Nursing programs in Illinois produce graduates with median earnings of $74,172, significantly outpacing the national average for healthcare careers. Across 24 programs, earnings range from $63,005 to $97,713, demonstrating how program selection directly impacts career trajectories in nursing degree pathways.
Leading the list is Governors State University, achieving the highest program earnings at $97,713. Following closely are Mckendree University at $82,082 and Benedictine University at $81,995, with these top-performing BSN programs delivering exceptional graduate outcomes that justify their positioning in the rankings.
| Rank | School | Location | Earnings | Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Benedictine UniversityPrivate | Lisle, IL | $97,934 Median Nursing Earnings | $20,168 | 95.2% | 50.3% |
| #2 | Chicago State UniversityPublic | Chicago, IL | $92,024 Median Nursing Earnings | $9,073 | 43.3% | 15.5% |
| #3 | University Park, IL | $88,391 Median Nursing Earnings | $9,563 | 48.3% | 22.1% | |
| #4 | Loyola University ChicagoPrivate | Chicago, IL | $87,922 Median Nursing Earnings | $28,992 | 81.6% | 73.0% |
| #5 | University Of St FrancisPrivate | Joliet, IL | $87,383 Median Nursing Earnings | $8,547 | 65.3% | 66.8% |
| #6 | Saint Xavier UniversityPrivate | Chicago, IL | $87,170 Median Nursing Earnings | $7,572 | 84.3% | 56.6% |
| #7 | Chicago, IL | $87,037 Median Nursing Earnings | $7,529 | 77.3% | 61.6% | |
| #8 | Bradley UniversityPrivate | Peoria, IL | $86,941 Median Nursing Earnings | $17,269 | 76.8% | 76.2% |
| #9 | Macomb, IL | $86,694 Median Nursing Earnings | $6,941 | 71.2% | 45.2% | |
| #10 | North Park UniversityPrivate | Chicago, IL | $86,581 Median Nursing Earnings | $14,845 | 68.5% | 57.7% |
| #11 | Lewis UniversityPrivate | Romeoville, IL | $85,320 Median Nursing Earnings | $10,382 | 71.3% | 66.6% |
| #12 | Olivet Nazarene UniversityPrivate | Bourbonnais, IL | $84,705 Median Nursing Earnings | $17,232 | 55.9% | 60.8% |
| #13 | Illinois Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | Bloomington, IL | $84,527 Median Nursing Earnings | $17,732 | 39.3% | 74.7% |
| #14 | Aurora UniversityPrivate | Aurora, IL | $84,022 Median Nursing Earnings | $14,525 | 80.8% | 60.3% |
| #15 | Edwardsville, IL | $83,867 Median Nursing Earnings | $8,483 | 97.5% | 57.0% | |
| #16 | Lakeview College Of NursingPrivate | Danville, IL | $83,636 Median Nursing Earnings | — | — | — |
| #17 | Rock Island, IL | $82,804 Median Nursing Earnings | — | — | — | |
| #18 | Millikin UniversityPrivate | Decatur, IL | $82,200 Median Nursing Earnings | $18,659 | 66.7% | 54.9% |
| #19 | Normal, IL | $81,264 Median Nursing Earnings | $11,568 | 88.1% | 64.5% | |
| #20 | Dominican UniversityPrivate | River Forest, IL | $80,703 Median Nursing Earnings | $9,759 | 90.3% | 55.3% |
