This article contains a list of the top accelerated nursing programs in Illinois. You will also get to know the requirements for each of the schools offering the accelerated nursing programs and their costs.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Illinois is home to over 123,000 nurses. While the number of nurses in Illinois is high, there is a shortage of nurses due to several factors such as an aging nurse population. For this reason, there is a high demand for nurses in the state.
On the other hand, the job outlook for nurses in Illinois. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the employment of registered nurses in Illinois will grow 12 percent from 2018 to 2028 – this is faster than the average of all occupations in the state.
Many graduates and career professionals in other fields of study now drift to the nursing profession in Illinois so as to fill up the vacant spaces. These individuals enter the nursing profession by enrolling in accelerated nursing programs in Illinois.
Upon successful completion of the program, they take the NCLEX-RN exam and become licensed nurses in the state.
If you are a graduate in another field of study aside from nursing and you wish to work as a nurse in Illinois, you will find accelerated nursing programs in Illinois that you can enroll in to become a registered nurse.
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Accelerated Nursing Programs In Illinois
Below are the institutions that offer accelerated nursing programs in Illinois:
- Illinois State University, Normal
- Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Quincy
- Lakeview College of Nursing, Danville
- Lewis University, Romeoville
- Loyola University Chicago, Downers Grove
- Methodist College, Peoria
- Saint John’s College, Springfield
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville
- Trinity College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Rock Island
- Elmhurst College, Elmhurst
1. Illinois State University, Normal
Illinois State University (ISU) is a public research university in Normal, Illinois that was established in 1857. It is the oldest public university in the state of Illinois.
The Accelerated BSN program at ISU is offered by the Mennonite College of Nursing. Here, students are offered classroom teaching and clinical training in order to gain comprehensive knowledge of patient care. It takes fifteen (15) months to complete the program.
Admission Requirements
To enroll in Illinois State University’s Accelerated BSN program, you must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from a non-nursing field with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
- Meet health and safety compliance requirements.
- State of Purpose
- CNA certification (optional)
- Complete prerequisite courses with a grade “C” or better in:
- Fundamentals of Chemistry (CHE 110+112 or CHE 140)
- Statistics (ECO/POL/PSY 138, MQM 100, or MAT 150)
- Fundamentals of Psychology (PSY 110)
- Lifespan Development Psychology (PSY 213)
- Microbiology and Society (SC 160)
- Human Physiology and Anatomy I (BSC 181 or KNR 181+183)
- Human Physiology and Anatomy II (BSC 182 or KNR 182+184)
- Fundamentals of Human Nutrition (FCS 102)
- Medical Terminology (HSC 105)
Tuition: $30,966 per year
2. Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Quincy
Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing & Health Sciences (BRCN) is a small, private, non-profit college in Quincy, IL that was founded in 1891. It is one of the schools that offer accelerated nursing programs in Illinois.
The college offers a Second Degree BSN to graduates of non-nursing degrees so that they can acquire the skills and knowledge required to meet the ever-changing health care field. It takes two (2) years to complete the program.
Admission Requirements
The admission requirements for BRCN’s Second Degree BSN option include:
- A bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 on the 4.0 scale.
- Completion of prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or higher in English Composition I & II, Introduction to Psychology (SC) & Developmental/Lifespan Psychology (SC), Anatomy & Physiology I & II (SC), Microbiology (SC), Speech, and Ethics (SC).
Tuition: $26,400 per year
3. Lakeview College of Nursing, Danville
Lakeview College of Nursing is a private nursing college in Danville, Illinois, and is among the institutions that offer accelerated nursing programs in Illinois.
The college offers a nursing prelicensure accelerated track that allows students to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Students are offered a curriculum comprising classroom education and clinical training. It takes two (2) years to complete the program.
The coursework includes Infant, Child & Adolescent Health, Population & Global Health, and Older Adult Health.
Admission Requirements
The entry requirements for the Second Degree BSN program include:
- A bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on the 4.0 scale.
- Official transcripts.
- Complete health requirements.
- Pass HESI A2 admission assessment exam.
- Hold a grade of “C” or better in the following prerequisite courses:
- Anatomy & Physiology I or Human Anatomy with lab
- Anatomy & Physiology II or Human Physiology with lab
- Chemistry I or Inorganic Chemistry with lab
- Chemistry II or Organic/Biochemistry with lab
- Life Span Development or Human Growth & Dev.
- Medical Terminology
- Microbiology with lab
- Nutrition
- Statistics
Tuition: $460 per credit hour
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4. Lewis University, Romeoville
Lewis University is a private Roman Catholic and Lasallian university in Romeoville, Illinois that was founded in 1932.
The university offers a two-year Accelerated BSN program that comprises classroom work during the week and clinicals on the weekends. Students will have to complete 128 credit hours of coursework over four (4) semesters.
Admission Requirements
The admission requirements for the Accelerated BSN program at Lewis University are as follows:
- A bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.
- Official transcripts.
- Complete any of the following entrance exams:
- KAT testing with a minimum score of 82 in maths and 78 in reading comprehension.
- ATI TEAS exam with a minimum composite score of 67 percent
- ACT minimum score of 22 in maths and 22 in reading
- SAT minimum score of 540 in maths and 560 in reading
Tuition: $600 per credit
5. Loyola University Chicago, Downers Grove
Loyola University Chicago is one of the institutions that offer accelerated nursing programs in Illinois.
