RN Programs in Illinois 2026
Illinois nursing students can earn an RN through an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). Both lead to NCLEX-RN eligibility and state licensure. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation approves all prelicensure programs and sets the pass rate benchmarks that programs must maintain to stay approved.
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As of 2026, Illinois has more than 70 Board-approved prelicensure RN programs, spread across community colleges, public universities, and private institutions. The program type you choose, ADN or BSN, shapes how long you’re in school, what you pay, and which employers will consider you on graduation. Both routes lead to the same NCLEX-RN and the same Illinois RN license requirements.
Use the links below to jump to program types, pass rate data, admission requirements, financing options, and salary information.
- ADN and BSN program types
- NCLEX-RN pass rates in Illinois
- Admission requirements
- Financing your RN program
- RN salary and job outlook in Illinois
Program Types: ADN and BSN
Illinois accepts both the associate degree in nursing (ADN) and the bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) as qualifying credentials for RN licensure. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, which houses the Illinois Board of Nursing, approves programs at both levels. Accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is separate from state approval. State approval is the legal requirement, while accreditation signals that a program meets nationally recognized quality standards.
ADN programs are typically two years and are offered at community colleges throughout the state. They’re the faster path to the NCLEX-RN and generally cost less than BSN programs, especially for in-district students at community colleges. The tradeoff is that many hospital systems, particularly larger academic medical centers, now prefer or require BSN-prepared nurses for staff RN positions, so ADN graduates may find the job market more competitive in those settings. That said, many ADN-prepared RNs work successfully in hospital settings and complete an RN-to-BSN program while employed, a path that many health systems actively support through tuition assistance.
BSN programs take four years and are offered at both public universities and private colleges. Graduates have a stronger position in hospital hiring, and the degree is a prerequisite for most graduate nursing programs. For someone certain they’ll eventually pursue an NP, CNS, or other advanced practice credential, starting with a BSN avoids an additional transition later.
Career changers have two additional options. Accelerated BSN programs, sometimes called ABSN programs, are designed for candidates who already hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree. Most complete in 12 to 18 months of intensive full-time coursework. Direct-entry master’s programs go further: they accept candidates without any nursing background and lead to both RN eligibility and a graduate nursing credential, typically in three years. These programs are more selective and cost more, but they’re worth considering if your long-term goal is advanced practice. Working LPNs looking to advance can find bridge program options through LPN programs in Illinois.
| Program | Typical Length | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) | 2 years | Students who want a faster, lower-cost path to RN licensure |
| BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) | 4 years | Students targeting hospital employment or graduate school |
| Accelerated BSN (ABSN) | 12 to 18 months | Career changers with a prior bachelor’s degree |
| Direct-entry MSN | 3 years (varies) | Career changers targeting advanced practice roles |
If you’re planning to advance your degree after initial licensure, accreditation matters. ACEN and CCNE are the two primary national nursing accreditors. State approval by the IDFPR is what qualifies a program’s graduates to pursue Illinois RN licensure, not accreditation. But many RN-to-BSN and graduate programs require that your prelicensure degree came from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited program. Verify the accreditation status of any program you’re considering before enrolling, especially if articulation is a long-term goal.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rates in Illinois
Every candidate for RN licensure must pass the NCLEX-RN regardless of degree level. Illinois uses first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates as one of its continued program approval criteria. Programs are expected to maintain a 75% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate. Programs that fall below the benchmark are subject to review, remediation requirements, and possible probationary status by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
Pass rate data for Illinois nursing programs is published by the IDFPR. Reviewing that data before committing to a program is a reasonable step. A program with consistently strong pass rates is demonstrating that its graduates are prepared for the exam. A pattern of borderline results or prior remediation action is worth investigating further before enrolling.
Keep in mind that pass rates reflect a combination of the program’s preparation quality and its admission selectivity. A highly selective program may post 95% pass rates partly because it admits students who were already strong candidates. A less selective open-enrollment program may post lower rates while still preparing its students well. Use pass rates as one data point, not the only one.
Admission Requirements
Illinois has not had enough clinical training capacity to meet projected RN workforce demand, which means program seats are limited and admission is competitive, often more competitive than the minimum qualifications suggest. This is true at both the ADN and BSN levels, though the specifics vary considerably by institution.
At some of Illinois’s more recognized BSN programs, competitive applicants rank in the top 15% of their class. A small number of programs offer guaranteed admission to high school students who maintain a required GPA through secondary school, but that guarantee typically comes with specific conditions. At the associate level, programs that once relied on waitlists have increasingly shifted to a competitive admissions model, in which GPA, prerequisite grades, prior healthcare experience, and sometimes entrance exam scores all factor into selection decisions.
Residency matters at community colleges. Many prioritize students who live within their county or service district. Some give additional preference to students who have already completed prerequisite coursework at the institution. If you’re weighing programs at multiple community colleges, verify each school’s residency policy. It may affect both your admission odds and your tuition rate.
Prerequisites vary by program but commonly include courses in anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and chemistry. Some programs also require a foundational course in psychology or sociology. Completing prerequisites at the institution where you plan to apply can strengthen your application, and a strong grade in prerequisite science courses is often one of the clearest signals of readiness the admissions committee has.
