The Master’s in Nursing degree programs in Illinois are top-notch and plentiful. Nicknamed the “Land of Lincoln” and the “Prairie State,” Illinois is the 5th most populous and 25th most extensive state most famous for being home to the third largest city in the nation, Chicago. Situated in the Midwestern Great Lakes region of the United States, Illinois is often noted as being a microcosm of the entire country for its diverse economy. For students who are interested in advancing their nursing career, the following are the first half (A-N) accredited Master’s in Nursing degree programs offered in Illinois.
Aurora University
School of Nursing
Based in the second largest city of Illinois just 40 miles from downtown Chicago with a satellite location at the George Williams campus on the shores of Lake Geneva, Aurora University is an inclusive private institution. Known for being situated along the Illinois Research and Development Corridor, the institution is committed to the transformative power of learning outside the classroom. The School of Nursing provides state-of-the-art nursing education facilities to produce qualified care providers, educators, researchers, managers, and advocates.
Master’s in Nursing Degree Programs
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Designed for nurses who are interested in stepping into leadership roles in the healthcare field, the MSN program has been structured to meet the needs of adult working leaders through eight-week blocks of 38 semester hours to achieve a concentration track in Nursing Education or Nursing Administration.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)
Contact Information
347 S. Gladstone Avenue
Aurora, IL 60506
(630) 892-6431
[email protected]
http://www.aurora.edu/academics/colleges-schools/nursing/#axzz2o3LzG57A
Benedictine University
Department of Nursing and Health
Guided by a Roman Catholic tradition and Benedictine heritage to provide a liberal arts education to students from diverse backgrounds, Benedictine University is a private institution based on a 108-acre campus in the suburban setting of Lisle. According to the U.S. News and World Report, the BU Department of Nursing and Health is nationally recognized for having the 49th best online graduate nursing programs in the United States.
Master’s in Nursing Degree Programs
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – With the goal of preparing nurses for the vital role in continued quality of patient care through new technologies and improving collaborative systems, the MSN program offers two concentrations in Nurse Educator and Nurse Administrator to transform nursing careers for the demands of the current healthcare field.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)
Contact Information
5700 College Road
Lisle, IL 60532
(630) 829-6300
[email protected]
http://online.ben.edu/msn/masters-in-nursing
Bradley University
Department of Nursing
As a private independent that offers a world-class education to its more than 5,700 students, Bradley University is located in the historic West Bluff residential neighborhood of Peoria less than three hours from Chicago. According to the U.S. News and World Report, Bradley is ranked as the 5th best college and 7th top value school in the Midwest. Furthermore, the Department of Nursing has been nationally acclaimed for having the 257th best graduate nursing programs in the United States.
Master’s in Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Nursing Administration – The Nursing Administration program track is structured to prepare graduate students for first-line nursing management roles as executives in a variety of healthcare organizations through a total of 36 semester hours completed within four semesters full-time or six semesters part-time.
MSN Nursing Education – Intended to prepare registered nurses for employment as nursing staff educators or academic educators at universities for entry-level nurses, the Nursing Education program track involves 36 semester hours in curriculum development, nursing theory, research methods, instructional strategies, and teaching practicum.
Accreditations
National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC)
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)
Contact Information
Burgess Hall Room 302
1501 W. Bradley Avenue
Peoria, IL 61625
(309) 677-2530
[email protected]
https://www.bradley.edu/academic/departments/nur/
DePaul University
School of Nursing
Considered the nation’s largest Catholic university with over 25,000 students on its six campuses in and around Chicago, DePaul University is a comprehensive institution with a strong liberal arts foundation. Consistently ranked among the top 25 for its vast service learning programs, the U.S. News and World Report currently ranks DePaul as being the 121st best college in the nation. Not only is the School of Nursing recognized for having the 127th best graduate nursing programs, but it also has the 72nd best for nursing anesthesia.
Master’s in Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) – Focused on preparing registered nurses for advanced practice roles in assessing and managing adult health and common acute or chronic illnesses, the AGNP program track requires students to complete at least 54 credits emphasized on patient-centered evidence-based practice.
MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) – Consisting of 54 semester credits covering topics in applied physiology, health assessment, clinical management, nursing theories, pharmacology, and professional practicum, the FNP program track aims to produce qualified graduates to serve as primary caregivers to individuals and families across the lifespan.
MSN Nurse Anesthesia – Offered in conjunction with the North Shore University Health System as the first program to be accredited by the CANAEP in the nation in 1952, the Nurse Anesthesia program track serves to educate graduate students on the advanced scientific knowledge and competency in technical skills needed to excel as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA).
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (CANAEP)
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)
Contact Information
1 East Jackson St.
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 362-8000
[email protected]
https://csh.depaul.edu/academics/nursing/Pages/default.aspx
Elmhurst College
Deicke Center for Nursing Education
Set in a small town amid apple orchards and cornfields on a tranquil 48-acre campus with distance of metropolitan Chicago, Elmhurst College is a private liberal arts institution founded in the traditions of the United Church of Christ. According to the U.S. News and World Report, Elmhurst is currently ranked as the 11th best college and 13th top value school in the Midwest. Even more importantly, the Deicke Center for Nursing Education has been nationally acclaimed for offering the 265th best nursing programs to graduate students.