The university offers the Accelerated BSN program online through Downers Grove and in person at the Maywood campus. Loyola University’s ABSN curriculum involves three stages of learning:
- Stage 1: Accelerated nursing courses establish the foundation of your education.
- Stage 2: Skills and nursing simulation labs put your course knowledge into practice.
- Stage 3: Clinical training.
Admission Requirements
The entry requirements for both the 12-month and 16-month Accelerated BSN programs include:
- A bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Complete Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
- Hold a grade of “C” or higher in prerequisite courses including Organic Chemistry or Chemistry for Health Professionals with lab, Anatomy, and Physiology I & II with lab, Microbiology, Introduction to Psychology, Developmental Psychology, English, History, and Statistics.
Tuition: $28,810 per year
The ABSN program at Loyola University Chicago is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
6. Methodist College, Peoria
Methodist College is a private college in Peoria, Illinois that was founded in 2000.
The college offers a Second Degree Accelerated BSN program that begins in the Fall and Spring semesters each year. Students may choose to either take the program online or part-time (during the weekends).
After completing the program, graduates take the NCLEX-RN exam to become licensed nurses.
Admission Requirements
If you are applying for the Accelerated Pre-licensure BSN program, you will have to meet the following entry requirements:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on the 4.0 scale.
- Submit official transcripts.
- Completion of prerequisite courses with grade “C” or better in Anatomy & Physiology I (w/ lab), Anatomy & Physiology II (w/ lab), and Microbiology (w/ lab).
Tuition: $677 per credit
7. Saint John’s College, Springfield
St. John’s College is a private Catholic college in Springfield, IL.
The college offers nursing programs among which is the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program. During the program, students take classes with traditional BSN students but with additional two classes during the first.
Students will complete four (4) semesters of classroom work and clinical rotations. Upon graduation, students take the NCLEX-RN exam.
Admission Requirements
The admission requirements for the Accelerated BSN program are as follows:
- Completed application.
- A bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.
- Complete the Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS) with a score of Proficient or higher.
- Submit official transcripts.
- Two letters of reference.
- Personal essay.
- Complete TOEFL and achieve a score of 560 on the paper version, 220 on the computer-based version, or 83 on the internet-based (iBT) version.
Tuition: $417 per credit
The Accelerated BSN program at St. John’s College is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
8. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) is a public university in Edwardsville, Illinois that was established in 1957. It is one of the schools that offer accelerated nursing programs in Illinois.
SIUE offers an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) option that lets students earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) with a major in nursing through three semesters and one summer session. The curriculum consists of classroom teaching and clinical training.
After completing the program, graduates go on to take the NCLEX-RN exam and acquire a license to become registered nurses.
Admission Requirements
If you wish to enroll in the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing at SIUE, you must meet the requirements below:
- A completed application.
- Hold a bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Submit official transcripts.
- Complete prerequisite courses with grade “C” or higher in ENG 101, PSYC 111, CHEM 120A or equivalent, BIOL 240A, BIOL 240B, BIOL 250, STAT 107 (or STAT 244), PHIL 225, 320 or 321, and NURS 234
Tuition: $304 per credit
SIUE’s accelerated nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
9. Trinity College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Rock Island
Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences is a small, private college in Rock Island, Illinois that was established in 1994. It is one of the many schools that offer accelerated nursing programs in Illinois.
Trinity College of Nursing and Health Sciences offers the Accelerated BSN (BSN-A) option to individuals who wish to transition from their current careers to nursing.
The curriculum combines both didactic and clinical nursing experiences where students learn about the best practices in nursing, research utilization, leadership & management, community assessment & planning, historical & political influences on health care, and information management.
Students complete the Accelerated BSN program in 15 months, afterward they take the NCLEX-RN to become registered nurses.
Admission Requirements
The admission requirements for ECPI University Orlando’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing include:
- A bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Personal statement.
- Have a grade of “C” or better in prerequisite courses such as Anatomy and Physiology I, Anatomy and Physiology II, Microbiology, Advanced Science with lab, Human Growth & Development, and Statistics.
Tuition: $697 per credit
10. Elmhurst College, Elmhurst
Elmhurst College is a private liberal arts college in Elmhurst, Illinois that was founded in 1871. It has an affiliation with the United Church of Christ.
While other institutions offer Accelerated BSN programs, Elmhurst is one of the institutions in Illinois that offers a Master’s Entry in Nursing Practice (MENP) program.
The program which lasts for two years combines on-campus and online instruction. Students gain advanced knowledge and skills in patient care, graduating to take the NCLEX-RN and Clinical Nurse Leader certification exam.
Admission Requirements
The entry requirements into Elmhurst College’s Master’s Entry in Nursing Practice (MENP) are as follows:
- A bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20 on a 4.00 scale.
- Submit official transcripts.
- Have a grade of “C” or higher in prerequisite courses including General Chemistry with lab, Microbiology with lab, and Human Anatomy and Human Physiology with labs.
- Personal Statement.
- Professional resume.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- Interview
Tuition: $30,000 per year
Elmhurst College’s Accelerated MSN is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.