2024 Rankings: The 40 Best Nursing Schools in the Chicago Metro Area

Since its inception, well over 7,000 baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral students have graduated from Rush University’s College of Nursing. The college currently maintains a graduate enrollment of approximately 1,000 students, of whom 350 are studying fulltime. Rush’s direct entry MSN students have passed the NCLEX exam at an exemplary rate of 97% over the past decade. The Rush University Medical Center provides a rich environment where students of nursing, medicine, and allied health sciences learn in an interdisciplinary and dynamic setting.

Founded in 1889 to address a lack of healthcare services, Chamberlain University continues to increase access to nursing education nationwide. Chicago is just one of over twenty Chamberlain locations across the country. The school offers a three-year BSN program, geared towards students who want to accelerate their degree with summer study. The Chicago campus graduates hundreds of new nurses annually, by far the largest prelicensure BSN program in the state. Despite the school’s size, students receive highly individualized attention, enabling them to pass the NCLEX exam at an 84% rate over the past decade. At the graduate level, Chamberlain University offers a fully online MSN program with tracks for nurse educators, nurse executives, nursing informatics, healthcare policy, population health, and several nurse practitioner specialties. Each MSN track is also available as a standalone graduate certificate. Finally, Chamberlain offers a post-master’s DNP with leadership-themed elective focus areas in advanced practice, education, and healthcare systems.

The College of Nursing and Health Professions at Lewis University has forty years of experience educating nurses. Lewis offers a full range of nursing programs including traditional BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN with six specialization options, a dual MSN/MBA degree, post-master’s certificates, and a doctor of nursing practice. The college graduates 110-140 prelicensure BSN students each year, who have achieved a remarkable 96% NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. Lewis students learn through one-on-one faculty interactions in state-of-the art simulation labs, and they experience diverse patient populations though the college’s 50+ clinical affiliations. Many courses are also offered online to accommodate a variety of schedules.

Valparaiso University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions offers undergraduate students BSN, ABSN, RN-to-BSN, and RN-to-MSN options. At the graduate level, BSN-educated nurses may pursue an MSN with a focus on nursing education, a joint MSN/MBA program, or a DNP degree. Valparaiso graduates a prelicensure BSN class of 100-140 students annually. These RN candidates have scored a 92% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX licensure examination over the past decade. More than 60% of the faculty hold doctoral nursing degrees, and students enjoy access to state-of-the-art facilities such as the Virtual Nursing Learning Center and the SIM Center.

DePaul’s School of Nursing was the first in Illinois to offer a two-year Master’s Entry to Nursing Practice (MENP) program for non-nurses. The school also conducts a traditional undergraduate BSN program, an RN-to-MSN pathway for nurses who hold an ADN or hospital diploma, and a DNP program with specializations for aspiring nurse anesthetists, family nurse practitioners, and adult-gerontology nurse practitioners. The MENP program graduates almost 200 students annually, with an impressive 90% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. DePaul’s pass rate on the nurse anesthesia certification exam has reached a stellar 100% in recent years. Students enjoy a network of more than 75 clinical sites and state-of-the-art facilities across two campuses in Lincoln Park and North Chicago.

Founded in 1935, the Saint Xavier University School of Nursing has educated well over 5,000 nurses and was the first nursing school in the state to offer an accredited baccalaureate program. Saint Xavier has received four consecutive NLN Center of Excellence designations for enhancing student learning and professional development. The school engages 33 faculty members across its numerous undergraduate and graduate nursing programs. BSN students have passed the NCLEX exam at an 87% rate over the past decade, significantly above state and national averages.

Purdue University Northwest was formally established in 2016 through the merger of Purdue University’s Calumet and North Central campuses. Both campuses date back to a 1946 founding in the aftermath of World War II. PNW’s College of Nursing is a National League for Nursing Center of Excellence, one of just 62 institutions so designated nationwide. Undergraduates can choose from several BSN pathways including traditional, accelerated, and online RN-to-BSN. Prelicensure students have achieved an 88% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the past decade (including the track records of the legacy institutions), with a stellar 98% pass rate in 2018. At the graduate level, PNW offers an MSN degree with concentrations in adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist, family nurse practitioner, nurse education, and nurse executive. The university also launched a DNP program in 2015.

