Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing associate's degree programs in Illinois
Compare 38 reporting programs using the same federal field and associate's degree credential definition. Earnings are observed four years after completion.
Highest reported earnings in Illinois
Each bar uses the same field, credential, state and earnings year.
1Ambria College of NursingHoffman Estates · $36,518 federal debt$93,1222City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X CollegeChicago · $15,660 federal debt$89,1783Prairie State CollegeChicago Heights · $24,122 federal debt$87,2124Moraine Valley Community CollegePalos Hills · $19,345 federal debt$86,8625Kishwaukee CollegeMalta · Debt not reported$85,6326McHenry County CollegeCrystal Lake · Debt not reported$85,2087Waubonsee Community CollegeSugar Grove · $14,500 federal debt$84,3548Joliet Junior CollegeJoliet · $18,617 federal debt$83,4139Rock Valley CollegeRockford · $15,750 federal debt$83,37310Oakton CollegeDes Plaines · $10,000 federal debt$83,364
CAREER CONTEXT IN IL
What related occupations pay in Illinois
These are common occupational matches for this field, ranked by the strength of the federal education-to-occupation match.
25-1072Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
- State median wage
- $79,150
- Middle 50% wage range
- $61,060–$94,750
- State employment
- 4,940
- Projected growth
- +17.1%
- Annual openings
- 8,500
29-1141Registered Nurses
- State median wage
- $95,990
- Middle 50% wage range
- $80,020–$105,960
- State employment
- 138,910
- Projected growth
- +5.6%
- Annual openings
- 180,800
29-1171Nurse Practitioners
- State median wage
- $130,680
- Middle 50% wage range
- $113,320–$142,000
- State employment
- 9,270
- Projected growth
- +41.0%
- Annual openings
- 29,400
11-9111Medical and Health Services Managers
- State median wage
- $117,850
- Middle 50% wage range
- $94,530–$164,440
- State employment
- 22,460
- Projected growth
- +24.2%
- Annual openings
- 62,300
29-1151Nurse Anesthetists
- State median wage
- $286,830
- Middle 50% wage range
- $209,370–$315,650
- State employment
- 1,140
- Projected growth
- +9.7%
- Annual openings
- 2,400
29-1161Nurse Midwives
- State median wage
- $120,840
- Middle 50% wage range
- $97,130–$138,120
- State employment
- 280
- Projected growth
- +11.5%
- Annual openings
- 400
Career wages and employment are BLS estimates for everyone working in each occupation in Illinois; they are not earnings or placement rates for graduates of these programs. Wage ranges show the distribution across workers, not an entry-to-experienced career path. Growth and annual openings are national 2025–35 projections. BLS reports openings in thousands; DegreeVerdict displays the corresponding job count. These figures provide labor-market context and are not used in DegreeVerdict payoff or ROI calculations.
ALL REPORTING PROGRAMS
Compare every available outcome
Sorted by observed year-4 earnings. Open a row for its exact college-and-degree profile.
| # | College | City | Median year-4 earnings | Median federal debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ambria College of Nursing | Hoffman Estates | $93,122 | $36,518 |
| 2 | City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College | Chicago | $89,178 | $15,660 |
| 3 | Prairie State College | Chicago Heights | $87,212 | $24,122 |
| 4 | Moraine Valley Community College | Palos Hills | $86,862 | $19,345 |
| 5 | Kishwaukee College | Malta | $85,632 | Not available |
| 6 | McHenry County College | Crystal Lake | $85,208 | Not available |
| 7 | Waubonsee Community College | Sugar Grove | $84,354 | $14,500 |
| 8 | Joliet Junior College | Joliet | $83,413 | $18,617 |
| 9 | Rock Valley College | Rockford | $83,373 | $15,750 |
| 10 | Oakton College | Des Plaines | $83,364 | $10,000 |
| 11 | Richland Community College | Decatur | $82,623 | $11,000 |
| 12 | William Rainey Harper College | Palatine | $82,445 | $15,000 |
| 13 | Lincoln Land Community College | Springfield | $82,042 | $20,416 |
| 14 | Triton College | River Grove | $81,882 | $18,209 |
| 15 | Lake Land College | Mattoon | $80,993 | $8,950 |
| 16 | Rasmussen University-Illinois | Rockford | $79,954 | $30,500 |
| 17 | Danville Area Community College | Danville | $79,636 | $11,372 |
| 18 | College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn | $78,079 | $15,750 |
| 19 | Kaskaskia College | Centralia | $77,911 | $8,250 |
| 20 | Kankakee Community College | Kankakee | $77,800 | $23,550 |
| 21 | College of Lake County | Grayslake | $77,242 | $12,005 |
| 22 | Carl Sandburg College | Galesburg | $77,213 | $9,437 |
| 23 | Elgin Community College | Elgin | $75,918 | $10,793 |
| 24 | Morton College | Cicero | $75,828 | $11,702 |
| 25 | Heartland Community College | Normal | $75,469 | $16,625 |
| 26 | Southwestern Illinois College | Belleville | $75,373 | $14,615 |
| 27 | John A Logan College | Carterville | $74,758 | $12,187 |
| 28 | Illinois Valley Community College | Oglesby | $74,452 | $12,175 |
| 29 | Highland Community College | Freeport | $74,116 | $17,500 |
| 30 | Rend Lake College | Ina | $73,721 | $11,875 |
| 31 | Illinois Central College | East Peoria | $72,230 | $16,781 |
| 32 | Black Hawk College | Moline | $71,466 | $14,250 |
| 33 | Shawnee Community College | Ullin | $70,926 | Not available |
| 34 | Lewis and Clark Community College | Godfrey | $70,291 | $12,500 |
| 35 | Spoon River College | Canton | $70,041 | Not available |
| 36 | Illinois Eastern Community Colleges | Olney | $68,534 | $14,437 |
| 37 | John Wood Community College | Quincy | $68,467 | $18,957 |
| 38 | Sauk Valley Community College | Dixon | $63,971 | $14,379 |
This is an observed-outcomes comparison, not a universal quality ranking. Missing and privacy-suppressed programs are excluded.
A quick read on Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing in Illinois
What do Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing associate's degree graduates earn in Illinois?
Across 38 reporting programs, the median observed earnings figure is $77,800 four years after completion.
How much federal debt is reported for these programs?
The median is $14,500 among the 34 programs reporting federal debt.
Which Illinois colleges report the highest earnings for this degree?
The table compares the same federal field, credential and earnings year. Ambria College of Nursing has the highest reported figure among the programs shown.