Your Guide to Online BSN Programs in Illinois
A BSN program can help you start, or advance, your nursing career regardless of your academic or professional background. In this guide we’ll tell you everything you need to know about top Illinois programs, what they offer, and what to consider when choosing the best one for you.
Are you looking for a career that’s both highly rewarding and highly challenging? Are you inspired to provide service to others? Then a career in nursing may be for you. But with all of the different paths into the profession, how do you know which one is right for you? Start with this very important fact: Based on a recent survey by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, nearly two-thirds of employers strongly prefer to hire nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. And further, nearly a third of hospitals and other healthcare settings now require new hires to possess a BSN.
We’ve written this guide to introduce you to the many benefits of earning your bachelor’s in nursing through a quality BSN programs in Illinois. Below we’ll explore the various types of BSN programs in Illinois, explain why employers prefer to hire baccalaureate-prepared nurses, and address students’ most frequently asked questions about BSN programs.
So, if you’re ready to discover the ins and outs of a BSN, keep reading to get started by taking a look at our list of top programs.
Top Online BSN Programs in IL
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Public
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Edwardsville, Illinois
Public
University of St Francis
Joliet, Illinois
Private
Lewis University
Romeoville, Illinois
Private
Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, Illinois
Public
Benedictine University
Lisle, Illinois
Private
McKendree University
Lebanon, Illinois
Private
Governors State University
University Park, Illinois
Public
Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois
Public
Methodist College
Peoria, Illinois
Private
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Private
Blessing Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Quincy, Illinois
Private
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois
Private
St. John’s College-Department of Nursing
Springfield, Illinois
Private
A Look at the Benefits of Earning a BSN Program in Illinois
There are quicker and less costly ways of getting the education you need to launch your nursing career (like earning an ADN degree), but there’s no better way to do it than by earning your bachelor’s in nursing. Consider just three of the many benefits you’ll gain by enrolling in one of the BSN programs in Illinois:
Diverse Population
It should come as no surprise that colleges and universities with BSN programs tend to have larger, more diverse student populations. A diverse student body, and school diversity and inclusion efforts (like those at Illinois State University), help students develop greater cultural sensitivity in their academic pursuits. They also expose students to a wider presentation of medical conditions and array of healthcare challenges—a major plus in an ever-diversifying nursing practice environment.
Research and Innovation Opportunities
One very important but often overlooked advantage that BSN students (like those at Loyola University Chicago) have over students in ADN or nursing diploma programs is the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with faculty members on their nursing research. Being able to add research experience to your resume can pay big dividends during your job search, especially if you decide to continue on to graduate school.
Strong Professional Associations
Professional nursing associations provide an almost endless number of support services and networking opportunities, and are a tremendous resource for BSN students. There are many excellent national and state associations available to all nursing students, regardless of their degree level, but BSN students in Illinois (like those at the University of Illinois Chicago) often have the additional advantage of having access to student nurse organizations within their own schools.
Criteria to Consider When Choosing BSN Programs in Illinois
Once you’re certain that a BSN is the best option for starting or advancing your nursing career, it’s time to find the specific program that’s right for you. As you explore your program choices, there are several important elements to look for, including these three:
Accreditation
Proper accreditation is a crucial feature of any Illinois BSN program you consider. There are two forms of accreditation to look for. The first, institutional accreditation, concerns the academic quality of a postsecondary school overall. The second is programmatic accreditation, which concerns the vetting of specific degree programs offered by colleges and universities. Institutional accreditation is overseen by a number of independent U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agencies, while the programmatic accreditation of Illinois BSN programs is administered primarily by two accrediting bodies: the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
You can check the current accreditation status of schools and degree programs using this Department of Education accreditation search engine.
NCLEX Preparation & Pass Rates
One of the primary goals of all BSN programs in Illinois is to successfully prepare its students to take the NCLEX-RN exam, which is a primary requirement for obtaining an RN license in every state and U.S. Territory. One of the very best ways to gauge how successfully a school prepares its students is to look at a program’s NCLEX exam pass rate. Programs with notably high pass rates often note those rates on their program websites. If you’re not finding them there, you can check the most current (2022) pass rates here.
Well-Rounded Curriculum
One of the big reasons that employers prefer to hire registered nurses with a BSN degree is that they know most BSN graduates have received a solid, well-rounded education. That includes the coursework that provides the specific nursing knowledge and skills needed for RN practice as well as the general education courses–in English, math, the humanities, and the natural and social sciences–that help turn students into competent professionals. Be sure that the program you ultimately choose provides you with that well-rounded educational experience.
