The Top Nursing Schools In Illinois

Illinois runs several RN-to-MSN programs, in Chicago and downstate, that let nurses with an ADN and experience earn a master's without finishing a separate BSN first. This guide covers what an MSN opens up, what to look for in a program, established Illinois options, and what advanced practice pays.

What an MSN Opens Up

An MSN prepares you to work as a nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, nurse administrator, nurse educator, or clinical nurse specialist, usually at a higher salary and with more autonomy. Most graduates pursue nurse practitioner roles, especially family practice, with other tracks in adult-gerontology, pediatric, psychiatric-mental health, and neonatal care, each offering acute or primary care options. Nurse practitioners nationally earn a median of about $129,000, and NP roles are among the fastest-growing in healthcare: the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 35 percent national growth for nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and nurse anesthetists from 2024 to 2034.

An MSN also leads to non-bedside work. Nurse consultants advise law firms, insurers, pharmaceutical companies, and government agencies, often serving as expert witnesses on standard nursing practice; Payscale puts the pay in the $60,000 to $100,000 range. Research nurses run literature reviews, statistics, and writing for academic and healthcare employers, with Payscale reporting roughly $63,000 to $147,000.

The standard route to an MSN is a BSN-to-MSN, but an RN-to-MSN bridge lets ADN-holders earn the master's in about three years.

What to Look For in an RN-to-MSN Program

Weigh program quality and reputation, total cost, class size, and clinical placement logistics, along with personal factors like school size and public versus private. A few specifics matter most:

MSN programs specialize from the start, so if you know your track, that narrows the field; if you do not, pick a school with several NP specialties so switching is easier. Clinical placement is easier to arrange in Chicago than in smaller cities with fewer provider types, so confirm how each school handles it. Accreditation is the clearest signal of quality, and only accredited programs qualify graduates for licensure, certification, and credit transfer. Most programs run about three years, with parttime options for working students.

Applying to an RN-to-MSN Program

Give yourself time and ask a trusted mentor, ideally a recent graduate, to review your application. Most Illinois programs require a current, unencumbered RN license, undergraduate transcripts, two or three references, an application with an essay or personal statement, and a resume. A 3.0 GPA is typical; if yours is borderline, a strong work history can offset it. Almost all programs want at least one year of RN experience, since bridge programs assume considerable on-the-job learning.

Financial aid options run beyond your school's programs to scholarships and grants from government agencies, nonprofits, nursing associations, and employers. Because demand for NPs is high, several federal programs offer full scholarships or loan forgiveness in exchange for working in an underserved area, the military, or the Indian Health Service after graduation.

RN-to-MSN Programs in Illinois

Elmhurst University, founded in 1871, offers a 33-credit MSN with nurse administrator, nurse leader, and nurse educator tracks, available fulltime or parttime.

• Program: Master of science in nursing
• Campus: Elmhurst
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Tuition: $789 per credit
• Admission requirements: BSN, official transcripts, minimum 3.0 GPA, valid RN license, three letters of recommendation, goal statement, resume
• Minimum time: Two years
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2021/2022): 71% first-time
• Median earnings two years after graduation: $81,997 (master's, College Scorecard)

Loyola University Chicago offers two hybrid MSN pathways in healthcare administration, a BSN-to-MSN and an RN-to-MSN, both covering budgeting, healthcare policy, and management.

• Program: Master of science in nursing
• Campus: Chicago
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: $1,150 per credit
• Admission requirements: BSN, official transcripts, minimum 3.0 GPA, valid RN license, personal statement, resume
• Minimum time: Two years
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2021/2022): 87% first-time
• Median earnings two years after graduation: $97,604 (master's, College Scorecard)

Methodist College, established in 1900 with a clinical partnership with Carle Health, offers a 35-credit MSN in a generalist or nurse educator option, plus an MSN-prelicensure path for those with a non-nursing bachelor's.

• Program: Master of science in nursing
• Campus: Peoria
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: $779 per credit
• Admission requirements: BSN, official transcripts, minimum 3.0 GPA, valid RN license, two letters of reference
• Minimum time: Two years
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2021/2022): 81% first-time
• Median earnings two years after graduation: $57,619 (College Scorecard)

Millikin University in Decatur offers an MSN-entry program for those with a non-nursing bachelor's, along with MSN nurse practitioner and nurse educator tracks and DNP completion options.

• Program: Master of science in nursing
• Campus: Decatur
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: $800 per credit
• Admission requirements: Bachelor's degree, official transcripts, minimum 3.0 GPA, minimum 2.0 in undergraduate prerequisites, written statement, resume
• Minimum time: 26 months
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2021/2022): 67% first-time
• Median earnings two years after graduation: $197,436 (master's, College Scorecard)

Saint Anthony College of Nursing, a Catholic institution open to students of all backgrounds, offers parttime graduate degrees for working RNs, with MSN tracks in adult-gerontology and family practice, clinical nurse leader, and nurse educator.

• Program: Master of science in nursing
• Campus: Rockford
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: $1,014 per credit
• Admission requirements: BSN, official transcripts, minimum 2.8 GPA, valid RN license, goal statement, three letters of recommendation, resume
• Minimum time: Two years
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2021/2022): 92% first-time
• Median earnings two years after graduation: $90,412 (master's, College Scorecard)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an RN-to-MSN worth it? That depends on your goals, but MSN-prepared nurses earn more and have more autonomy. In Illinois, an NP earns an average of about $120,470 and an RN about $78,260 (BLS).

How long does the bridge take? Most Illinois RN-to-MSN programs run about three years, depending on course load. Most assume students work at least parttime.

What's the highest-paid type of nurse in Illinois? Nurse anesthetists, who average about $250,280, more than twice the average NP salary and roughly three times the average RN salary (BLS).

Can NPs practice independently in Illinois? Yes, with experience. Illinois grants full practice authority to APRNs who complete national certification plus 250 hours of continuing education and 4,000 hours of clinical experience in collaboration with a physician. Until they meet that threshold, NPs work under a collaborative agreement.