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Illinois Nursing At a Glance
| Metric |
Detail |
| Median Nursing Salary |
$125,883 |
| Salary Outlook |
Illinois offers competitive wages for nursing professionals, reflected in the state-specific Bureau of Labor Statistics median salaries shown below. |
| Primary Licensing Body |
Illinois Board of Nursing |
| Accreditation Required |
Institutional + Regional |
Earning an online nursing degree in Illinois offers a flexible path into nursing careers. Illinois offers competitive wages for nursing professionals, reflected in the state-specific Bureau of Labor Statistics median salaries shown below. Whether you’re looking for an affordable in-state option or a nationally available program, Illinois students have access to a variety of accredited online choices that balance quality and cost.
Online Nursing Schools in Illinois
The following schools offer accredited online nursing programs and are ranked based on affordability, graduation rates, and student outcomes in Illinois.
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:
BOCSCORE
- 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.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Graduation rate
96%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$86,331
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
90%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$72,850
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
83%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$75,194
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
97%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$84,522
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
82%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$70,871
Avg net price
$28,199/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 82%
- Programs offered: 41
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$55,700
Avg net price
$19,125/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 80%
- Programs offered: 45
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
57%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$54,794
Avg net price
$22,436/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 68%
- Programs offered: 28
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Career Outlook and Salaries in Illinois
Nursing professionals in Illinois experience a dynamic job market with competitive wages. Below are the median annual salaries for key roles in the field, based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data for Illinois.
| Occupation |
Median Annual Salary (Illinois) |
| 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: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Why Pursue an Online Nursing Degree in Illinois?
Choosing a program in Illinois can provide several advantages:
- In-State Tuition: Many public universities in Illinois offer lower tuition rates for residents, even for online programs.
- Local Networking: Attending a school within your state can make it easier to connect with local employers and professional organizations.
- Licensing Alignment: Local nursing programs are designed to meet Illinois Board of Nursing requirements, facilitating your path to RN or APRN licensure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are online nursing programs in Illinois accredited?
The schools in our directory hold institutional accreditation from agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education - that is a condition of inclusion. Verify any specific school and program in the Department’s DAPIP database before enrolling.
How does Nursing pay in Illinois compare to other states?
Illinois offers competitive wages for nursing professionals, reflected in the state-specific Bureau of Labor Statistics median salaries shown below. This makes Illinois a strong choice for students looking to maximize their ROI after graduation.
What is the primary licensing board for nursing in Illinois?
The Illinois Board of Nursing oversees professional standards and licensure for the field in Illinois. Most accredited programs are designed to align with their specific requirements.
Online Nursing Programs by City in Illinois
Explore city-level guides with local salary data and school options:
Addison ·
Algonquin ·
Alton ·
Arlington Heights ·
Aurora ·
Bartlett ·
Batavia ·
Belleville ·
Belvidere ·
Berwyn ·
Bloomingdale ·
Bloomington ·
Blue Island ·
Bolingbrook ·
Braidwood ·
Buffalo Grove ·
Burbank ·
Calumet City ·
Carbondale ·
Carol Stream ·
Carpentersville ·
Champaign ·
Charleston ·
Chicago ·
Chicago Heights ·
Cicero ·
Collinsville ·
Crest Hill ·
Crystal Lake ·
Danville ·
Darien ·
Decatur ·
DeKalb ·
Des Plaines ·
Dolton ·
Downers Grove ·
East Moline ·
East Peoria ·
East Saint Louis ·
Edwardsville ·
Elgin ·
Elk Grove Village ·
Elmhurst ·
Elmwood Park ·
Evanston ·
Freeport ·
Galesburg ·
Geneva ·
Glen Ellyn ·
Glendale Heights ·
Glenview ·
Granite City ·
Grayslake ·
Gurnee ·
Hanover Park ·
Harvey ·
Highland Park ·
Hoffman Estates ·
Homer Glen ·
Huntley ·
Jacksonville ·
Joliet ·
Kankakee ·
Lake in the Hills ·
Lansing ·
Libertyville ·
Lisle ·
Lockport ·
Lombard ·
Loves Park ·
Machesney Park ·
Maywood ·
McHenry ·
Melrose Park ·
Mokena ·
Moline ·
Morton Grove ·
Mount Prospect ·
Mundelein ·
Naperville ·
New Lenox ·
Niles ·
Normal ·
North Chicago ·
Northbrook ·
O ·
Oak Forest ·
Oak Lawn ·
Oak Park ·
Orland Park ·
Oswego ·
Ottawa ·
Palatine ·
Park Forest ·
Park Ridge ·
Pekin ·
Peoria ·
Peru ·
Plainfield ·
Quincy ·
Rock Island ·
Rockford ·
Rolling Meadows ·
Romeoville ·
Roselle ·
Round Lake Beach ·
Schaumburg ·
Skokie ·
South Elgin ·
South Holland ·
Springfield ·
Saint Charles ·
Sterling ·
Streamwood ·
Tinley Park ·
Urbana ·
Vernon Hills ·
Villa Park ·
Waukegan ·
West Chicago ·
Westmont ·
Wheaton ·
Wheeling ·
Wilmette ·
Woodridge ·
Woodstock ·
Zion
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