15 Nursing colleges in Illinois with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $66,955.
These 9 Nursing programs in Illinois aren't just accessible—they deliver results. Each school ranks in the 60th percentile or above for social mobility, meaning they actually enroll and graduate low-income students. Then we ranked them by graduate earnings, finding schools that are both accessible AND high-performing.
Loyola University Chicago leads the rankings, producing Nursing graduates earning $71,530 while maintaining a 78th percentile mobility score. At the top end, graduates earn over $71,000—demonstrating that schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes, not just access.
University of Illinois Chicago serves 50% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $68,740. The best mobility schools deliver a double win: they serve low-income students AND leave them with manageable debt. Loyola exemplifies this with a 6.3% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' affordability tier.
Earnings: $71,530 | Mobility: 78th percentile
52% Pell students with $58,169 earnings
6.3% payment burden | Excellent - payment under 8% of discretionary
14.4% family burden | Manageable - payment 12-18% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $86,331 | $18,750 | Excellent | $14,000 | Good | 62th percentile mobility | |
| #2 | Lakeview College Of NursingPrivate | $84,522 | $15,000 | Excellent | $11,500 | Excellent | 62th percentile mobility |
| #3 | $77,709 | $20,000 | Excellent | $22,283 | Good | 62th percentile mobility | |
| #4 | $72,850 | $15,000 | Excellent | $18,071 | Good | 62th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | $72,430 | $13,000 | Excellent | $14,967 | Excellent | 62th percentile mobility | |
| #6 | Loyola University ChicagoPrivate | $71,530 | $24,157 | Excellent | $54,045 | Challenging | 76th percentile mobility |
| #7 | Illinois Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | $70,871 | $27,000 | Excellent | $47,679 | Challenging | 81th percentile mobility |
| #8 | $68,740 | $16,704 | Excellent | $24,323 | Challenging | 98th percentile mobility | |
| #9 | $62,117 | $20,482 | Excellent | $28,767 | Manageable | 94th percentile mobility | |
| #10 | $58,743 | $24,000 | Excellent | $41,729 | Manageable | 76th percentile mobility | |
| #11 | $58,169 | $18,618 | Good | $13,991 | Manageable | 78th percentile mobility | |
| #12 | $57,808 | $22,162 | Good | $19,508 | Challenging | 92th percentile mobility | |
| #13 | $56,346 | $20,500 | Good | $21,500 | Challenging | 89th percentile mobility | |
| #14 | $54,163 | $25,251 | Good | $20,764 | Challenging | 70th percentile mobility | |
| #15 | $51,989 | $21,500 | Excellent | $17,781 | Manageable | 71th percentile mobility |
Our social mobility rankings answer: "Which schools deliver the best outcomes for students from low-income backgrounds?"
This is not simply "which schools admit the most low-income students" — it's which schools both serve low-income students and deliver strong earnings outcomes.
Data based on May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
