# Best Online Nursing Programs in Illinois

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-06-07 | Schools: 46 | Category: Online
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-online-nursing-illinois

## Methodology

Online Nursing programs in Illinois ranked by outcomes

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [University of St Francis](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-st-francis) | Joliet, IL | 66% | $63,926 | $13,006 | $21,079 | 0.33x |
| 2 | [University of Illinois Springfield](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-illinois-springfield) | Springfield, IL | 57% | $57,103 | $9,833 | $19,128 | 0.33x |
| 3 | [National Louis University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/national-louis-university) | Chicago, IL | 33% | $45,799 | $12,641 | $19,750 | 0.43x |
| 4 | [McKendree University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mckendree-university) | Lebanon, IL | 57% | $58,572 | $24,717 | $23,250 | 0.4x |
| 5 | [Governors State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/governors-state-university) | University Park, IL | 21% | $58,169 | $12,329 | $18,618 | 0.32x |
| 6 | [Aurora University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/aurora-university) | Aurora, IL | 59% | $58,709 | $18,838 | $20,318 | 0.35x |
| 7 | [Blackburn College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/blackburn-college) | Carlinville, IL | 55% | $46,802 | $18,460 | $24,242 | 0.52x |
| 8 | [Olivet Nazarene University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/olivet-nazarene-university) | Bourbonnais, IL | 61% | $53,213 | $20,729 | $25,000 | 0.47x |
| 9 | [Benedictine University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/benedictine-university) | Lisle, IL | 51% | $63,446 | $22,313 | $22,500 | 0.35x |
| 10 | [Carl Sandburg College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/carl-sandburg-college) | Galesburg, IL | 45% | $35,274 | $3,662 | $4,909 | 0.14x |
| 11 | [Concordia University-Chicago](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/concordia-university-chicago) | River Forest, IL | 41% | $54,089 | $18,436 | $23,000 | 0.43x |
| 12 | [John Wood Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/john-wood-community-college) | Quincy, IL | 48% | $38,631 | $7,050 | $8,029 | 0.21x |
| 13 | [Southern Illinois University Edwardsville](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southern-illinois-university-edwardsville) | Edwardsville, IL | 56% | $56,346 | $14,889 | $20,500 | 0.36x |
| 14 | [Lewis University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lewis-university) | Romeoville, IL | 65% | $66,099 | $17,028 | $21,500 | 0.33x |
| 15 | [Western Illinois University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-illinois-university) | Macomb, IL | 45% | $54,163 | $12,937 | $25,251 | 0.47x |
| 16 | [DePaul University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/depaul-university) | Chicago, IL | 69% | $68,751 | $30,902 | $23,168 | 0.34x |
| 17 | [Waubonsee Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/waubonsee-community-college) | Sugar Grove, IL | 40% | $44,788 | $11,442 | $7,000 | 0.16x |
| 18 | [College of DuPage](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/college-of-dupage) | Glen Ellyn, IL | 25% | $46,909 | $7,401 | $10,410 | 0.22x |
| 19 | [Southern Illinois University-Carbondale](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southern-illinois-university-carbondale) | Carbondale, IL | 59% | $53,390 | $13,297 | $21,543 | 0.4x |
| 20 | [University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-illinois-urbana-champaign) | Champaign, IL | 85% | $81,054 | $14,355 | $19,500 | 0.24x |
| 21 | [Bradley University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bradley-university) | Peoria, IL | 74% | $66,852 | $22,719 | $27,000 | 0.4x |
| 22 | [Rock Valley College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rock-valley-college) | Rockford, IL | 38% | $39,158 | $5,242 | $8,500 | 0.22x |
| 23 | [Rockford University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rockford-university) | Rockford, IL | 43% | $54,794 | $22,436 | $22,274 | 0.41x |
| 24 | [Northern Illinois University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northern-illinois-university) | Dekalb, IL | 49% | $57,808 | $13,391 | $22,162 | 0.38x |
| 25 | [Chicago State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/chicago-state-university) | Chicago, IL | 16% | $42,778 | $12,335 | $30,625 | 0.72x |
| 26 | [Danville Area Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/danville-area-community-college) | Danville, IL | 41% | $34,867 | $4,777 | $7,218 | 0.21x |
| 27 | [Dominican University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dominican-university) | River Forest, IL | 59% | $60,327 | $11,745 | $24,411 | 0.4x |
| 28 | [Eastern Illinois University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/eastern-illinois-university) | Charleston, IL | 46% | $51,989 | $12,786 | $21,500 | 0.41x |
| 29 | [City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/city-colleges-of-chicago-wilbur-wright-college) | Chicago, IL | 32% | $41,625 | $6,375 | $6,500 | 0.16x |
| 30 | [Northeastern Illinois University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northeastern-illinois-university) | Chicago, IL | 18% | $52,234 | $14,109 | $14,600 | 0.28x |
| 31 | [Elmhurst University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/elmhurst-university) | Elmhurst, IL | 68% | $61,462 | $24,185 | $20,489 | 0.33x |
| 32 | [Illinois College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/illinois-college) | Jacksonville, IL | 63% | $52,575 | $18,298 | $25,565 | 0.49x |
| 33 | [University of Illinois Chicago](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-illinois-chicago) | Chicago, IL | 61% | $68,740 | $10,974 | $16,704 | 0.24x |
| 34 | [Methodist College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/methodist-college) | Peoria, IL | 62% | $69,800 | $41,787 | $31,250 | 0.45x |
| 35 | [Saint Xavier University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-xavier-university) | Chicago, IL | 58% | $58,656 | $10,970 | $22,223 | 0.38x |
| 36 | [Morton College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/morton-college) | Cicero, IL | 30% | $42,406 | $5,191 | $8,000 | 0.19x |
| 37 | [Loyola University Chicago](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/loyola-university-chicago) | Chicago, IL | 75% | $71,530 | $36,079 | $24,157 | 0.34x |
| 38 | [North Central College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-central-college) | Naperville, IL | 68% | $60,123 | $21,044 | $24,500 | 0.41x |
| 39 | [Roosevelt University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/roosevelt-university) | Chicago, IL | 38% | $48,712 | $20,194 | $22,000 | 0.45x |
| 40 | [Illinois State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/illinois-state-university) | Normal, IL | 65% | $62,117 | $19,398 | $20,482 | 0.33x |
| 41 | [Millikin University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/millikin-university) | Decatur, IL | 57% | $51,262 | $21,989 | $27,000 | 0.53x |
| 42 | [South Suburban College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/south-suburban-college) | South Holland, IL | 26% | $33,680 | $3,242 | N/A | N/A |
| 43 | [North Park University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-park-university) | Chicago, IL | 57% | $59,572 | $16,948 | $25,500 | 0.43x |
| 44 | [John A Logan College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/john-a-logan-college) | Carterville, IL | 43% | $34,096 | $5,541 | N/A | N/A |
| 45 | [Quincy University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/quincy-university) | Quincy, IL | 44% | $50,369 | $20,359 | $24,000 | 0.48x |
| 46 | [Wheaton College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wheaton-college) | Wheaton, IL | 86% | $63,756 | $26,975 | $23,250 | 0.36x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Online Nursing Programs in Illinois." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-06-07. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-online-nursing-illinois

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.