Nurse Practitioner (NP) Programs in Illinois

According to the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, to become a nurse practitioner in Illinois you first must successfully complete a graduate program in a nurse practitioner practice specialty area appropriate for national certification. Upon graduation from a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife or nurse anesthetist graduate program you will need to take the national certification exam appropriate to your specialty area. You will also need to hold a current registered nursing license in Illinois.

Online MSN programs with specializations in advanced practice nursing are popular options for working nurses and those nurses that do not have a program with their desired specialty in a convenient location. These programs offer the same course content as campus based programs and clinical site options often in the student’s local geography. Below you will find nursing program based in Illinois as well as online nursing programs along with contact information. You may also be interested in other MSN programs offered in Illinois.

Featured Programs:
Sponsored School(s)
Purdue Global Visit School's Website
Selected Program:
  • Graduate and Undergraduate Degrees and Postgraduate Certificates in Nursing
Grand Canyon University Visit School's Website
Selected Program:
  • Online Nursing Degrees
Liberty University Visit School's Website
Selected Program:
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing for the Registered Nurse
Walden University Visit School's Website
Selected Program:
  • Online Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral Nursing Programs and Certificates
Sacred Heart University Visit School's Website
Selected Program:
  • Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

According to the 2007 Illinois Nursing Workforce Survey Report, the most common annual salary range for advanced practice nurses in Illinois was between $65,000 and $85,000. The Advance for Nurse Practitioners 2007 salary survey found that nurse practitioners in Illinois earned an average annual salary of $81,934. These salaries will vary by specialty, geographic location, facility, experience and other factors.

Online Nurse Practitioner Programs Illinois

Maryville University

Maryville University – St. Louis offers two CCNE accredited online MSN Nurse Practitioner Programs: Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner.

Programs Offered Online: MSN – (Family Nurse Practitioner -FNP, Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner – AGNP)

Spring Arbor University

The Spring Arbor University MSN programs are in the accreditation process with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and are accredited by the The Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The MSN – Nurse Practitioner program is designed to prepare graduates to sit for National certification as an Adult and/or Gerontology Nurse Practitioner. Request information about these MSN programs today.

Programs Offered: Online MSN – (Concentrations: MSN/MBA, MSN/Education, MSN/Nurse Practitioner)

Frontier Nursing University – Distance Education

The Frontier Nursing University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of College and Schools. They offer online MSN Programs with post masters certificates in the following areas: Certified Nurse Midwifery (accredited by ACME), Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner (accredited by the NLNAC). FSMFN also offers an online DNP program accredited by the AACN.

Programs Offered: Online ADN – MSN (Tracks: Nurse Midwifery) , Online MSN – (Tracks: Nurse Midwifery), DNP (Online)

Graceland University – School of Nursing

The RN-BSN, RN to BSN/MSN and MSN programs are CCNE and NLNAC accredited. RN to BSN and RN to BSN/MSN program Practicums can be completed in the student’s community.

Programs Offered: RN to BSN, RN to BSN/MSN and MSN – (Specializations: Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator), Post-Graduate Certificate (Specializations: Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Education), Doctor of Nursing Practice DNP (Online)

Regis University – Loretto Height School of Nursing

The Regis University School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Programs Offered: RN to BSN, RN to MS in Nursing (Tracks: Leadership in Health Care Systems – Management or Education), Online DNP – (Tracks: Advanced Practice Nursing, Advanced Leadership in Health Care)

Schools Based in Illinois Offering Nurse Practitioner Programs

Rush University – College of Nursing

Nursing students may be eligible to complete all or a portion of their clinical site requirements at a clinical site near their home. If not, there are a number of clinical sites in the Chicago area that faculty will assist in setting up for the student. The Rush University – College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Programs Offered: MSN – (Tracks: Acute Care NP, Acute/Chronic Care Pediatric NP, Adult NP, Adult/Gerontological NP, Anesthesia, Family NP, Gerontological NP, Neonatal NP, Pediatric NP, Psychiatric NP), Post-Master’s certificates are offered for all ten NP tracks, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD)

DePaul University – Department of Nursing

The online RN to BSN is accredited by the CCNE.

Programs Offered: RN to BSN, MSN (Tracks in: Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthetist, Nursing Education, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Health Systems Leadership, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner)

DePaul University,
1 E. Jackson,
Chicago, IL 60604,
PH: 312-362-8000

Governors State University

The online RN to BSN is accredited by the NLNAC. The MSN programs are also NLNAC accredited.

Programs Offered: Online RN to BSN, MSN – (Clinical Specialist in Adult Health or Nurse Administrator Tracks), DNP

Governors State University,
1 University Parkway,
University Park, Illinois 60466-0975,
PH: 708-534-5000

Millikin University – Division of Nursing

The RN to BSN and MSN programs are NLNAC accredited.

Programs Offered: RN to BSN, MSN (Clinical Nurse Leader and Nurse Educator tracks)

School of Nursing – Millikin University,
1184 West Main Street,
Decatur, Illinois 62522,
PH: 217-424-6348

Northern Illinois University – School of Nursing & Health Sciences

The RN to BSN and MSN programs are NLNAC accredited.

Programs Offered: RN to BSN, MSN (Adult Clinical nurse specialists, Adult nurse practitioners, Family nurse practitioners, Nurse educators tracks)

School of Nursing,
1240 Normal Road,
DeKalb, IL 60115,
PH: 815-753-1231

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville – School of Nursing

Programs Offered: RN to BSN, MSN (Tracks in: Health Care and Nursing Administration, Nurse Anesthesia, Nurse Educator, and Family Nurse Practitioner)

SIUE School of Nursing,
Alumni Hall, Room 2117
Campus Box 1066,
Edwardsville, IL 62026,
PH: 618-650-3956

Loyola University Chicago Niehoff – School of Nursing

Programs Offered: RN to MSN, MS in Nursing (Graduate Majors: Acute Care, Adult Health, Cardiac Health and Disease Management, Family Health, Health Systems Management, Oncology, Population-Based Infection Control and Environmental Safety (PICES)Women’s Health)

Loyola University Chicago Niehoff – School of Nursing,
Lake Shore Campus,
6525 North Sheridan Road,
Chicago, IL 60626,
PH: 773-508-3249

University of Illinois at Chicago – College of Nursing

Programs Offered: MS in Nursing (Concentrations in: Acute Care CNS, Acute Care NP, Adult NP, Adult/Geriatric NP, Geriatric CNS, Geriatric NP, Family NP, Mental Health CNS, Mental Health NP, Occupational Health/Advanced Community Health Nurse Specialist, Occupational Health/Family NP, School/Advanced Community Health Nurse Specialist, School/Family NP, Pediatric NP, Pediatric CNS, Perinatal CNS, Nurse Midwifery, Women’s Health NP, Administrative Studies in Nursing, Advanced Community Health Nurse Specialist

UIC College of Nursing,
845 South Damen Avenue MC 802,
Chicago, IL 60612,
PH: 312-996-7800

Back to Top | Nursing Schools in Illinois