Nursing in Illinois
Illinois has 112 nursing schools running 183 board-approved programs, and the median RN program’s first-time NCLEX pass rate was 88.2%. Registered nurses here earn a median of $95,990; nurse practitioners, $130,680. Illinois is not a compact state. Every figure below names its source and the period it covers.
Nursing Schools in Illinois
169 of Illinois’s 183 programs have a published 2025 first-time pass rate. RN programs averaged 85.4% — 1.1 points below the 86.5% national average. Practical nursing programs averaged 88.8%.
| Degree | Programs | Median pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Associate (ADN) | 55 | 89.6% (54 rated) |
| Bachelor’s (BSN) | 48 | 86.1% (44 rated) |
Both degrees lead to the same RN license. ADN vs BSN, compared nationally →
Highest first-time pass rates (2025)
In-state RN programs. 7 programs tied at 100% — the five with the most nursing graduates are shown. A single year’s rate swings widely for small programs; check the trend before you choose.
- Trinity Christian CollegePalos Heights · Baccalaureate Program, RN (Code 37)100%
- McHenry County CollegeCrystal Lake · Associate Degree Program, RN (Code 43)100%
- Eastern Illinois UniversityCharleston · Baccalaureate Program, RN (Code 37)100%
- Millikin UniversityDecatur · Master's Entry Level Program, RN (Code 11)100%
- Shawnee CollegeUllin · Associate Degree Program, RN (Code 43)100%
What Nurses Earn in Illinois
Federal wage survey data (BLS OEWS, May 2025) — employer-reported, not job-board estimates. The RN median in Illinois is $1,560 below the $97,550 national median; the NP median is $1,620 below the $132,300 national NP median.
| Illinois | Registered nurse | Nurse practitioner |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $95,990 | $130,680 |
| Median hourly | $46.15 | $62.83 |
| Starting range (10th pct.) | $69,170 | $102,440 |
| Top earners (90th pct.) | $118,190 | $161,470 |
| Employed in state | 138,910 | 9,270 |
Licensing in Illinois
Illinois is not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact. A Illinois license covers Illinois only, and a nurse licensed in another state needs a separate Illinois license to practice here (licensure by endorsement).
Either way the license starts the same: graduate from a board-approved program and pass the NCLEX. Fees, processing times, and continuing-education rules are set by the Illinois board of nursing and change — confirm them with the board directly. The board documents these pass rates came from: Roster REVISED July 02, 2026 (rates: CY2025 report, approvals as of Dec 31, 2025) (1), CY2025 pass-rate report (approvals as of Dec 31, 2025) (2).
Sources
- First-time NCLEX pass rates by programEach state board of nursing — the exact board documents are linked on every state page · Data: 2025 first-time test takers · Checked
- Program cost, completion, and graduate earningsU.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Checked
- Registered nurse wages and employment (SOC 29-1141)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · Data: May 2025 · Checked
- Nurse practitioner wages and employment (SOC 29-1171)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · Data: May 2025 · Checked
- Nurse Licensure Compact member states and implementation datesNational Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) · Checked
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing schools are in Illinois?
Illinois has 112 nursing schools running 183 board-approved programs — 118 RN programs and 65 practical nursing programs (state board of nursing list, 2025 pass-rate year).
What is the NCLEX pass rate in Illinois?
The median Illinois RN program's first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate was 88.2%, and the average across programs was 85.4% — 1.1 points below the 86.5% national average (2025 first-time test takers, from the state board of nursing).
How much do nurses make in Illinois?
Registered nurses in Illinois earn a median of $95,990 a year ($46.15 an hour), $1,560 below the national RN median. Nurse practitioners earn a median of $130,680 (BLS, May 2025).
Is Illinois a compact nursing state?
Illinois is not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact. A Illinois license covers Illinois only, and a nurse licensed in another state needs a separate Illinois license to practice here (licensure by endorsement). Source: NCSBN compact map, checked September 17, 2026.
Nursing in other states
Keep going
- Degree pathwayADN vs BSNBoth degrees lead to the same RN license. Here is how associate and bachelor’s programs actually compare on NCLEX pass rates, graduate debt, and earnings.
- GuideADN vs BSN: Which Nursing Program Should You Choose?Compare ADN and prelicensure BSN pathways by time, total cost, admission, clinical logistics, employer expectations, and bridge options—not prestige alone.
- FinderCheapest RN programs in the U.S.The lowest-cost RN programs nationally, with their NCLEX pass rates alongside.
- FinderCompare nursing schoolsPut any nursing programs side by side on pass rate, cost, and outcomes.
- GuideHow Competitive Is Nursing School Admission?Estimate nursing-school competitiveness using seats, qualified applicants, point rubrics, recent cutoffs, attrition, and the parts of your application you can still change.
- Degree pathwayLPN to RNThe pay difference between a practical nurse and a registered nurse, and how practical-nursing and RN programs compare on pass rates, debt, and graduate earnings.