Types of BSN Programs in Illinois
Once you start looking into the many BSN programs in Illinois, you’ll soon realize that there many different types of programs out there, each serving students with different academic backgrounds and career goals. In this section, we’ll examine the most common BSN program types to help you determine the one that’s best for you.
Accelerated BSN Programs
Accelerated (aka second degree) BSN programs are pre-licensure programs that allow students with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing major to apply the general education credits from that degree to their BSN program. As a result, students can complete their bachelor’s in nursing in less time, typically around 16 months. Like traditional BSN programs, ABSN programs are campus-based (the Elmhurst University program is an exception), but may allow students to complete some coursework online. Like all pre-licensure programs, ABSN programs require students to complete face-to-face clinical hours in order to take the NCLEX exam and obtain RN licensure.
Examples of Illinois Nursing Schools with This Program
Direct Entry BSN Programs
Many Illinois colleges with traditional BSN programs offer a direct entry (aka direct admit) option to highly motivated incoming freshmen who meet certain additional admissions requirements. Direct entry students enter college with a guarantee of acceptance into the BSN program (which typically begins in the third year of their college studies) as long as they maintain a required minimum GPA on their pre-licensure coursework. Selection into the BSN program is not guaranteed to non-direct entry students who must compete for one of the limited remaining seats in the program.
Examples of Illinois Nursing Schools with This Program
LPN to BSN Programs
Current licensed practical nurses can advance their nursing careers by becoming RNs through an LPN to BSN program. LPN to BSN programs can be thought of as an alternative to traditional BSN programs in that they typically follow a school’s traditional program’s structure and course of study, but differ in that they accept a number of transfer credits from the student’s LPN program, thus saving the student time and money. Another key difference is that several LPN to BSN programs in Illinois offer both full-time and part-time options. Like traditional BSN students, however, LPN to BSN students are required to complete in-person clinical rotations.
Examples of Illinois Nursing Schools with This Program
Online BSN Programs
Online BSN programs offer students tremendous convenience and flexibility in completing their degree requirements. Whether you can take advantage of online study will depend on your specific BSN program. Most RN to BSN programs in Illinois are offered entirely online and often deliver their content entirely or partially in an asynchronous format that allows students to access and complete their coursework according to their own schedules. On the other hand, the vast majority of pre-licensure BSN programs are entirely campus-based. There are a few exceptions, though including the hybrid-format programs at Chamberlain University and Elmhurst University (linked below). Almost all schools offer at least some of their general education courses online.
Examples of Illinois Nursing Schools with This Program
- Elmhurst University (ABSN)
- Northern Illinois University (RN to BSN)
RN to BSN Programs
A BSN degree is not only a great way to enter the nursing profession, but also a great way for current RNs with a nursing diploma or ADN degree to gain the extra clinical and leadership skills needed to stand out in the job market. RN to BSN programs in Illinois are extremely popular and offered by numerous colleges and universities throughout the state. And without the clinical rotation hours required in pre-licensure BSN programs, most RN to BSN students are able to complete all degree requirements online, often in an asynchronous format. Program lengths vary, but most students can earn their degrees in around two to two and a half years of full-time study or four years of part-time study.
Examples of Illinois Nursing Schools with This Program
Traditional BSN Programs
When most people think of a bachelor’s degree in nursing, they think of a traditional BSN program. That is, a typically four-year, full-time degree program designed for students with no nursing work experience and little to no prior college coursework. Virtually all traditional BSN programs in Illinois are campus-based, meaning students attend classes and skills/simulation labs on-campus and clinical rotations at hospitals and other healthcare facilities in the local area. Some programs, however, do offer a few nursing theory courses as well as some, or all, general education courses online. Most traditional BSN programs are strictly full-time, but a few (like Methodist College) offer part-time study as an option.
Examples of Illinois Nursing Schools with This Program
FAQs About BSN Programs in Illinois
If you’ve read this far, then hopefully you have a solid understanding of what Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs are all about. To help fill in any gaps you might still have, here are the answers to a few of the most common questions asked by prospective BSN students:
Can I work while pursuing a BSN in Illinois?
You can work while pursuing your BSN, but it’s not always a good idea. Most pre-licensure programs (traditional BSN, ABSN, LPN to BSN) are full-time and, therefore, require a substantial time commitment, in terms of study and clinical rotation hours. As a result, working a job while pursuing a pre-licensure BSN degree is strongly discouraged. Conversely, most RN to BSN programs in Illinois are specifically designed to accommodate RNs who want or need to work full-time while earning their degrees.
