Sauk Valley Community College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Best Online Nursing Programs in Sterling, IL (2026)
Sterling, Illinois has 5 accredited schools offering nursing programs, with tuition ranging from $4,696 to $12,397 per year for indexed programs. Sterling has a population of about 14,670. Median household income is $52,647 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 18.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Illinois, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Anesthetist at a median $286,830 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Nursing Schools to Sterling
The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near Sterling. Distances are calculated from Sterling city center.
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Sterling. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Highland Community College
Published tuition$4,696 - $12,397
Online programsYes
Kishwaukee College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Black Hawk College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Rasmussen University-Illinois
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near Sterling
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (Illinois, statewide) |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $95,990 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $75,000 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $286,830 |
| Nurse Midwife | $120,840 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $130,680 |
| Nursing Assistant | $45,960 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 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.
Sterling at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,670 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $52,647 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 18.5% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Nursing-related employment in Whiteside County | 960 workers, 27 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Sterling-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- Clinton, IA – 28.3 mi away (30,930 pop)
- Freeport, IL – 34.0 mi away (24,717 pop)
- East Moline, IL – 40.6 mi away (21,135 pop)
- Peru, IL – 42.6 mi away (30,795 pop)
- Bettendorf, IA – 43.4 mi away (35,727 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing schools are near Sterling, IL?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering nursing programs near Sterling. The closest is Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon, IL (5.2 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Rasmussen University-Illinois (44.9 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles in Illinois?
Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles in Illinois are: Nurse Anesthetist ($286,830), Nurse Practitioner ($130,680), Nurse Midwife ($120,840). Wages for Sterling workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.
Should I look at programs in Clinton instead of Sterling?
Clinton, IA is 28.3 miles from Sterling 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 Sterling an affordable place to study nursing?
Sterling’s median household income of $52,647 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Sterling 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.
Learn More About Nursing Programs
- Nursing accreditation: what to look for
- Nursing concentrations and specializations
- Is a Nursing degree worth it?
- Main Nursing degree guide
- Online Nursing programs in Illinois
- Nursing programs by state
Other Programs Available in Sterling
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Sterling:
- Criminal Justice programs in Sterling, IL
- Business Administration programs in Sterling, IL
- Computer Science programs in Sterling, IL
- Psychology programs in Sterling, IL
- Education programs in Sterling, IL
- Engineering programs in Sterling, IL
- Technology programs in Sterling, IL
- Liberal Arts programs in Sterling, IL
- Healthcare programs in Sterling, IL
- Cybersecurity programs in Sterling, IL
- Accounting programs in Sterling, IL
- Healthcare Administration programs in Sterling, IL
- Social Work programs in Sterling, IL
- Counseling programs in Sterling, IL
Related from Our Editorial Library
- Best Accredited Online Colleges (2026)
- Best Online Colleges Ranking
- Effective Learning Strategies for Online Students
Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; 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.