The University of Illinois at Chicago was ranked No. 8 in the "U.S. News & World Report" "Top 25 Graduate Nursing Schools in 2007." The University of Illinois has several degrees available for students of nursing. The school offers two different programs to obtain a bachelor's of science in nursing (BSN) through the traditional on-campus learning for new students and an online program for those already working in the field as licensed registered nurses. A master of science in nursing is also available with over 20 nursing specialties. A graduate-entry program is also offered, which allows students with bachelor's degrees in other fields to spend about 15 months learning the fundamentals of nursing and then testing to obtain their RN license. After passing the RN exam, they can begin advancing toward a master's in nursing degree. The school also has two doctoral degrees available, one as a doctor of philosophy in nursing and the other as a doctor of nursing practice.
This school of nursing was founded in 1935 and has over 5,000 alumni nationwide. There are many certificate programs, as well as undergraduate, master's and doctoral degrees available. The admission requirements to attend the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing are very competitive and based on grade point average (GPA), class rank, SAT or ACT score and a brief essay. Certain courses must have been taken in high school in order to apply. These include course units in chemistry, biology, algebra, geometry, English and social sciences. Some accelerated and dual-degree programs are also available. About 85 percent of the full-time teaching staff at the Loyola University Chicago--Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing have doctoral degrees.
Besides being famous for its basketball team, the DePaul Blue Demons, DePaul University is also recognized as being the first school in Illinois to have a graduate program in nursing administration and education. DePaul University offers a B.S.N. degree, as well as four master's degrees.
The North Park University School of Nursing prepares students for careers in various health care settings, such as medical institutions, long-term care facilities, private health organizations and private practice. It has a fundamental teaching component that encompasses its mission as an urban, multi-cultural and Christian institution. The university has several bachelor's and master's programs in nursing, including some specifically designed programs for current registered nurses. The baccalaureate program is for students working on their pre-licensure and post-licensure degrees. It also offers a nursing graduate and post-master's program.