Chicago is one of the best cities in the country to study nursing. Not because of the skyline because of the hospitals. The city is home to Rush University Medical Center, Northwestern Memorial, University of Chicago Medicine, and Advocate Health, among others. That means clinical placement opportunities that most cities simply can’t match.
But access to great hospitals only matters if you’re at a school that knows how to use them. Not every nursing program in Chicago is worth your time or tuition. NCLEX pass rates vary dramatically across programs and that number tells you more about a school’s quality than any brochure will.
This guide covers the top nursing schools in Chicago, what each one is actually strong at, and the data you need to make a real decision. If you’re also weighing how to prepare for the TEAS before applying, Testavia covers what to expect from the ATI TEAS exam and TEAS Science questions in detail.
What to Look for in a Chicago Nursing School
Before the school list, here’s what actually matters when comparing programs:
NCLEX pass rate is the single most honest measure of how well a program prepares its graduates. A school with a 93% first-time pass rate is doing something right. A school with a 70% pass rate should raise questions regardless of how the marketing reads.
Accreditation is non-negotiable. Look for CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education) accreditation for BSN and graduate programs, and ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing) for ADN programs. Illinois has over 89 nursing programs — 31 accredited by CCNE and 44 by ACEN. Attending an accredited program ensures you receive a high-quality education and can transfer credits between institutions.
Clinical placement — find out where students do their clinicals and how placements are arranged. Hospitals matter. A program that places students at Level I trauma centers gives you a different education than one placing at outpatient clinics.
Program fit — BSN, ABSN, ADN, MSN, direct-entry. The right program depends on where you’re starting from and where you want to go.
1. University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) — Best for Value and Research
UIC’s College of Nursing is the strongest public nursing program in Illinois and one of the most respected in the country. UIC is consistently among the top ten nursing schools nationwide by National Institutes of Health research funding, with three specialty programs frequently ranked in the top tier by U.S. News & World Report: family nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology nurse practitioner, and nursing administration.
For Illinois residents, it’s also the most affordable option on this list by a significant margin.
Programs offered: BSN, Online RN-to-BSN, MSN for non-RNs, DNP In-state tuition: ~$11,178/year Out-of-state tuition: ~$26,200/year NCLEX pass rate: 88.9%
The NCLEX rate looks lower than some peers but context matters. UIC accepts a diverse student body and enrolls significantly more students than smaller private programs. The research infrastructure, clinical network across six Illinois campuses, and in-state affordability make it a standout choice for Illinois residents. Some first-year students can receive guaranteed admission into the College of Nursing, meaning you could know you’re on the nursing track before you even start your freshman year.
Best for: Illinois residents who want a research-strong, affordable program with strong graduate school pathways.
2. Rush University — Best for Graduate Entry and Clinical Immersion
Rush University Medical Center is one of the top hospitals in the Midwest. And the College of Nursing sits inside it. That’s not a minor detail — it means nursing students do their clinical training in the same building where they learn, working alongside practicing nurses from day one.
Programs offered: MENP (Master’s Entry in Nursing Practice), MSN, DNP, PhD Tuition: Graduate-entry MSN programs run approximately $90,000 total program cost NCLEX pass rate: 92.8%
Rush doesn’t offer a traditional four-year BSN. Its standout program is the Master’s Entry in Nursing Practice, a graduate-entry option designed for students who hold a bachelor’s degree in any non-nursing field. It’s intensive, expensive, and produces nurses with both an RN license and a master’s degree.
The faculty model is worth noting: Rush uses a teacher-practitioner approach, meaning instructors are actively practicing clinicians. The content you learn in the classroom reflects what’s happening in the hospital right now not what was happening a decade ago.
Best for: Career changers with a bachelor’s degree who want to enter nursing at the master’s level and don’t mind the tuition.
3. Loyola University Chicago — Best for Ethics-Centered, Well-Rounded Education
The Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing at Loyola sits inside one of the most well-regarded Jesuit universities in the country. The program is academically rigorous and places a deliberate emphasis on ethics, social justice, and patient advocacy alongside clinical competency.
Programs offered: BSN, Accelerated BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP Tuition: ~$50,270/year (in-state and out-of-state) NCLEX pass rate: 91.5%
Loyola students have clinical access to Loyola Medicine and a broad network of Chicago-area hospitals. The program’s multiple entry pathways make it accessible to traditional students, career changers, and working nurses looking to advance.
The school recently received a $4 million donation designated for scholarships for students from diverse backgrounds which matters practically for prospective students exploring financial aid options.
Best for: Students who want a values-driven nursing education with strong clinical placements and multiple program pathways.
4. DePaul University — Best for Accelerated Combined Degrees
DePaul is the largest Catholic university in the United States, and its nursing school takes a different structural approach than most. There’s no traditional four-year BSN here.
Programs offered: Five-year BS/MSN combined, RN-to-MSN Tuition: ~$43,665/year NCLEX pass rate: 94.7%
That NCLEX pass rate is the highest on this list and it reflects a program that produces well-prepared graduates. DePaul’s flagship offering is a five-year combined BS in Health Sciences and MSN, which takes students from undergraduate study to graduate-level licensure and specialty certification in one continuous program. No stopping at a BSN and deciding later whether to continue.
