Illinois Community Colleges
Nursing Programs
Compare nursing programs across community colleges in this state. ADN, LPN, and pre-nursing pathways with section counts and transfer details.
13 colleges · 314 sections · 68 unique courses · Fall 2026
Illinois community colleges are the most popular launchpad into nursing in the state — 13 Illinois Community Colleges institutions offer the coursework and clinical hours required for the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN exam, and many graduates step directly into staff-nurse roles at local hospitals without ever attending a four-year school. The associate degree in nursing (ADN) typically takes two years full-time; LPN programs run 12–18 months.
This term, the 314 sections across these 13 colleges span the full nursing pipeline: pre-nursing prerequisites like anatomy and microbiology, the clinical ADN sequence, and bridge-to-BSN pathways for nurses planning to continue toward a bachelor's. Programs vary in clinical site partnerships, NCLEX pass rates, and waitlist length, so it pays to compare each college's awards-per-year and graduate earnings below before choosing where to apply.
Colleges offering Nursing
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parkland College | 64 | 12 | 2 | — | — |
| Triton College | 60 | 12 | — | — | — |
| Oakton College | 38 | 10 | — | — | — |
| Morton College | 36 | 6 | — | — | — |
| Danville Area Community College | 23 | 7 | — | — | — |
| South Suburban College | 18 | 3 | — | — | — |
| Shawnee Community College | 16 | 6 | — | — | — |
| Waubonsee Community College | 16 | 8 | — | — | — |
| Lewis and Clark Community College | 15 | 9 | — | — | — |
| Frontier Community College | 7 | 3 | — | — | — |
| Lincoln Trail College | 7 | 3 | — | — | — |
| Olney Central College | 7 | 3 | — | — | — |
| Wabash Valley College | 7 | 3 | — | — | — |
Nursing Availability Snapshot
How nursing sections are being offered across 13 colleges in Illinois this term (314 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person309 (98%)
- hybrid3 (1%)
- online2 (1%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)242
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)57
- Evening (5 PM and after)8
- Asynchronous / TBA7
Start dates
Sections begin on 19 distinct dates. 73 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 50 distinct instructors across 13 colleges.
Common Nursing courses
- NUR 108Foundations of Nursing Prac II(19 sections)
- NUR 107Foundations of Nursing Prac I(15 sections)
- NUR 1201NURSING I(15 sections)
- NUR 109Nursing Concepts 2A: Maternal-Child(11 sections)
- NUR 110Clinical Judgement in Nursing(11 sections)
- NUR 216Nursing Concepts 4A(11 sections)
- NUR 117Intr Med Principles/Nur(10 sections)
- NUR 214Nursing Pharmacology 3(10 sections)
- NUR 211Maternal Child Clinical(9 sections)
- NUR 215Nursing Concepts 3(9 sections)
- NUR 2201NURSING III(9 sections)
- NUR 104Nursing Concepts 1B(8 sections)
Career outlook for Nursing graduates
Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for the primary career outcome of this program (2024 OEWS release). Compare Illinois’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
Wage data reflects all workers in the occupation, not just recent CC graduates — entry-level pay is typically lower. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I become a registered nurse from a community college?
- Yes. An associate degree in nursing (ADN) from any accredited Illinois community college qualifies you to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam — the same exam BSN graduates take. ADN-prepared RNs work in the same hospitals and earn the same starting wage as BSN-prepared RNs at most Illinois employers, though some larger health systems prefer or require a BSN within 5 years of hire.
- How long does the nursing program take?
- The ADN is typically a 2-year full-time program (4 semesters of core nursing courses after prerequisites). Most Illinois community colleges expect students to complete 1–2 semesters of prerequisites — anatomy, physiology, microbiology, English, statistics — before applying to the competitive nursing cohort, so the total time from first enrollment is often 3 years.
- Do nursing credits transfer to a bachelor's program?
- Yes. Every Illinois Community Colleges ADN program has at least one RN-to-BSN bridge partnership with a four-year university — usually the closest state university. ADN graduates can typically complete the BSN online in 12–18 months while continuing to work as an RN, often with their employer covering tuition.
- What's the demand for nurses in Illinois?
- Strong and growing. BLS projects RN employment to grow 6% nationally through 2032 — faster than the average occupation — and Illinois faces the same aging-population pressure driving demand. Most Illinois ADN graduates have job offers before completing the program; rural hospitals and long-term care facilities offer signing bonuses and tuition forgiveness to recruit RNs.
Compare Nursing programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how Illinois’s nursing programs stack up.
Other programs in Illinois
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.