Master’s in Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) – Designed to provide a framework for clinical leadership in an advanced role in nursing to achieve optimal health outcomes for individuals and populations through 33 semester hours, the CNL program focuses on the knowledge and skills for management or administration in various healthcare organizations with interdisciplinary teams.
MSN Clinical Nurse Educator (CNE) – In preparation for taking the Certified Nurse Educator examination from the National League for Nursing (NLN), the CNE program track aims to develop graduates who have a deep understanding of curriculum design, implementation, and evaluation to assume roles as clinical faculty members.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)
Contact Information
190 Prospect Ave.
Elmhurst, IL 60126
(630) 279-4100
[email protected]
http://public.elmhurst.edu/nrs
Governors State University
Department of Nursing
Situated in the heart of Chicago’s Southland with the safest public university campus in Illinois, Governor’s State University is an upper-division institution that specializes in offering graduate degree programs to working professional adults. Home to more than 5,500 students on its vast 750-campus, GSU is accredited for academic excellence by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. The Department of Nursing is nationally recognized for having the 435th best graduate nursing programs by the U.S. News and World Report.
Master’s in Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (ACNS) – The ACNS program track is structured to provide registered nurses with a thorough understanding of evidence-based practice to integrate research into real-world applications to improve the level of patient care through a comprehensive curriculum covering the full range of challenges.
MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) – Offered in response to the growing need for qualified primary healthcare providers to serve the needs of individuals and families in a variety of care settings across the age spectrum, the FNP program track requires students to complete a minimum of 45 semester hours and 500 clinical practicum hours.
MSN Nursing Administration – Drawing upon the expertise of the departments of Nursing and Health Administration to provide registered nurses with the preparation needed to manage the most efficient care of patients, the Nursing Administration program track covers all aspects of management from marketing to informatics and negotiations.
Accreditations
National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC)
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)
Contact Information
1 University Parkway
University Park, IL 60484
(708) 534-5000
[email protected]
https://www.govst.edu/NursingMS/
Illinois State University
Mennonite College of Nursing
Highly regarded for being the first comprehensive public institution founded in the state in 1857, Illinois State University is situated in the small town of Normal about 130 miles southwest of Chicago. Home to more than 18,000 students, ISU is ranked as the 152nd best college and 81st top public school in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. Moreover, the Mennonite College of Nursing at ISU is nationally acclaimed for hosting the 166th best graduate nursing programs in the United States.
Master’s in Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) – The CNL program sequence prepares registered nurses to function as leaders within complex healthcare environments with a strong emphasis on nursing leadership, client outcomes management, care environment management, and evidence-based practice at the microsystem level.
MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) – Based on the synthesis of knowledge in pathophysiology, pharmacotherapeutics, epidemiology, diagnostic reasoning, health assessment, research roles, and ethical issues, the FNP program prepares graduates for direct health services for preventive and self-care measures by completing 660 hours of practice.
MSN Nursing Systems Administration (NSA) – Within the NSA program sequence covering four semesters, graduates are prepared to function at executive levels as innovative, collaborative leaders in the changing healthcare environments with the benefit of a flexible online schedule with specialized student attention in small class sizes.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)
Contact Information
Campus Box 5810
Normal, IL 61790
(309) 438-7400
[email protected]
http://nursing.illinoisstate.edu/academics/
Lewis University
College of Nursing
Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers as the seventh largest private non-profit in Illinois with nearly 6,600 students, Lewis University is situated on a 410-campus in the suburban setting of Romeoville. According to the 2014 edition of the U.S. News and World Report, Lewis is ranked as the 34th best college in the Midwest. As a member of the prestigious American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the Lewis College of Nursing is nationally recognized for serving graduate students the 295th best nursing programs in the entire country.
Master’s in Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-PCNP) – Offered in a traditional 16-week format over the course of five semesters, the AG-PCNP program track is designed to prepare nurses for primary healthcare for adolescents and adults with advanced skills in health promotion, diagnostics, disease prevention, and patient education.
MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) – Through an intensive 52-credit curriculum based on adult health assessment, applied physiology, pharmacotherapeutics, and epidemiology, the FNP program track prepares nurses to provide primary healthcare for infants, children, adolescents, adults, and women in a variety of health services.
MSN Healthcare Systems Leadership – Available to students through an innovative online format to support diverse learning needs, the Healthcare Systems Leadership program track prepares students to lead the administration of nursing and patient care services with the goal of improving the delivery of healthcare and nursing at large.
MSN Nursing Education – Ideal for students who have the goal of becoming a nurse educator within an academic, healthcare, and/or community setting, the Nursing Education program provides needed skills in curriculum design, instructional methodology, program evaluation, and educational research.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)
Contact Information
1 University Parkway
Romeoville, IL 60446
(815) 836-5610
[email protected]
http://www.lewisu.edu/academics/nursing/
Loyola University Chicago
Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing
As the largest private Jesuit institution in the nation with more than 15,700 students on its campus nestled alongside the banks of Lake Michigan, Loyola University Chicago is ranked as the 101st best college and 44th best value school in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. In addition, the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing has been acclaimed for having the 50th best graduate nursing programs in the United States.
