DNP & PhD Programs in Illinois

Where possible, we include NCLEX pass rates data for each campus. The average pass rates are calculated using the last 3 years of data. The average scores are then used in our annual RN/PN rankings. You can read more about it here. You can also view this year's rankings for Illinois here.

Updated: February 5, 2026
Governors State University

Governors State University

University Park, IL
Public
4-year

Accreditations

ACEN North Central Association of C...

Programs Offered

DNP BSN to DNP

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX data not available for this campus.
Illinois State University

Illinois State University

Normal, IL
Public
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE North Central Association of C...

Programs Offered

DNP PhD

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
94.0%
RN test takers per year
189
RN rank (2025)
#4
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, IL
Private
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE North Central Association of C...

Programs Offered

DNP PhD BSN to PhD

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
93.1%
RN test takers per year
381
RN rank (2025)
#5
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
Rush University

Rush University

Chicago, IL
Private
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE COA North Central Association of C...

Programs Offered

DNP PhD BSN to PhD

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
95.8%
RN test takers per year
141
RN rank (2025)
#3
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing

Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing

Peoria, IL
Private
4-year

Accreditations

ACEN North Central Association of C...

Programs Offered

DNP BSN to PhD

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
91.0%
RN test takers per year
99
RN rank (2025)
#7
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

Edwardsville, IL
Public
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE COA North Central Association of C...

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
89.4%
RN test takers per year
216
RN rank (2025)
#8
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
University of Illinois Chicago

University of Illinois Chicago

Chicago, IL
Public
4-year

Accreditations

ACME CCNE North Central Association of C...

Programs Offered

DNP BSN to DNP PhD BSN to PhD

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
85.9%
RN test takers per year
128
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend
University of St Francis

University of St Francis

Joliet, IL
Private
4-year

Accreditations

CCNE North Central Association of C...

NCLEX Stats

NCLEX-RN pass rate
94.1%
RN test takers per year
92
RN rank (2025)
#4
RN NCLEX Pass Rate Trend