2025 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois
Nursing is of the hottest associate degree programs in the United States, coming in as the #2 most popular major in the country. So, there are lots of possibilities to explore when you're trying to determine where you want to get your degree.
College Factual reviewed 40 schools in Illinois to determine which ones were the best for associate degree seekers in the field of nursing. Combined, these schools handed out 3,116 associate degrees in nursing to qualified students.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
Choosing a Great Nursing School for Your Associate Degree
The nursing associate 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
The overall quality of a associate degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges 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
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving their associate degree from the school. After all, your associate 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 associate 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 much debt nursing students go into to obtain their associate degree and how well they are able to pay back that debt.
- Accreditation - Whether a school is regionally accredited and/or accredited by a recognized nursing related body.
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for nursing students working on their associate 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 Associate Degree Schools in Illinois ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
Best Schools for Associate Students to Study Nursing in Illinois
Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing an associate degree in nursing.
10 Top Illinois Schools for an Associate in Nursing
Rasmussen University - Illinois is one of the best schools in the United States for getting an associate degree in nursing. Rasmussen University - Illinois is a small private for-profit university located in the medium-sized city of Rockford.
Students who graduate with their associate from the nursing program report average early career income of $68,119.
More information about a associate in nursing from Rasmussen University - Illinois
College of Lake County is one of the best schools in the country for getting an associate degree in nursing. College of Lake County is a large public college located in the suburb of Grayslake.
Associate recipients from the nursing degree program at College of Lake County earn $6,126 above the typical graduate in this field shortly after graduation.
More information about a associate in nursing from College of Lake County
Lincoln Land Community College is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting an associate degree in nursing. Located in the rural area of Springfield, LLCC is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Students who graduate with their associate from the nursing program report average early career wages of $66,279.
More information about a associate in nursing from Lincoln Land Community College
Every student pursuing a degree in an associate degree in nursing has to check out Elgin Community College. Located in the medium-sized city of Elgin, ECC is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Those nursing students who get their associate degree from Elgin Community College receive $5,375 more than the average nursing student.
More information about a associate in nursing from Elgin Community College
Harper College is a large public college located in the suburb of Palatine.
Those nursing students who get their associate degree from William Rainey Harper College earn $4,583 more than the average nursing graduate.
More information about a associate in nursing from William Rainey Harper College
Located in the suburb of East Peoria, ICC is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Associate graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program make around $65,741 in their early career salary.
More information about a associate in nursing from Illinois Central College
Located in the large city of Chicago, Malcolm X College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Those nursing students who get their associate degree from City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College earn $3,740 more than the average nursing student.
More information about a associate in nursing from City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College
COD is a very large public college located in the large suburb of Glen Ellyn.
Those nursing students who get their associate degree from College of DuPage receive $2,759 more than the standard nursing graduate.
More information about a associate in nursing from College of DuPage
Located in the rural area of Sugar Grove, Waubonsee is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Associate graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program make an average of $66,440 in their early career salary.
More information about a associate in nursing from Waubonsee Community College
Located in the small city of Kankakee, Kankakee Community College is a public college with a small student population.
Soon after graduating, nursing associate recipients usually make around $66,261 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a associate in nursing from Kankakee Community College