The RN-to-MSN track is also worth knowing about. Working nurses who already have their RN license can skip the BSN entirely and pursue a master’s degree directly saving both time and tuition.
Best for: Students who know from the start that they want to pursue advanced practice and want to get there in one continuous program.
5. Saint Xavier University — Best Consistent NCLEX Performance
Saint Xavier has been training nurses longer than almost any other institution in Illinois. It was the first school of nursing in the state, and it’s been designated an Institute of Excellence by the National League for Nursing, a recognition that reflects sustained program quality, not just a strong year.
Programs offered: Traditional BSN, Second-degree BSN, Online RN-to-BSN Tuition: ~$35,680/year NCLEX pass rate: 93.6%
The South Side location gives students access to a diverse patient population for clinical training, which is genuinely valuable preparation for the realities of nursing practice. Saint Anthony, a close affiliate in the Illinois Catholic nursing tradition has maintained a 97% NCLEX pass rate over the past decade, including a 99% pass rate in three of the last six years. Saint Xavier’s consistent 93%+ rates reflect that same culture of preparation.
Best for: Students who want a smaller, community-oriented environment with a long track record of producing NCLEX-ready graduates.
6. Chamberlain University — Best for Flexibility and Access
Chamberlain operates differently than the other schools on this list. It’s the largest school of nursing in the country with a community of more than 177,000 students, faculty and alumni and the Chicago campus graduates hundreds of new nurses annually, by far the largest prelicensure BSN program in the state.
Programs offered: BSN (3-year accelerated), Online RN-to-BSN, MSN (fully online), DNP Tuition: Varies by program; competitive with private schools NCLEX pass rate: ~84% (10-year average)
The NCLEX rate is lower than Loyola, DePaul, or Saint Xavier. But Chamberlain serves a different student population larger, more diverse, with more non-traditional and working students. The three-year BSN with summer study is designed to accelerate timelines without the intensity of a traditional ABSN. The fully online MSN is one of the more flexible graduate options in the Chicago market.
Chamberlain offers BSN programs online and has a long history of successfully delivering quality nursing education at scale. If flexibility and access are your priorities over prestige, it’s a legitimate option.
Best for: Non-traditional students, working adults, and students who need online or hybrid program options.
Side-by-Side Comparison
How to Choose Between Them
The school that’s right for you depends on three things: your current education level, your budget, and your long-term career goal.
If you’re an Illinois resident starting from scratch and want the most affordable accredited BSN, UIC is the answer. If you already have a bachelor’s degree and want to reach advanced practice, Rush or DePaul makes more sense. If you need flexibility and work full-time, Chamberlain is worth a serious look.
Don’t choose based on reputation alone. Check each school’s current NCLEX pass rates directly through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation those numbers are published annually and are the most honest indicator of how well a program prepares its graduates.
And whichever school you choose, the path ends at the same place: the NCLEX. Illinois nursing programs have NCLEX pass rates ranging from 16.67% to 100% which makes choosing an accredited program with a strong track record one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Start preparing early. Testavia’s NCLEX practice resources are built specifically for nursing graduates who want to study smart, not just more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most BSN programs require the ATI TEAS as part of the admissions process. Requirements vary by school always check directly with the program.
DePaul University leads on this list at 94.7%, followed by Saint Xavier at 93.6% and Rush at 92.8%.
Yes. An ADN from an accredited community college qualifies you to sit for the NCLEX-RN. Many community colleges in the Chicago metro area offer ADN programs at a fraction of BSN tuition.
Competitive programs like UIC and Rush have selective admissions. GPA, prerequisite grades, healthcare experience, and entrance exam scores all factor in.
A traditional BSN takes four years. An ADN takes two to three years. Accelerated BSN programs for students with a prior bachelor’s degree run 12 to 18 months. Direct-entry MSN programs at Rush or DePaul take roughly two to three years.
Most competitive programs in Chicago expect a minimum 3.0 GPA, with the strongest applicants holding 3.5 or higher. Prerequisite course grades especially in anatomy, physiology and microbiology often carry more weight than overall GPA.
Yes. Loyola, UIC and Saint Xavier all offer nursing-specific scholarships. State and federal aid is also available, including the Illinois Nurse Educator Loan Repayment program for students who commit to teaching in Illinois nursing schools after graduation.
It depends on the program. ADN and traditional BSN students often work part-time, especially as CNAs or patient care techs. Accelerated BSN and MENP students at Rush or Loyola are typically advised against working given the program intensity. Online RN-to-BSN students almost always work full-time alongside coursework.
Getting ready for TEAS admission requirements? Testavia has practice tools built for nursing students who need to prepare efficiently before nursing school applications.
I appreciate the breakdown of the top nursing schools in Chicago. It’s crucial for prospective nursing students to weigh factors like NCLEX pass rates and the diversity of programs offered. How do the schools in this guide support students with hands-on clinical experience?