2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.
Nursing is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 3rd of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 313,362 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, nursing graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $67,065 and had an average of $26,282 in loans still to pay off.
Across Illinois, there were 21,261 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $67,215 and $24,483 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 2,943 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,469 and $14,548 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 39 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in nursing. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent nursing programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the nursing program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois associate degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Moraine Valley Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Moraine Valley Community College is located in Palos Hills, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 89 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at MVCC, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for MVCC is $340 for illinois associate degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 154 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Malcolm X College, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $3,251 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Waubonsee Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Sugar Grove, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 88 diplomas to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our illinois associate degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k list, Waubonsee has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Waubonsee is $2,818 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.
Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Elgin Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Elgin, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 99 degrees to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.
ECC also made our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for ECC is $2,384 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Joliet Junior College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Joliet, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 157 diplomas to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.
Joliet Junior College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Joliet Junior College is $4,699 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.
College of Lake County came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Grayslake, Illinois, and it awarded 70 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at College of Lake County, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $3,742 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend College of Lake County.
College of DuPage came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, this large public school awarded 110 diplomas to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.
COD also made our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for COD is $5,478 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.
Oakton Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Des Plaines, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 88 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Oakton Community College, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $5,195 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oakton Community College.
William Rainey Harper College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. William Rainey Harper College is located in Palatine, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 105 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
Harper College also made our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $5,913 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Harper College.
Illinois Valley Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Oglesby, Illinois, this small public school handed out 61 degrees to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.
IVCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $4,715 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend IVCC.
Triton College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in River Grove, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 44 degrees to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.
Triton College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Triton College is $4,546 for illinois associate degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.
Carl Sandburg College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Carl Sandburg College is located in Galesburg, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 54 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
Carl Sandburg College also took the #25 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Carl Sandburg College is $1,986 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.
Black Hawk College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Moline, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 51 students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $3,234 for illinois associate degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Black Hawk College.
With a ranking of #14, Lake Land College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Mattoon, Illinois, this small public school handed out 77 degrees to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Lake Land College is $2,857 for illinois associate degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.
Lincoln Land Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. LLCC is located in Springfield, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 85 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at LLCC, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lincoln Land Community College is $3,915 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.
Danville Area Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. Danville Area Community College is a small school located in Danville, Illinois that handed out 51 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Danville Area Community College is $4,416 for illinois associate degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.
Kankakee Community College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Kankakee, Illinois, and it awarded 46 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
Kankakee Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $5,202 for illinois associate degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Kankakee Community College.
South Suburban College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. SSC is located in South Holland, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $3,866 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend South Suburban College.
Kishwaukee College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Kishwaukee College is a public institution located in Malta, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 59 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our illinois associate degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k list, Kishwaukee College has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Kishwaukee College is $3,500 for illinois associate degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.
Richland Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Richland Community College is a public institution located in Decatur, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 45 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Richland Community College also made our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #24. The yearly cost to attend Richland Community College is $4,116 for illinois associate degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a ranking of #21, Morton College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Morton College is a public institution located in Cicero, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 77 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our illinois associate degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k list, Morton College has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $3,351 for illinois associate degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Morton College.
Lewis and Clark Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lewis and Clark Community College is a small school located in Godfrey, Illinois that handed out 81 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $2,719 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lewis and Clark Community College.
Read more about Nursing at Lewis and Clark Community College
Illinois Central College landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in East Peoria, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 90 degrees to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.
ICC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend ICC is $7,656 for Illinois Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.
Highland Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. This small school is located in Freeport, Illinois, and it awarded 41 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Highland Community College is $5,506 for illinois associate degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.
Southwestern Illinois College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. This medium-sized school is located in Belleville, Illinois, and it awarded 80 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend SWIC is $5,506 for illinois associate degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.
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