Aurora University offers a traditional prelicensure BSN program at both the main AU campus and at George Williams College in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. The program features small class sizes, with a 32:1 student-to-faculty ratio in classes and an 8:1 ratio in clinical practicum. Nursing students complete 40 hours of prerequisites, 59 hours of nursing courses, and clinical experiences at area hospitals, clinics, and community agencies. Aurora University graduates approximately 150 newly minted nurses each spring. Over the past decade, these students have sustained a strong 91% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN licensure examination.

Northern Illinois University’s School of Nursing offers a traditional BSN program that consists of 61-64 nursing credits and 31-33 non-nursing credits. Sample courses for the program include Genetics & Human Genomics, Microbiology, and Nursing Ethics & the Law. Students enjoy a wide range of clinical experiences with over 230 regional healthcare partners, a dedicated advisor, and a Student Success Program that helps students meet program demands. Over the past decade, graduates of the four-year BSN program have achieved an 88% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. NIU’s School of Nursing also offers an online RN-to-BSN, an MSN with two specializations (education, FNP), a post-master’s certificate in nurse education, and a DNP with FNP focus.

Ambria College of Nursing has several options for aspiring nurses: an LPN certificate, two ADN pathways (traditional, LPN-to-RN), and an RN-to-BSN degree completion program. With day, evening, fulltime, and parttime schedules, Ambria’s flexible LPN and LPN-to-RN programs can be completed in just 12 months. The traditional ADN is a two-year program that prepares graduates for initial RN licensure, and the RN-to-BSN is a fast-track program that students can complete in just eight months. Ambria’s ADN program graduates about fifty students annually, with a strong 90% NCLEX-RN pass rate since the program’s inception. The classes of 2019 and 2020 scored NCLEX-RN pass rates of 96% and 100%, respectively. Ambria graduates another 40-50 LPN candidates each year, with a stellar 95% NCLEX-PN pass rate over the past decade. Indeed, five of the past six graduating LPN classes scored a perfect 100% NCLEX-PN pass rate.

Dominican University offers a traditional prelicensure BSN program and an RN-to-BSN pathway. The four-year traditional BSN includes courses such as Adult Health Nursing: Medical and Surgical, Evidenced-based Practice, and Transcultural Nursing. Since the program’s inception several years ago, traditional BSN graduates have maintained a strong 91% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. The three-semester RN-to-BSN curriculum is designed for working nurses. This flexible program offers a mix of on-campus and online courses; individual and group activities; and discussion boards, readings, and special assignments. Sample RN-to-BSN courses include Community, Family, and Population Nursing; Professional Development for the RN; and Nursing Leadership and Management.

Indiana University Northwest is home to Northwest Indiana’s only medical school and one of the area’s top business schools. It is also home to the School of Nursing, whose BSN graduates have posted one of the state’s highest NCLEX pass rates over the past decade – approximately 95% among first-time test-takers. IU Northwest offers three distinct BSN pathways: traditional prelicensure, accelerated second degree, and RN-to-BSN completion. The school’s state-of-the-art learning laboratory has both mid- and high-level simulation equipment, allowing students to hone the skills they acquire in class before applying them in clinical experiences. These supervised clinicals take place throughout Lake County, Porter County, and the Chicago metropolitan area. IU Northwest also leads a master of science in nursing program for aspiring family nurse practitioners.

Oakton Community College serves 46,000 students annually across more than eighty areas of study, preparing graduates either to transfer to four-year institutions or to step directly into rewarding careers. The college’s nursing programs include a certificate for aspiring LPNs and an associate degree for aspiring RNs. Both programs feature a rigorous combination of classroom learning and clinical experiences, preparing students for a variety of healthcare settings. Over the past decade, LPN graduates have achieved an outstanding 96% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-PN exam. During the same timeframe, ADN graduates scored an excellent 93% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN exam.

