Schools of Nursing in Illinois and Resources for Student RNs and LPNs

Campus-Based and Online Nursing Degree Programs for Illinois Student Nurses

The few dozen campus-based nursing schools in Illinois that you’ll find listed below provide a clear cross-section of diverse educational opportunity for student nurses. You’ll discover small community colleges that cater to Practical Nurse and Associates degree seekers, a few rare hospital-based nursing diploma programs, and large university medical center programs that put you front and center in ultra-busy healthcare environments. There is no excuse for failing to find a nursing program to fit your needs.

Tips for Searching for an IL Nursing School

Keep in mind that many schools of nursing once bound to brick and mortar programs have now developed large and flexible online nursing programs to satisfy the needs of a much bigger population of prospective first-time nursing students, as well as professional nurses going back to school.

You’ll find a cluster of excellent nursing schools in Chicago and other large metro areas. These offer you a chance to engage with a large variety of healthcare professionals from all disciplines, as well as diverse patient populations.

While metro areas attract the largest number of nursing grads, don’t overlook the career opportunities possible in smaller Illinois community hospitals and outpatient medical centers where nursing practice thrives.

Resources for Nursing Students

The Illinois board of Nursing, a.k.a. the State of Illinois Professional Nurse website, provides the following vital resources for working and student nurses:

  • Licensure and exam information for LPNs, RNs, and Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs).
  • License renewal information
  • License verification
  • Nurse Practice Act
  • Continuing Education requirements for Illinois nurses
  • State approved nursing school programs
  • and much more

Illinois-based nursing students may qualify for lucrative financial help in paying nursing school loans with the following programs:

  • Nurse Educator Loan Forgiveness program is designed to attract RNs studying at the graduate level for their Nurse Educator degree. Qualified candidates must teach nursing in an Illinois school of nursing AND may earn up to $5,000 annually for a maximum of 5 years to help repay existing student loans. Really nice if this is your career track.
  • The Illinois National Health Service Corps State Loan Repayment Program is designed to assist a variety of health professionals. Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Midwives are nursing personnel targeted and may earn many thousands of dollars in exchange for service in a rural or urban medically underserved facility within Illinois.
  • The Veterans’ Nurse Loan Repayment Program offers incentives to nurses that might not otherwise consider work in one of Illinois’ veteran’s hospitals. These facilities are consistently some of the most in need of qualified nursing staff. Candidates may earn up to $5,000 annually for a maximum of 5 years – or up to $25,000 to help repay nursing school student loans.

List of Accredited Campus-Based Illinois Nursing Schools

  • Aurora University
  • Benedictine University
  • Black Hawk College
  • Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing
  • Bradley University
  • Capital Area Career Center
  • Carl Sandburg College
  • Chicago State University
  • College of DuPage
  • College of Lake County
  • DePaul University
  • Elgin Community College
  • Elmhurst College
  • Governors State University
  • Graham Hospital Association
  • Harry S. Truman College
  • Heartland Community College
  • Illinois Central College
  • Illinois Eastern Community College
  • Illinois State University
  • Illinois Valley Community College
  • Illinois Wesleyan University
  • Joliet Junior College
  • Kaplan University
  • Kaskaskia College
  • Lakeland College
  • Lakeview College of Nursing
  • Lewis and Clark Community College
  • Lewis University
  • Lincoln Land Community College
  • Loyola University-Chicago
  • MacMurray College
  • McKendree College
  • Methodist College of Nursing
  • Millikin University
  • Moraine Valley Community College
  • North Park University
  • Northern Illinois University
  • Oakton Community College
  • Olivet Nazarene University
  • Parkland College
  • Prairie State College
  • Richard J. Daley College
  • Richland Community College
  • Rockford College
  • Rush University Medical Center
  • Saint Anthony College of Nursing
  • Saint Xavier University
  • St. Francis Medical Center College of Nursing
  • South Suburban College
  • Southwestern Illinois College
  • Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
  • St. John’s College
  • Trinity Christian College
  • Trinity College of Nursing and Health Sciences
  • Triton College
  • University of Illinois-Chicago
  • University of St. Francis
  • West Suburban College of Nursing
  • William Raney Harper College

Explore Your Nursing Degree Options Today!