Financing Your Illinois RN Program
Program costs in Illinois span a wide range. Community colleges charge in-district, out-of-district, and out-of-state rates that can differ substantially. A student living in the college’s home county may pay two to three times less than a student from a neighboring district. Confirm which rate category applies to you before comparing programs on cost.
Illinois has a state-specific loan scholarship for nursing students: the Nursing Education Scholarship Program, administered through the Illinois Department of Public Health. The scholarship comes with a service commitment. Recipients must work in Illinois for a defined period after graduation, or financial repayment is required. For students who already intend to work in the state, this is a meaningful option. For those uncertain about staying in Illinois, the commitment is a real consideration.
Federal Pell Grants, institutional scholarships, and private merit-based awards don’t carry state service requirements and should be part of any financial aid search. The Illinois Center for Nursing maintains a financial aid resource list that aggregates options across these categories. Eligibility, award amounts, and deadlines vary, so reviewing multiple sources early in the application process gives you the most options.
Employment data is another factor prospective students consider. Some Illinois programs report job placement rates above 90%, though definitions and reporting methods vary by institution. Individual schools can provide placement data for recent graduates. Ask for it directly rather than relying on general estimates.
RN Salary and Job Outlook in Illinois
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Illinois registered nurses earned a median annual wage of $95,990 in May 2025. The mean annual wage for the state was $94,360, based on roughly 138,910 employed RNs. The national median for registered nurses over the same period was $97,550.
| Location | Median Annual Wage | Mean Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $95,990 | $94,360 |
| National | $97,550 | $101,420 |
New graduates typically earn less than the median, and wages vary across metro areas and health system types. Metro Chicago tends to pay at or above the state median. Rural and downstate positions may fall below it. Some employers offer higher starting pay or additional advancement opportunities for BSN-prepared nurses, though many Illinois health systems use identical entry-level pay scales regardless of degree level.
Projections Central estimates 3.1% employment growth for registered nurses in Illinois between 2022 and 2032, with an average of 7,960 job openings per year. That figure includes both new positions and openings created by retirement and attrition, and the replacement demand is the larger driver in a state with a large existing RN workforce. For a broader look at specialty tracks and advancement options available to Illinois RNs.
Find nursing licensure requirements by state for RNs, LPNs, LVNs, and advanced practice nurses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between an ADN and a BSN in Illinois?
Both degrees qualify graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN and obtain an Illinois RN license. The ADN is a two-year associate degree typically earned at a community college. The BSN is a four-year bachelor’s degree earned at a university. The practical difference is in the job market: many hospital systems and larger health networks prefer BSN-prepared nurses for staff RN positions, and graduate nursing programs require a BSN as a prerequisite.
How does Illinois use NCLEX-RN pass rates to evaluate nursing programs?
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation expects approved RN programs to maintain a 75% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate. Programs that fall below the benchmark are subject to review, remediation requirements, and possible probationary status. The enforcement process involves IDFPR’s evaluation of the program’s circumstances rather than automatic action based on a fixed threshold. Pass rate data is published by the IDFPR and is worth reviewing before committing to a program.
Does accreditation matter when choosing an Illinois RN program?
State approval by the IDFPR is required for a program to be a legal path to Illinois RN licensure. Accreditation by ACEN or CCNE is separate. Accreditation matters most if you plan to advance your education later. Many RN-to-BSN programs and graduate nursing programs require that your prelicensure program was ACEN- or CCNE-accredited. Verify accreditation status before enrolling if further education is a goal.
What financial aid is available for Illinois nursing students?
Options include the Illinois Nursing Education Scholarship Program through the state Department of Public Health, which offers funding in exchange for a post-graduation service commitment in Illinois. Federal Pell Grants and institution-specific scholarships carry no service requirement. The Illinois Center for Nursing maintains a financial aid resource list that covers a range of state and private funding sources.
What do RNs earn in Illinois?
According to BLS data from May 2025, the median annual wage for registered nurses in Illinois was $95,990. That figure covers the full range of experience levels and settings. New graduates typically earn below the median, and pay varies across metro areas, with Chicago generally at or above the state figure and downstate positions sometimes below it.
Key Takeaways
- Two main entry paths — Illinois accepts both ADN and BSN graduates for RN licensure, and both routes require passing the NCLEX-RN.
- BSN opens more doors — Many Illinois hospital systems prefer BSN-prepared nurses, and a BSN is required for most graduate nursing programs.
- Pass rates are a regulatory metric — Illinois programs must maintain a 75% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate to keep their approval status.
- Accreditation and state approval are different — IDFPR approval is required for legal practice, and ACEN or CCNE accreditation matters for future degree articulation.
- Illinois RN median wage is $95,990 — BLS data from May 2025, and starting wages typically fall below the median and vary by region and employer.
Use the tool below to compare approved RN programs in Illinois, including application links and program-level details.
2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary data and Projections Central 2022-2032 job growth forecasts for Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurses, Registered Nurses, and Advanced Practice Nurses across roles, reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed June 2026.