Verve College is a professional career certification and training institute with more than twenty years of experience. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation approved the college’s practical nursing program in 2007, and the first class graduated in 2008. The 1,080-hour program may be completed in 14 to 15 months fulltime. Verve College offers its students a full suite of career services including job placement assistance, resume development, and interview coaching. Recent graduates have earned some of the nation’s highest pass rates on the NCLEX-PN licensure examination, including a perfect 100% pass rate in 2017 and a 98% pass rate in 2020.

Harper College is named for Dr. William Rainey Harper, a pioneer in the junior college movement and the first president of the prestigious University of Chicago. It is one of the largest community colleges in the Chicagoland area, serving more than 35,000 students annually. Harper offers several nursing programs including a six-credit-hour CNA certificate, a 15-month LPN certificate, and a two-year associate degree. A unique military-medical-corpsman-to-LPN pathway is also available. Over the past decade, ADN graduates have achieved an outstanding 93% NCLEX-RN pass rate, while LPN graduates have scored a near-perfect 99% NCLEX-PN pass rate. Harper College also partners with more than twenty colleges and universities to provide seamless transfer into their RN-to-BSN completion programs.

Chicago State University’s Department of Nursing sits within the College of Health Sciences. Students can earn either a BSN degree or an MSN degree. The BSN program prepares 20-50 graduates each year for the NCLEX-RN licensure examination, posting a 70% first-time pass rate over the past decade. BSN students have also achieved 100% graduation and job placement rates since 2015. The 45-credit MSN program is designed to prepare nurses for the challenges facing the profession in the 21st century. The program focuses on three specialties: community health nursing, nursing administration, and nursing education. Additional nursing specialties will be developed in the future.

Founded in 1966, Waubonsee Community College serves nearly 12,000 credit students across campuses in Sugar Grove, Aurora, and Plano. The school offers certificates and associate degrees in more than 80 different disciplines, as well as noncredit classes for personal enrichment to another 2,300 students. Programs are organized into ten academic groups, including Health Sciences, which offers a one-semester CNA certificate and an associate degree in nursing. The associate degree program has two distinct tracks: a traditional associate in applied science (AAS) and an associate in science (AS) transfer degree pathway. After the fourth semester in the transfer degree pathway, students may enroll in a BSN program at a four-year college or university. Traditional AAS nursing students are eligible to sit for the NCLEX licensure examination. Waubonsee Community College graduates nearly 100 AAS nursing students each year. Over the past decade, these nursing graduates have achieved an excellent 90% first-time NCLEX pass rate.

The College of Lake County provides 40 degree transfer programs and 200 career certificate options to more than 10,000 students. For aspiring nurses, CLC offers CNA, ADN, and BSN transfer pathways. The CNA program requires seven credit hours of blended coursework and clinical experiences at community health centers. The ADN program incorporates 73-74 credit hours, with coursework on nursing practice foundations, mental health nursing, family-centered nursing care, and medical-surgical nursing. Approximately 70-80 ADN graduates each year are prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam. These students have averaged an 86% first-time NCLEX pass rate over the past decade. The college’s BSN transfer pathway offers the opportunity to transfer to a BSN program at a major university such as University of Illinois Chicago, Olivet Nazarene University, or University of St. Francis.

The ADN program at Elgin Community College goes well beyond the traditional classroom setting, delivering content through distance learning, simulations, multimedia, small group discussions, and laboratory practice. The college believes that this approach delivers more individualized instruction and places greater responsibility on each student for his/her education. Sample ADN courses include nursing practice, pharmacology, human anatomy, and physiology. The program graduates approximately 100 students annually. Over the past decade, these individuals have scored a 90% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN licensure examination.

Triton College offers more than 100 degree programs for students seeking an associate degree and/or looking to transfer to a four-year institution. One of Triton’s most popular options is a highly selective ADN program that accepts only the most qualified individuals for the available seats. Students cover a broad range of nursing and healthcare topics including adult health, drug calculations, human pathophysiology, and physical assessment. In addition, students engage in clinical experiences in a variety of settings. The ADN program, which offers both traditional and LPN-to-RN pathways, has a solid 87% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN licensure exam over the past decade.