Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

44 Best Universities in Illinois for Nursing

Focusing specifically on Nursing, our data science engine identified the 44 most influential universities in Illinois. To determine these leaders, we isolated 1.34M specialized research publications which collectively generated 52.41M citations. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Nursing Illinois Clear All

Ranking Methodology Notice

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Field of Study

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1

Evanston

Northwestern University

For Nursing

#18 in United States #22 in North America

8% Acceptance

9,399 Enrollment

1540 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

2

Chicago

University of Illinois at Chicago

For Nursing

#22 in United States #29 in North America

77% Acceptance

22,495 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1858 Founded

3

Chicago

University of Chicago

For Nursing

#30 in United States #37 in North America

4% Acceptance

7,598 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

4

Champaign

University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign

For Nursing

#53 in United States #61 in North America

42% Acceptance

37,140 Enrollment

1415 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

5

Chicago

Loyola University Chicago

For Nursing

#107 in United States #123 in North America

82% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

6

DeKalb

Northern Illinois University

For Nursing

#165 in United States #187 in North America

70% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1895 Founded

7

Chicago

DePaul University

For Nursing

#197 in United States #221 in North America

76% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1235 Avg SAT

1898 Founded

8

Chicago

Illinois Institute of Technology

For Nursing

#306 in United States #341 in North America

55% Acceptance

3,135 Enrollment

1310 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

9

University Park, IL

Governors State University

For Nursing

#550 in United States #603 in North America

48% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1035 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

10

Jacksonville, IL

Illinois College

For Nursing

#231 in United States #259 in North America

78% Acceptance

2,256 Enrollment

1032 Avg SAT

1829 Founded

11

Chicago

Erikson Institute

For Nursing

#713 in United States #774 in North America

80% Acceptance

1,631 Enrollment

1025 Avg SAT

12

Romeoville

Lewis University

For Nursing

#614 in United States #669 in North America

71% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1085 Avg SAT

1932 Founded

13

Bloomington, IL

Illinois Wesleyan University

For Nursing

#526 in United States #578 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,582 Enrollment

1230 Avg SAT

1850 Founded

14

Rockford

Rockford University

For Nursing

#841 in United States #907 in North America

93% Acceptance

983 Enrollment

960 Avg SAT

1847 Founded

15

River Forest

Dominican University

For Nursing

#922 in United States #991 in North America

90% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

990 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

16

North Chicago

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

For Nursing

#251 in United States #281 in North America

33% Acceptance

1,677 Enrollment

1032 Avg SAT

1912 Founded

17

Joliet

University of St Francis

For Nursing

#708 in United States #769 in North America

65% Acceptance

1,343 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1920 Founded

18

Chicago

National Louis University

For Nursing

#890 in United States #958 in North America

95% Acceptance

14,263 Enrollment

1085 Avg SAT

1886 Founded

19

Macomb

Western Illinois University

For Nursing

#457 in United States #502 in North America

71% Acceptance

7,895 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

20

Greenville, IL

Greenville University

For Nursing

#765 in United States #828 in North America

97% Acceptance

5,086 Enrollment

1001 Avg SAT

1892 Founded

21

Naperville

North Central College

For Nursing

#814 in United States #879 in North America

77% Acceptance

2,054 Enrollment

1183 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

22

Peoria, IL

Bradley University

For Nursing

#504 in United States #555 in North America

77% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

23

Aurora, IL

Aurora University

For Nursing

#889 in United States #957 in North America

81% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

1025 Avg SAT

1893 Founded

24

Elmhurst

Elmhurst College

For Nursing

#770 in United States #833 in North America

74% Acceptance

5,734 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1871 Founded

25

Charleston, IL

Eastern Illinois University

For Nursing

#477 in United States #524 in North America

65% Acceptance

3,231 Enrollment

985 Avg SAT

1895 Founded

26

Chicago

North Park University

For Nursing

#823 in United States #888 in North America

69% Acceptance

200 Enrollment

1025 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

27

Evanston

NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia

For Nursing

#195 in United States #219 in North America

73% Acceptance

1,677 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

28

Chicago

Rush University

For Nursing

#155 in United States #177 in North America

33% Acceptance

2,109 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1972 Founded

29

Edwardsville

Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville

For Nursing

#303 in United States #338 in North America

97% Acceptance

16,744 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

30

Chicago

Saint Xavier University

For Nursing

#699 in United States #760 in North America

84% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1846 Founded

31

Chicago

Chicago State University

For Nursing

#572 in United States #626 in North America

43% Acceptance

15,414 Enrollment

1275 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

32

Chicago

Adler University

For Nursing

#968 in United States #1039 in North America

92% Acceptance

121 Enrollment

1030 Avg SAT

1952 Founded

33

Wheaton

Wheaton College – Illinois

For Nursing

#659 in United States #714 in North America

87% Acceptance

2,150 Enrollment

1365 Avg SAT

1860 Founded

34

Rockford

Saint Anthony College of Nursing

For Nursing

#861 in United States #927 in North America

76% Acceptance

10,813 Enrollment

1195 Avg SAT

$30,212 Net Price

35

Chicago

Northeastern Illinois University

For Nursing

#581 in United States #636 in North America

75% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

990 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

36

Chicago

Spertus College

For Nursing

#1000 in United States #1071 in North America

72% Acceptance

80 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

37

Normal, IL

Illinois State University

For Nursing

#222 in United States #248 in North America

88% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

38

Lombard

National University of Health Sciences

For Nursing

#921 in United States #990 in North America

67% Acceptance

564 Enrollment

1906 Founded

39

Springfield, IL

University of Illinois at Springfield

For Nursing

#615 in United States #670 in North America

86% Acceptance

6,332 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

40

Chicago

Illinois College of Optometry

For Nursing

#893 in United States #961 in North America

70% Acceptance

530 Enrollment

1080 Avg SAT

1872 Founded

41

Carbondale

Southern Illinois University – Carbondale

For Nursing

#223 in United States #249 in North America

87% Acceptance

2,708 Enrollment

1030 Avg SAT

1869 Founded

42

Lisle

Benedictine University

For Nursing

#943 in United States #1013 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,238 Enrollment

1080 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

43

Chicago

Roosevelt University

For Nursing

#447 in United States #492 in North America

97% Acceptance

4,397 Enrollment

1035 Avg SAT

1945 Founded

44

Carlinville

Blackburn College

For Nursing

#666 in United States #721 in North America

63% Acceptance

5,086 Enrollment

1001 Avg SAT

1837 Founded