Best Online Nursing Programs in Chicago, IL (2026)
Chicago, Illinois has a population of about 2,707,648. The city’s median household income is $75,134 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 43.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 82 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Chicago, with tuition ranging from $14,338 to $29,360 per year for indexed programs. In the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Practitioner at a median $131,690 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Nursing Schools to Chicago
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 82 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near Chicago. Distances are calculated from Chicago city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rush University | Chicago, IL | 2.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College | Chicago, IL | 2.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago, IL | 3.0 mi | $14,338 - $29,360 | – |
| Morton College | Cicero, IL | 4.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| DePaul University | Chicago, IL | 4.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Roosevelt University | Chicago, IL | 4.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| MDT College of Health Sciences | Chicago, IL | 4.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Concordia University-Chicago | River Forest, IL | 7.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Dominican University | River Forest, IL | 8.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Northwestern College | Oak Lawn, IL | 8.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near Chicago
Chicago is part of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (BLS area code 16980). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Illinois statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $96,480 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $93,127 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $72,920 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $70,386 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | N/A | IL statewide | – |
| Nurse Midwife | $110,090 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $106,264 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $131,690 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $127,114 |
| Nursing Assistant | $46,050 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $44,450 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Chicago at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,707,648 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $75,134 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 43.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 103.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Nursing-related employment in Cook County | 166,621 workers, 764 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Chicago-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- Cicero, IL – 3.8 mi away (82,992 pop)
- Berwyn, IL – 5.4 mi away (55,748 pop)
- Oak Park, IL – 6.4 mi away (51,774 pop)
- Burbank, IL – 7.7 mi away (28,886 pop)
- Maywood, IL – 8.6 mi away (23,756 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing schools are near Chicago, IL?
Our directory has 82 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Chicago. The closest is Rush University in Chicago, IL (2.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Northwestern College (8.5 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Chicago?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Chicago are: Nurse Practitioner ($131,690), Nurse Midwife ($110,090), Registered Nurse ($96,480). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Illinois statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Cicero instead of Chicago?
Cicero, IL is 3.8 miles from Chicago and has its own set of local nursing programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Chicago an affordable place to study nursing?
Chicago’s median household income of $75,134 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Chicago while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Illinois public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Related Resources
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.