Illinois is a private for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
Nursing majors at Chamberlain - Illinois take out an average of $38,460 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $256.
Request Information
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Loyola University Chicago is a great place for nursing students. Loyola Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Chicago.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at Loyola Chicago accumulate an average of around $26,000 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $767, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Nursing at Loyola University Chicago
Request Information
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing Schools in Illinois list. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, SIUE is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at SIUE take out is $23,000. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $215.
Read full report on Nursing at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Request Information
Out of the 87 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Chicago landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the city of Chicago, UIC is a public college with a very large student population.
On average, nursing graduates from UIC take out $19,528 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $299, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Request Information
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Oak Point University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools in Illinois list. Oak Point is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Chicago.
On average, nursing graduates from Oak Point take out $29,000 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $342, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Nursing at Oak Point University
Request Information
Rasmussen University - Illinois came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in Illinois ranking. Located in the city of Rockford, Rasmussen University - Illinois is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
Nursing majors at Rasmussen University - Illinois take out an average of $35,539 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $161.
Request Information
Rush University ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools in Illinois list. Located in the city of Chicago, Rush University is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Read full report on Nursing at Rush University
Request Information
Illinois State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in Illinois ranking. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Normal, Illinois State is a public school with a fairly large student population.
On average, nursing graduates from Illinois State take out $22,562 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $375.
Request Information
Bradley University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in Illinois ranking. Bradley is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Peoria.
On average, nursing graduates from Bradley take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $580.
Request Information
With a ranking of #10, Lewis University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.
On average, nursing graduates from Lewis take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $468, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Request Information
DePaul University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #11 on the list. DePaul is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Chicago.
Full Nursing at DePaul University Report
Request Information
Benedictine University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in Illinois ranking. Located in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine U is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
On average, nursing graduates from Benedictine U take out $21,359 in student loans while working on their degree.
Request Information
Olivet Nazarene University ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools in Illinois list. Olivet Nazarene is a small private not-for-profit school located in the small suburb of Bourbonnais.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at Olivet Nazarene accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $246, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Request InformationHonorable Mentions
Here are some additional popular schools for Nursing students in the state of Illinois that almost earned our Most Popular Nursing Schools in Illinois award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Northern Illinois University | Dekalb, IL |
| 15 | University of St Francis | Joliet, IL |
| 16 | Aurora University | Aurora, IL |
| 17 | Methodist College | Peoria, IL |
Best Nursing Colleges in the Great Lakes Region
Explore all the Most Popular 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 |
Nursing Related Majors
One of 30 majors within the healthcare area of study, nursing has other similar majors worth exploring.
Nursing Concentrations
Most Popular Related Majors
| 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.
- 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.
HealthcareDegreeSearch.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© HealthcareDegreeSearch.com – All Rights Reserved.