Are there specific prerequisite courses I need to take?
Virtually all pre-licensure BSN programs in Illinois require students to complete some number of prerequisite courses prior to starting the program’s nursing curriculum. Exactly which courses, and how many of them you’ll be required to take depends on the specific program you choose. For example, most traditional BSN students will first complete a pre-nursing curriculum (typically during their first two years of study) before entering the BSN program proper where they’ll complete all of the nursing courses, labs, and clinical rotation hours needed to earn their degrees. Pre-nursing curriculums (like the one at the Illinois State University) commonly include a number of foundational courses in subjects like biology, psychology, chemistry, nutrition, and statistics. ABSN, LPN to BSN, and RN to BSN students may not have to complete an entire pre-nursing curriculum but will typically be required to complete some prerequisite courses.
Are online BSN programs in Illinois accredited?
Absolutely. In fact, online BSN programs in Illinois have the same institutional and programmatic accreditation as their on-campus counterparts. Examples of online BSN programs in Illinois accredited by the CCNE include the fully-online RN to BSN program at Illinois College and hybrid-formatted BSN program on Chamberlain University’s Addison campus. As we mentioned earlier, proper accreditation is a critical factor in choosing any BSN program. If you can’t confirm both the institutional and programmatic accreditation of an online program you’re considering, it’s time to cross that one off your potential program list.
How do BSN programs differ from other nursing programs?
We touched earlier on the fact that there are quicker ways to start your nursing career than with a BSN degree, but what are those ways and how do they differ from BSN programs? Here’s a look:
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Programs: LPN certificate of completion (or achievement) programs prepare graduates to take the NCLEX-PN exam to become Licensed Practical Nurses (or Licensed Vocational Nurses, for California and Texas graduates). Programs typically require 12 months (full-time) to 24 months (part-time) to complete. The mean annual salary (as of May 2022) for LPNs in Illinois is $58,840.
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Programs: Certified Nursing Assistant certificate programs in Illinois prepare students to take the state’s CNA competency exam and become eligible for employment as CNAs. Typical completion times for CNA certificate programs are anywhere from eight weeks to six months. The mean annual salary (as of May 2022) for nursing assistants in Illinois is $36,750.
- Nursing Diploma and Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Programs: Both nursing diploma and ADN programs in Illinois offer quicker routes (about 12 months full-time for nursing diploma programs and two years full-time for ADN programs) to the NCLEX-RN exam and registered nurse licensure than BSN programs do. However, neither of these program types offers the substantial academic and career benefits of having a BSN degree, as we’ve discussed.
Employment and Salary Trends for Illinois BSN Nurses
Are you on the fence about going to nursing school? We have data to help you decide. In terms of salary, RNs in Illinois make an average of $82,470. The top earners make $105,140, while the lowest earn $63,900. It's also important to consider what you’ll earn in a specific area of the state. For example, the 90th percentile of earners in Decatur make $97,480, with the 10th percentile earning $60,820. The average is $80,970. Similarly, in Kankakee, the average salary for registered nurses is $85,850, with the 10th percentile of earners making $64,990, and the 90th percentile making $112,280. In terms of job growth, there will be a 3.10% increase in jobs in the state, which means 7,960 new jobs will be added to the profession each year. Around the country, 193,100 new jobs will be created annually, which is a 5.60% increase. For more information, review the tables below.
| Area | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $63,900 | $82,470 | $105,140 |
| Bloomington, IL | $62,590 | $76,960 | $99,580 |
| Carbondale-Marion, IL | $60,300 | $80,620 | $104,840 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $62,820 | $76,530 | $98,790 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $67,560 | $85,160 | $107,980 |
| Danville, IL | $62,520 | $78,040 | $99,730 |
| Decatur, IL | $60,820 | $80,970 | $97,480 |
| Kankakee, IL | $64,990 | $85,850 | $112,280 |
| Peoria, IL | $62,600 | $78,090 | $99,440 |
| Rockford, IL | $63,970 | $81,650 | $101,450 |
| Springfield, IL | $64,620 | $82,990 | $102,900 |
Source: Registered Nurses, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
| Area | Curr. Jobs | Proj. Jobs | New Jobs | Growth % | Avg. Ann. Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 3,172,500 | 3,349,900 | 177,400 | 5.60% | 193,100 |
| Illinois | 138,050 | 142,310 | 4,260 | 3.10% | 7,960 |
Source: Projections Central
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
