Best Nursing Schools in Chicago: Rankings, Tuition & Programs for 2026

Why Study Nursing in Chicago?

Chicago is one of the best cities in the Midwest for nursing education and employment. The city is home to major academic medical centers — Rush University Medical Center, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, UIC Medical Center, Lurie Children's Hospital, and the University of Chicago Medical Center — plus a massive network of community hospitals, VA facilities, and the Cook County Health system.

The metro area has 20 institutions with nursing programs, from $3,180/year community college ADN degrees to doctoral programs where graduates earn over $200,000/year. Average RN salary in Chicago ranges from $96,654 to $107,116/year depending on the data source, with new graduates starting around $76,490.

Elite University Programs

Rush University College of Nursing

Rush is exclusively a health sciences university — there are no liberal arts undergrads, just nursing, medical, and health sciences students. The College of Nursing is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report for both online and campus-based graduate programs. Doctoral nursing graduates earn $117,561/year. Rush Medical Center provides direct clinical integration — students train where they'll likely work.

University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)

UIC's BSN program is ranked #13 nationally among undergraduate nursing programs (U.S. News 2025) — the only Illinois school in the top 25. In-state tuition is $14,338 with a 78.5% acceptance rate. First Professional Degree nursing graduates earn $107,171/year. UIC's location in the Illinois Medical District puts students next to multiple hospitals and research centers.

DePaul University

DePaul's doctoral nursing graduates earn a remarkable $204,157/year — the second highest in the Chicago area. Tuition is $44,460 with a 73.5% acceptance rate and 69.7% graduation rate. Strong clinical partnerships across the city.

Loyola University Chicago

Loyola's Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing produces doctoral graduates earning $149,948/year. Tuition is $51,716 with an 81.4% acceptance rate. Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood provides integrated clinical training. The Jesuit tradition emphasizes ethics and community health.

Midwestern University (Downers Grove)

Master's nursing graduates earn $205,504/year — the highest in the Chicago metro. Located in the western suburb of Downers Grove, the dedicated health sciences campus provides focused training.

Best Value University Programs

Chicago State University

At $12,754/year in-state tuition, Chicago State is the most affordable university option. BSN graduates earn $69,196/year. The 40.5% acceptance rate makes it selective, and its South Side location serves an underserved community.

Roosevelt University

BSN at $20,280/year with graduates earning $75,231. The 94.3% acceptance rate and downtown Loop location make it accessible.

Aurora University

BSN at $28,220/year with graduates earning $64,344. Located in the western suburbs with an 85.1% acceptance rate.

North Park University

Master's nursing graduates earn $102,196/year at $35,325 tuition. Located on Chicago's North Side with a 72.8% acceptance rate and strong clinical connections to Swedish Covenant Hospital.

Saint Xavier University

Designated a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League of Nursing every year since 2007. Master's graduates earn $94,608/year at $36,840 tuition. Programs include traditional BSN, online RN-to-BSN, second-degree BSN, and MSN.

University of St. Francis (Joliet)

Master's nursing graduates earn $109,196/year at $37,000. Located in Joliet, it serves the southwest suburbs with a 63.9% acceptance rate and 64.8% graduation rate.

Community College ADN Programs

Chicago-area community colleges provide the most affordable path to an RN license, with tuition between $3,180-$4,920/year.

Top CC Nursing Programs

School	Location	Tuition	ADN Earnings
Malcolm X College (CCC)	Chicago	$4,380/yr	$70,086
Triton College	River Grove	$4,920/yr	$63,670
Oakton College	Des Plaines	$3,985/yr	$63,332
Joliet Junior College	Joliet	$4,530/yr	$63,822
Harper College	Palatine	$3,822/yr	$62,113
Moraine Valley CC	Palos Hills	$3,822/yr	$61,990
Elgin CC	Elgin	$3,180/yr	$56,095
Prairie State College	Chicago Heights	$4,176/yr	$60,449
Morton College	Cicero	$4,884/yr	$59,228

Malcolm X College stands out with the highest ADN nursing earnings at $70,086/year. It houses the City Colleges of Chicago's School of Nursing and is located in the Illinois Medical District near Rush and UIC.

Elgin Community College has the lowest tuition at $3,180/year, serving the northwest suburbs.

Harper College (Palatine) and Moraine Valley (Palos Hills) both charge $3,822/year — strong options for north and south suburban students respectively.

Chicago Nursing Salaries (2025)

• New graduate RN: $68,500-85,500/year
• Experienced RN (3-5 years): $83,000-114,000/year
• Specialized RN (ICU, ER, OR): $95,000-125,000/year
• Nurse Practitioner: $110,000-150,000/year
• CRNA: $180,000-205,000+/year

Major employers: Northwestern Memorial, Rush University Medical Center, Advocate Aurora Health, Lurie Children's Hospital, UIC Hospital, Loyola Medicine, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Cook County Health (Stroger Hospital), Amita Health, Edward-Elmhurst Health.

Clinical Rotation Sites

Chicago nursing students rotate through world-class facilities:

• Northwestern Memorial Hospital — top-ranked nationally
• Rush University Medical Center — academic medical center
• UIC Medical Center — Illinois Medical District
• Lurie Children's Hospital — premier pediatric facility
• Stroger Hospital (Cook County) — Level I trauma center, large public hospital
• University of Chicago Medical Center — South Side academic center
• VA Jesse Brown Medical Center — veterans healthcare
• Advocate Christ Medical Center — South suburban trauma center

Financial Aid

• Illinois MAP Grant — need-based, up to $6,348/year for public university students
• City Colleges of Chicago Star Scholarship — free tuition for CPS graduates at any CCC campus
• Illinois Monetary Award Program — covers tuition at community colleges for qualifying families
• HRSA Nurse Corps Scholarship — national program for underserved area commitment
• Hospital tuition reimbursement — Northwestern, Rush, Advocate, and others offer tuition assistance

The Smart Path

1. Complete ADN at Malcolm X College or Harper College ($3,800-4,400/year)
2. Pass NCLEX, start working as an RN earning $76,000+
3. Complete RN-to-BSN online (many Illinois options)
4. Total cost: under $15,000 vs. $57,000-207,000 at a private university

Next Steps

Compare Chicago nursing programs on GradeToGrad to see tuition, outcomes, and admissions data side by side.