University of Illinois Chicago

University of Illinois Chicago offers a comprehensive nursing education with programs designed to meet diverse student needs. With CCNE accreditation, students can choose from traditional on-campus, online, and hybrid formats, ensuring a flexible learning experience. UIC Nursing is known for its commitment to excellence in nursing education and research, preparing graduates for successful careers in healthcare.

Programs Offered

• BSN (Traditional)
  • Format: On Campus
  • Total Cost: $60,000
  • Duration: 48 months
  • Graduation Rate: 78%
• DNP
  • Format: Online + Campus
  • Total Cost: $44,000
  • Duration: 36 months
  • Graduation Rate: 78%
• DNP – Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
  • Format: Online
  • Duration: 36 months
• MSN – Psychiatric Mental Health NP (PMHNP)
  • Format: Online
  • Duration: 24 months
• MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Format: Online + Campus
  • Total Cost: $25,300
  • Duration: 30 months
  • Graduation Rate: 78%
• PhD in Nursing
  • Format: On Campus
  • Total Cost: $85,000
  • Duration: 60 months
  • Graduation Rate: 78%
• RN to BSN
  • Format: Online
  • Total Cost: $10,200
  • Duration: 15 months
  • Graduation Rate: 78%

Clinical Training & Hospital Partnerships

• UIC College of Nursing coordinates clinical placements for students.
• M. Christine Schwartz Experiential Learning & Simulation Laboratory is among the largest in the U.S.
• UIC Nursing is integrated within UI Health, an academic health enterprise.
• Named hospital and health-system partners include:
  • UI Health System
  • Cook County Health
  • University of Chicago Medicine
  • Northwestern Medicine
  • Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
  • Jesse Brown VA Medical Center
  • Advocate Health System
  • Loyola Medicine

Admissions

No published overall acceptance or admission rate was found for the UIC College of Nursing.

• Traditional BSN Program
  • All BSN prerequisite courses must be completed by the program start date.
  • Applicants must complete 57 credit hours of college-level coursework prior to entering the program.
• Master of Science in Nursing – Graduate-Entry (MSN for non-RNs)
  • Applicants typically have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field.
  • Most successful applicants have at least a 2.75 GPA (on a 4.00 scale) in the last 60 hours of their first undergraduate degree.
  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50/4.00 is required in the four science prerequisites (excluding statistics).
  • At least two of those science prerequisite courses must be completed and on the submitted transcripts by the application deadline of January 15.
  • All science prerequisites must be completed with a grade of C or better, and within seven years of anticipated enrollment.
• DNP
  • Minimum GPA: 3.0 (required for the final 60 semester hours).
  • Offered in hybrid format: all didactic coursework online, with clinicals arranged locally.
• PhD in Nursing
  • Minimum GPA for full consideration is at least 2.75/4.00 in the final 60 semester hours.

Schedule & Format Flexibility

• RN-to-BSN Online (Degree Completion)
  • Delivered 100% online, fully asynchronous coursework designed for working RNs.
  • Can be completed in as few as 12 months (seven consecutive 8-week terms).
  • 57 general education credits required (can be taken as co-requisites or transferred in).
• Traditional BSN for Transfer Students
  • Hybrid delivery, with face-to-face instruction alongside hands-on learning.
  • Full-time, Fall only admission; completed over four full-time semesters (no summers).
• Master of Science in Nursing for Non-RNs (Graduate-Entry MSN)
  • Hybrid format, combining online, on-site, and blended courses; includes on-campus requirements and arranged clinical placements.
  • Full-time, admits Fall only; duration is six consecutive semesters (including summers).
• MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Hybrid format, combining online, on-site, and blended courses.

Why Choose University of Illinois Chicago for Nursing?

• Accredited by CCNE, ensuring the curriculum meets nationally recognized standards.
• Strong clinical partnerships with hospitals and health systems for diverse hands-on experience.
• Extensive simulation lab for on-campus skills training.
• The median annual wage for registered nurses was $93,600 as of May 2024 (BLS), with approximately 189,100 RN job openings projected each year through 2034.

What to Consider When Evaluating a Nursing School

• Accreditation: Ensure the program holds programmatic accreditation from CCNE or ACEN.
• NCLEX Pass Rates: First-time NCLEX-RN pass rates are a key indicator of program quality (national average is approximately 87–89%).
• Clinical Partnerships: Strong partnerships ensure diverse, high-quality hands-on experience.
• Student Support Services: Academic advising, tutoring, career counseling, and NCLEX preparation resources contribute to student success.
• Career Placement: Some schools maintain partnerships with healthcare employers to facilitate hiring of new graduates.