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Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois

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2023 Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois

44 Colleges
$57,601 Avg Salary
$21,889 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing Associate Degree School for You

Out of the majors we analyze each year, nursing was the most popular one in Illinois. In total, 21,938 people earned a degree or certificate in the field from a school in Illinois.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. This report analyzed 44 schools in Illinois to see which ones were the most popular associate degree programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Nursing program at each school on the list.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for nursing majors pursuing a associate degree.

Our analysis found Rasmussen University - Illinois to be the most popular school for nursing students who want to pursue a associate degree in Illinois. Rasmussen University - Illinois is a small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Rockford.

Of the 450 students majoring in nursing at Rasmussen University - Illinois, 8% are male and 92% are female.

Nursing majors at Rasmussen University - Illinois take out an average of $32,326 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $175.

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The in-demand associate degree programs at City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in Illinois. Malcolm X College is a moderately-sized public school located in the large city of Chicago.

Of the 141 students majoring in nursing at Malcolm X College, 18% are male and 82% are female.

On average, nursing graduates from Malcolm X College take out $18,740 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend William Rainey Harper College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois list. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Women make up 88% of the nursing majors at the school.

Nursing majors at Harper College take out an average of $19,644 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Full Nursing at William Rainey Harper College Report

#4

Waubonsee Community College

Sugar Grove, IL

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Waubonsee Community College is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree. Waubonsee is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Sugar Grove.

About 81% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 19% are male.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Waubonsee take out while working on their Associate Degree is $17,386.

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Out of the 44 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Lincoln Land Community College landed the # 5 spot on the list. LLCC is a small public school located in the midsize city of Springfield.

About 92% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 8% are male.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from LLCC carry an average student debt load of $22,153.

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#6

College of DuPage

Glen Ellyn, IL

College of DuPage did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Glen Ellyn, COD is a public school with a fairly large student population.

About 83% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 17% are male.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at COD accumulate an average of around $17,988 in student debt.

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#7

Joliet Junior College

Joliet, IL

Joliet Junior College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

About 90% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 10% are male.

Nursing majors at Joliet Junior College take out an average of $20,094 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Joliet Junior College

#8

Parkland College

Champaign, IL

Parkland College ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Illinois list. Located in the city of Champaign, Parkland College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

About 87% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 13% are male.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Parkland College carry an average student debt load of $10,582.

Read full report on Nursing at Parkland College

#8

Lake Land College

Mattoon, IL

Lake Land College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. Located in the distant town of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a public school with a small student population.

Of the 93 students majoring in nursing at Lake Land College, 11% are male and 89% are female.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Lake Land College accumulate an average of around $13,552 in student debt.

Read full report on Nursing at Lake Land College

Elgin Community College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. Located in the midsize city of Elgin, ECC is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

Women make up 78% of the nursing majors at the school.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at ECC take out while working on their Associate Degree is $15,362.

Read full report on Nursing at Elgin Community College

Best Nursing Colleges in the Great Lakes Region

Explore all the Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Michigan 7,345
Ohio 13,973
Indiana 7,922
Wisconsin 5,410

Nursing is one of 30 different types of programs to choose from.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Health & Medical Administrative Services 89,359
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 84,492
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 84,274
Allied Health Professions 82,308
Public Health 40,596

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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