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The nursing job market in Illinois shows that there are not enough registered nurses with an Associate’s Degree, which means that you will have plenty of opportunities if you pick this career.
Because of these current circumstances, students have plenty of opportunities to finish their education in a short time and to become a part of healthcare teams across the state.
There are accelerated and traditional ADN programs across the state which suit both full-time status students, and working students.
Keep reading to find out all steps toward your career as an RN with ADN in Illinois.
Table of Contents
Choosing the Perfect ADN Program in Illinois – Things to Know
The first step toward the career is to pick the education program at some of the Illinois schools.
The decision isn’t easy, because you have so many options.
But, if you follow our guidelines you can decide without any fuss.
First of all, the ADN program you choose should be approved by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools accredits colleges in Illinois.
Next, make sure that you will be eligible to take the NXLEX exam after you complete the chosen program.
Also, try to find out more about school statistics.
For example, check what the NCLEX pass rates are, what the average time for program completion is, what challenges students may face, etc.
After you compare all school you are interested in, decide and continue with the admission requirements.
ADN Program Admission Requirements
Schools have different admission requirements and can update them annually.
Make sure that you have the latest information on school requirements.
However, in Illinois, most of the schools have a basic set of requirements that students must fulfill to admit to programs.
To be admitted to the school in Illinois, you have to have a competitive cumulative GPA, and an individual TEAS score of at least 60%.
You have to submit all forms and fees on time, as well as evidence of current CPR certificate and a record of all college-level credits.
Additionally, you will be admitted to the school if you have at least grade B on all core pre-requisite courses.
Make sure to have enough time to prepare and submit all the necessary information on time.
The Costs
How much you will pay for your education depends on the school you choose.
Also, make sure to check whether the tuition covers expenses for nursing instruments and learning materials.
For example, the tuition per credit hour is around $110.
Shawnee Community College, the tuition per credit hour is around $110.
Schools in Illinois
Let’s go through the list of the best RN programs in the state of Illinois.
There are various options, so you have higher chances to find the one that matches all your needs and preferences.
Trinity Christian College offers its students hands-on experience in the modern, simulation lab.
Southeastern Illinois College and Rush University has excellent nursing programs and great student support.
Graham Hospital School of Nursing has a long tradition in educating nurses, since 1909.
South Suburban College is a suitable choice for students who want to focus on patient-centered care.
Saint Anthony College of Nursing is famous in the academic circles for its theoretical classes but has outstanding clinical classes as well.
If you want a direct-entry BSN program, you can choose Bradley University.
Heartland Community College has multiple nursing programs, including ADN and LPN to RN bridge programs.
John A. Logan College is an excellent choice for nurses who want to keep educating and McHenry County College has both full-time and part-time students.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Trinity Christian College | 6601 W College Dr, Palos Heights, IL 60463 |
| Southeastern Illinois College | 3575 College Rd, Harrisburg, IL 62946 |
| Graham Hospital School of Nursing | 210 W Walnut St, Canton, IL 61520 |
| Rush University | 600 S Paulina St, Chicago, IL 60612 |
| South Suburban College | 15800 State St, South Holland, IL 60473 |
| Saint Anthony College of Nursing | 3301 N. Mulford Road, Rockford, IL 61114 |
| Bradley University | 1501 W Bradley Ave, Peoria, IL 61625 |
| Heartland Community College | 1500 W Raab Rd, Normal, IL 61761 |
| John A. Logan College | 700 Logan College Dr, Carterville, IL 62918 |
| McHenry County College | 8900 US Hwy 14, Crystal Lake, IL 60012 |
