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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Nursing (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois

30 Ranked Colleges
12,042 Degrees Awarded
$61,003 Avg Salary
Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor's in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 313,362 nursing students received their degree, making the major the 3rd most popular in the country. 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 bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 12,042 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,319 and $24,183 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 30 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in nursing. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality nursing programs that also have a lower cost than 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.

More Ways to Rank Nursing Schools

The nursing school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Nursing (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois

Out of the 30 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #1 spot on the list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s nursing degrees to 237 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Chicago is $13,683 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at University of Illinois at Chicago

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 485 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

SIUE also made our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $13,705 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Nursing at SIUE

#3

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Out of the 30 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northern Illinois University landed the #3 spot on the list. Northern Illinois University is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 159 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $18,346 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Northern Illinois University.

Read full report on Nursing at NIU

#4

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Governors State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k. Governors State University is a small public school situated in University Park, Illinois. It awarded 42 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

GSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for GSU is $11,872 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full GSU Nursing Report

#5

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Eastern Illinois University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k. Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 bachelors’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $13,560 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend EIU.

Read full report on Nursing at EIU

#6

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #6, Saint Xavier University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. SXU is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 144 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

SXU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $14,907 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend SXU.

Read more about Nursing at Saint Xavier University

#7

Aurora University

Aurora, Illinois

Aurora University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #7. Aurora is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Aurora, Illinois. It awarded 184 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Aurora also made our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend Aurora is $15,881 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Aurora University Nursing Report

#8

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois

University of St Francis landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Joliet, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 112 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

University of Saint Francis also made our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for University of St Francis is $14,220 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at University of Saint Francis

#9

Quincy University

Quincy, Illinois

Quincy University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This small school is located in Quincy, Illinois, and it awarded 41 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Quincy University is $16,717 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Nursing at Quincy U

#10

Lewis University

Romeoville, Illinois

Lewis University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Lewis University is located in Romeoville, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 121 bachelors’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Lewis not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $16,489 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Lewis University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at Lewis University

#11

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

With a ranking of #11, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Illinois State is located in Normal, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 183 bachelors’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $48-$75k list, Illinois State has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State University is $19,080 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at Illinois State

#12

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois

Olivet Nazarene University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Bourbonnais, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s nursing degrees to 152 students in 2019-2020.

Olivet Nazarene also took the #17 spot in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $17,841 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Olivet Nazarene University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Olivet Nazarene Nursing Report

#13

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

Western Illinois University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. WIU is located in Macomb, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 26 bachelors’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for WIU is $15,912 for illinois bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Nursing at WIU

#14

Concordia University, Chicago

River Forest, Illinois

With a ranking of #14, Concordia University, Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. This medium-sized school is located in River Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Concordia University, Chicago is $17,295 for illinois bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Nursing at Concordia University, Chicago

#15

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois

Elmhurst University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Elmhurst University is a small school located in Elmhurst, Illinois that handed out 64 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Elmhurst also made our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $19,703 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Elmhurst.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at Elmhurst

#16

Millikin University

Decatur, Illinois

With a ranking of #16, Millikin University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Millikin is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Decatur, Illinois. It awarded 45 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Millikin also made our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #22. The estimated yearly cost for Millikin University is $20,390 for illinois bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Nursing at Millikin University

#17

North Park University

Chicago, Illinois

North Park University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. North Park University is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 73 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

North Park not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $18,813 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend North Park University.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full North Park Nursing Report

#18

Dominican University

River Forest, Illinois

Dominican University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in River Forest, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 51 degrees to qualified bachelors’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

Dominican U also took the #18 spot in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Dominican U is $18,582 for illinois bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Nursing at Dominican U

#19

Chicago State University

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago State University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s nursing degrees to 38 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Chicago State University is $10,023 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Nursing at Chicago State University

#20

McKendree University

Lebanon, Illinois

With a ranking of #20, McKendree University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. McKendree is located in Lebanon, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 55 bachelors’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at McKendree, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend McKendree University is $19,851 for illinois bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full McKendree University Nursing Report

#21

Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights, Illinois

Trinity Christian College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Trinity Christian is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Palos Heights, Illinois. It awarded 26 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Trinity Christian did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Trinity Christian is $20,888 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Trinity Christian College Nursing Report

#22

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois

With a ranking of #22, Bradley University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Peoria, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s nursing degrees to 89 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Bradley, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $22,865 for illinois bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Bradley University.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Bradley Nursing Report

#23

Roosevelt University

Chicago, Illinois

Roosevelt University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Roosevelt is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 bachelors’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Roosevelt is $21,870 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Nursing at Roosevelt University

Chamberlain University - Illinois ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Addison, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out bachelors’s nursing degrees to 7,888 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $48-$75k list, Chamberlain - Illinois has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $26,389 for illinois bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Chamberlain - Illinois.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at Chamberlain - Illinois

#25

Rockford University

Rockford, Illinois

Rockford University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #25. Rockford University is a small school located in Rockford, Illinois that handed out 57 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Rockford is $19,975 for illinois bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Rockford University Nursing Report

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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.

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