2025 Best Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Illinois
Ranked #2 in popularity,
nursing is one of the most sought-after master's degree programs in the nation. So, there are lots of possibilities to explore when you're trying to determine where you want to get your degree.
For its 2025 ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools in Illinois to determine which ones were the best for nursing students pursuing a master's degree. Combined, these schools handed out 4,254 master's degrees in nursing to qualified students.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
Choosing a Great Nursing School for Your Master's Degree
The nursing master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality nursing program can vary widely even among the top schools. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:
Overall Quality Is a Must
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
Average Early-Career Salaries
Average early-career salary of those graduating with their master's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. After all, your master's degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.
Other Factors We Consider
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
- Major Focus - How much a school focuses on nursing students vs. other majors.
- Major Demand - The number of nursing students who choose to seek a master's degree at the school.
- Educational Resources - The amount of money and other resources allocated to students while they are pursuing their degree. These resources include such things as number of students per instructor and education expenditures per student.
- Student Debt - How easy is it for nursing to pay back their student loans after receiving their master's degree.
- Accreditation - Whether a school is regionally accredited and/or accredited by a recognized nursing related body.
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for nursing students working on their master's degree.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Nursing Master's Degree Schools in Illinois ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
Best Schools for Master’s Students to Study Nursing in Illinois
Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for nursing students seeking a a master's degree.
10 Top Illinois Schools for a Master's in Nursing
Loyola University Chicago is a good decision for students interested in a master's degree in nursing. Located in the large city of Chicago, Loyola Chicago is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.
Those nursing students who get their master's degree from Loyola University Chicago receive $3,750 more than the average nursing grad.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Loyola University Chicago
Chamberlain University - Illinois is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting a master's degree in nursing. Chamberlain - Illinois is a very large private for-profit university located in the large suburb of Addison.
Soon after graduating, nursing master's recipients generally make about $104,394 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Chamberlain University - Illinois
Every student who is interested in a master's degree in nursing needs to take a look at University of Illinois at Chicago. UIC is a very large public university located in the city of Chicago.
Students who graduate with their master's from the nursing program state that they receive average early career income of $79,653.
More information about a master’s in nursing from University of Illinois at Chicago
It's hard to beat Bradley University if you wish to pursue a master's degree in nursing. Located in the midsize city of Peoria, Bradley is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population.
Students who graduate with their master's from the nursing program report average early career wages of $105,021.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Bradley University
Located in the suburb of Joliet, University of Saint Francis is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.
Those nursing students who get their master's degree from University of St Francis earn $7,352 more than the typical nursing graduate.
More information about a master’s in nursing from University of St Francis
Located in the small suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.
Students who graduate with their master's from the nursing program state that they receive average early career income of $102,373.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Olivet Nazarene University
Located in the city of Chicago, Rush University is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.
After graduation, nursing master's recipients typically make an average of $81,862 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Rush University
Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, SIUE is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in nursing from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis is a private not-for-profit university with a moderately-sized student population.
Soon after graduating, nursing master's recipients usually earn an average of $103,365 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Lewis University
Located in the midsize suburb of Normal, Illinois State is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Nursing master's degree recipients from Illinois State University receive an earnings boost of around $2,985 above the typical earnings of nursing graduates.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Illinois State University