| Joliet Junior College | 1215 Houbolt Rd, Joliet, IL 60431 |
| Illinois State University | Campus Box 5810, Normal, IL 61790 |
| Lewis University | 1 University Pkwy, Romeoville, IL 60446 |
| Oakton Community College | 1600 East Golf Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016 |
| Black Hawk College | 6600 34th Ave, Moline, IL 61265 |
| Kaskaskia College | 27210 College Rd, Centralia, IL 62801 |
| Kishwaukee College | 21193 Malta Rd, Malta, IL 60150 |
| Loyola University of Chicago | 1032 W Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60660 |
| Ambria College of Nursing | 5210 Trillium Blvd, Hoffman Estates, IL 60192 |
| Aurora University | 347 S Gladstone Ave, Aurora, IL 60506 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | 1312 Park St, Bloomington, IL 61701 |
| Lincoln Land Community College | 5250 Shepherd Rd, Springfield, IL 62794 |
| Kankakee Community College | 100 College Drive, Kankakee, IL 60901 |
| Northern Illinois University | 1425 W Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL 60115 |
| Moraine Valley Community College | 9000 W. College Pkwy, Palos Hills, IL 60465 |
| Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences | 2122 25th Ave, Rock Island, IL 61201 |
| Western Illinois University | 1 University Cir, Macomb, IL 61455 |
| Harper College | 1200 W Algonquin Rd, Palatine, IL 60067 |
| Spoon River College | 23235 County Hwy 22, Canton, IL 61520 |
| Illinois Valley Community College | 815 North Orlando Smith Road, Oglesby, IL 61348 |
| Triton College | 2000 5th Ave, River Grove, IL 60171 |
| Southwestern Illinois College | 2500 Carlyle Ave, Belleville, IL 62221 |
| Elmhurst College | 190 S Prospect Ave, Elmhurst, IL 60126 |
| Millikin University | 1184 W Main St, Decatur, IL 62522 |
| Rasmussen College | 1400 West Normantown Road, Romeoville, IL 60446 |
| University of St. Francis | 500 Wilcox St, Joliet, IL 60435 |
| St. John's College of Nursing | 729 E Carpenter St, Springfield, IL 62702 |
| City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X | 1900 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60612 |
| College of DuPage | 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 |
| Rock Valley College | 3301 N Mulford Rd, Rockford, IL 61114 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | 1 University Ave, Bourbonnais, IL 60914 |
| DePaul University | 2320 N Kenmore Ave, Chicago, IL 60614 |
| Elgin Community College | 1700 Spartan Dr, Elgin, IL 60123 |
| Waubonsee Community College | Route 47 Waubonsee Drive, Sugar Grove, IL 60554 |
| Dominican University | 7900 West Division Street, River Forest, IL 60305 |
| Saint Xavier University | 3700 W. 103rd Street, Chicago, IL 60655 |
| Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing | N 11th St, Quincy, IL 62301 |
| Highland Community College | 2998 W. Pearl City Rd, Freeport, IL 66035 |
| Methodist College | 7600 N. Academic Drive, Peoria, IL 61615 |
| St. Francis Medical Center College of Nursing | 511 NE Greenleaf Street, Peoria, IL 61603 |
Salary
Salary is determined using a variety of factors such as location, education level, years of professional experience, additional skills and certificates, etc.
The average yearly salary of a registered nurse in Illinois is $65130.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Chicago | $67,230 |
| Rockford | $62,780 |
| Aurora | $66,630 |
| Naperville | $65,870 |
| Peoria | $61,260 |
| Springfield | $58,540 |
| Joliet | $65,320 |
| Elgin | $66,140 |
| Waukegan | $63,400 |
| Cicero | $67,230 |
Regional Salary in Illinois
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IL | 1,470 | $79,530 | $38.24 | $99,580 | $62,590 |
| Carbondale-Marion, IL | 2,150 | $81,890 | $39.37 | $104,840 | $60,300 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 3,550 | $83,930 | $40.35 | $98,790 | $62,820 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 102,330 | $90,810 | $43.66 | $107,980 | $67,560 |
| Danville, IL | 690 | $82,000 | $39.43 | $99,730 | $62,520 |
| Decatur, IL | 900 | $79,320 | $38.14 | $97,480 | $60,820 |
| Kankakee, IL | 1,510 | $85,600 | $41.16 | $112,280 | $64,990 |
| Peoria, IL | 5,740 | $77,810 | $37.41 | $99,440 | $62,600 |
| Rockford, IL | 4,290 | $82,870 | $39.84 | $101,450 | $63,970 |
| Springfield, IL | 4,210 | $83,360 | $40.08 | $102,900 | $64,620 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
ADN Programs by State