Master’s in Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Adult/Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AG-CNS) – Focused on the advanced theoretical knowledge and practice skills needed to address the acute or primary care needs of patients from late adolescence through older adulthood, the AG-CNS program track is offered in an online format with the requirement of 2,000 clinical hours of practice.
MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) – Delivered in an innovative blend of online and face-to-face coursework with extensive field practicum experiences, the FNP program track centers on developing primary care nurse practitioners who can competently provide services across the healthcare continuum from wellness to illness.
MSN Health Systems Management – Founded from a collaboration with the Quinlan School of Business with subspecialties in Informatics and Outcomes Performance Management, the Health Systems Management program track requires students to complete 38 semesters of online studies in preparation for leadership healthcare roles.
MSN Infection Prevention – Designed to prepare professional nurses for practice in an advanced role to meet the challenges of healthcare in terms of infections, emerging diseases, environmental hazards, and bioterrorism, the Infection Prevention program track consists of 41 semester hours of study offered in an online format.
MSN Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) – With the goal of producing qualified professionals who can provide patient-centered quality healthcare specifically to women across the lifespan, the WHNP program track involves specialty courses in reproductive health, childbearing, complex family health problems, and health assessment.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)
Contact Information
BVM Building Room 800
1032 West Sheridan Rd.
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 508-3249
[email protected]
https://www.luc.edu/nursing/academics/degreeprograms/graduatedegrees/masterofscienceinnursing/
McKendree University
Division of Nursing
As a private institution situated in the peaceful residential campus in the town of Lebanon minutes away from the vibrant city of St. Louis, McKendree University is currently ranked as the 68th best college and 21st best college for veterans in Midwest by the U.S. News and World Report. Furthermore, the Division of Nursing is acclaimed for having the 411th best graduate nursing programs in the country.
Master’s in Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Nursing Education – Designed for nurses who desire to combine their clinical expertise with their passion for teaching to educate nurses or patients within clinical settings, the Nurse Education program track consists of coursework on health assessment, clinical pharmacology, theoretical nursing foundations, educational methods, program evaluation, and practicum.
MSN Nursing Management/Administration – Offered to working registered nurses who want to further their career for advanced practice roles in an online format, the Nursing Management/Administration program prepares graduates for leadership roles in all healthcare organization settings.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)
Contact Information
701 College Rd.
Lebanon, IL 62254
(618) 537-6437
[email protected]
http://www.mckendree.edu/academics/info/nursing-health/nursing/msn.php
Millikin University
School of Nursing
Ranked as the 13th best college in the Midwest by the U.S. News and World Report, Millikin University is a private primarily undergraduate 75-acre institution of nearly 2,500 students. Within the School of Nursing, students have access to enrolling in the 193rd best graduate nursing programs that are nationally acclaimed for excellence.
Master’s in Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) – Designed to prepare graduates for overseeing the care coordination of patients and providing direct patient care in complex healthcare situations through evidence-based practice, the CNL program builds strong leadership skills through the completion of an eight-week residency of 400 clinical practice hours.
MSN Nurse Educator – With a strong emphasis on experiential learning opportunities of teaching pedagogy and assessment of learning, the Nurse Educator program is ideal for nurses who wish to educate future nurses in academic universities, continuing education programs, or staff development.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)
Contact Information
1184 West Main St.
Decatur, IL 62522
(217) 424-6348
[email protected]
Northern Illinois University
School of Nursing and Health Studies
Currently ranked as the 177th best college and 98th top public school in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report survey, Northern Illinois University is located about 65 miles west of Chicago in the small city of DeKalb. Even more importantly, the NIU School of Nursing and Health Sciences boasts the 127th best nursing programs for advanced graduate students.
Master’s in Nursing Degree Programs
MSN Adult/ Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-PCNP) – Intended for nurses who have the desire to provide competent care to meet the primary needs of adults from late adolescence to older adulthood, the AG-PCNP program track involves 35 semester credits of specialized coursework.
MSN Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) – Requiring students to complete a minimum of 35 semester credits for completion with three distinct internship experiences in child, women’s, and adult health, the FNP program is designed for preparing advanced practice nurses for providing primary care for individuals and families from birth to older adulthood.
MSN Nursing Education – With the mission of preparing qualified advanced professional nurses for training future or current nurses in academic or clinical settings, the Nursing Education program is strongly based on coursework in health assessment, clinical laboratory, nursing theoretical foundations, curriculum development, program outcomes, learning evaluation, and education internship.
Accreditations
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)
Contact Information
1240 Normal Rd.
DeKalb, IL 60115
(815) 753-1231
[email protected]
http://www.chhs.niu.edu/nursing/ms/index.shtml
For Master’sin Nursing degree programs in Illinois (O-Z), click here.