Ranking

Best Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Colleges in Illinois 2026

42 Illinois colleges offering Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, ranked by EduGradify value grade.

Schools ranked: 25
Cheapest net price: $3,662
Top earnings 10y: $68,740
Public / Private: 18 / 7

Carl Sandburg College

A+

Galesburg, IL · Public

ROI score: 24.08
Net price: $3,662
Earnings 10y: $35,274
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Kishwaukee College

A+

Malta, IL · Public

ROI score: 21.68
Net price: $4,574
Earnings 10y: $39,657
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Morton College

A+

Cicero, IL · Public

ROI score: 20.42
Net price: $5,191
Earnings 10y: $42,406
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Rock Valley College

A+

Rockford, IL · Public

ROI score: 18.68
Net price: $5,242
Earnings 10y: $39,158
Acceptance: Open / not reported

College of DuPage

Glen Ellyn, IL · Public

ROI score: 15.85
Net price: $7,401
Earnings 10y: $46,909
Acceptance: Open / not reported

University of Illinois Chicago

Chicago, IL · Public

ROI score: 15.66
Net price: $10,974
Earnings 10y: $68,740
Acceptance: 77.4%

John A Logan College

Carterville, IL · Public

ROI score: 15.38
Net price: $5,541
Earnings 10y: $34,096
Acceptance: Open / not reported

John Wood Community College

Quincy, IL · Public

ROI score: 13.70
Net price: $7,050
Earnings 10y: $38,631
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, IL · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 13.37
Net price: $10,970
Earnings 10y: $58,656
Acceptance: 84.3%

#10

Dominican University

River Forest, IL · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 12.84
Net price: $11,745
Earnings 10y: $60,327
Acceptance: 90.3%

#11

University of St Francis

Joliet, IL · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 12.29
Net price: $13,006
Earnings 10y: $63,926
Acceptance: 65.3%

#12

Parkland College

Champaign, IL · Public

ROI score: 11.90
Net price: $8,048
Earnings 10y: $38,320
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#13

Governors State University

University Park, IL · Public

ROI score: 11.80
Net price: $12,329
Earnings 10y: $58,169
Acceptance: 48.3%

#14

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, IL · Public

ROI score: 10.79
Net price: $13,391
Earnings 10y: $57,808
Acceptance: 69.8%

#15

Western Illinois University

Macomb, IL · Public

ROI score: 10.47
Net price: $12,937
Earnings 10y: $54,163
Acceptance: 71.2%

#16

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, IL · Public

ROI score: 10.17
Net price: $12,786
Earnings 10y: $51,989
Acceptance: 65.4%

#17

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Carbondale, IL · Public

ROI score: 10.04
Net price: $13,297
Earnings 10y: $53,390
Acceptance: 86.9%

#18

Waubonsee Community College

Sugar Grove, IL · Public

ROI score: 9.79
Net price: $11,442
Earnings 10y: $44,788
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#19

Lewis University

Romeoville, IL · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 9.70
Net price: $17,028
Earnings 10y: $66,099
Acceptance: 71.3%

#20

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Edwardsville, IL · Public

ROI score: 9.46
Net price: $14,889
Earnings 10y: $56,346
Acceptance: 97.5%

#21

North Park University

Chicago, IL · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 8.79
Net price: $16,948
Earnings 10y: $59,572
Acceptance: 68.5%

#22

Chicago State University

Chicago, IL · Public

ROI score: 8.67
Net price: $12,335
Earnings 10y: $42,778
Acceptance: 43.3%

#23

Illinois State University

Normal, IL · Public

ROI score: 8.01
Net price: $19,398
Earnings 10y: $62,117
Acceptance: 88.2%

#24

Aurora University

Aurora, IL · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 7.79
Net price: $18,838
Earnings 10y: $58,709
Acceptance: 80.9%

#25

Bradley University

Peoria, IL · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 7.36
Net price: $22,719
Earnings 10y: $66,852
Acceptance: 76.8%

How we picked this list

This list starts with Illinois schools with positive Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing program-share evidence, then sorts by EduGradify's school-wide ROI proxy: ten-year median earnings weighed against average net price. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 12.75 (18 public, 7 private).

Every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. See our full methodology for the formulas.

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, IL tops this ranking. EduGradify value grade is A+.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by roi score using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.

How many Illinois colleges are in this list?

42 Illinois colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.

What does net price mean here?

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.