Illinois has 17 universities offering nurse practitioner programs across six NP specialties: family (FNP), psychiatric mental health (PMHNP), adult-gerontology primary care (AGPCNP), adult-gerontology acute care (AGACNP), and pediatric primary and acute care (PNP-PC, PNP-AC). Students can enter through MSN, BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, and post-graduate certificate pathways, and three schools admit some RNs without a BSN. Family practice dominates: 16 schools offer FNP, and seven offer nothing else.
Jump to: FNP (16) PMHNP (9) AGPCNP (6) AGACNP (5) PNP-PC (2) PNP-AC (2)
Rush University and the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) both offer all six specialties, but neither offers an NP master’s, and six Illinois schools prepare NPs only at the doctoral level. Per-credit rates run from $421 at Governors State to $1,493 at Rush. Format, cost, and placement policy often change by specialty within the same university.
Compare Illinois Nurse Practitioner Programs
| School | Specialties | Degrees | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rush University Chicago | FNP PMHNP AGPCNP AGACNP PNP-PC PNP-AC | DNP • Certificate | Varies by specialty |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Chicago | FNP PMHNP AGPCNP AGACNP PNP-PC PNP-AC WHNP | DNP • Certificate | Hybrid |
| Bradley University Peoria | FNP PMHNP AGPCNP AGACNP | RN-to-MSN • MSN • DNP • Certificate | Varies by specialty |
| Loyola University Chicago Chicago | FNP PMHNP AGPCNP AGACNP | DNP • Certificate | Varies by specialty |
| DePaul University Chicago | FNP PMHNP AGPCNP FNP/PMHNP | MSN • DNP • Certificate | Online |
| Illinois State University (ISU) Normal | FNP PMHNP | MSN • DNP • Certificate | Varies by specialty |
| North Central College Naperville | FNP PMHNP | MSN • Certificate | Mostly Online |
| North Park University Chicago | FNP AGPCNP | MSN • DNP • Certificate | Mostly Online |
| Rosalind Franklin University North Chicago | PMHNP AGACNP | DNP • Certificate | Varies by specialty |
| University of St. Francis Joliet | FNP PMHNP | RN-to-MSN • MSN • Certificate | Online |
| Aurora University Aurora | FNP | DNP | Mostly Online |
| Governors State University University Park | FNP | MSN • Certificate | Hybrid |
| Northern Illinois University (NIU) DeKalb | FNP | MSN • DNP | Mostly Online |
| Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais | FNP | MSN • Certificate | Online |
| Saint Anthony College of Nursing Rockford | FNP | MSN • DNP • Certificate | Hybrid |
| Saint Xavier University Chicago | FNP | MSN • Certificate | Mostly Online |
| Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) Edwardsville | FNP | DNP | Mostly Online |
Schools are listed by number of NP specialties offered, then alphabetically. Specialties show programs identified in our Illinois specialty research, and not every degree is available in every specialty. UIC also offers a women’s health (WHNP) track, and DePaul offers a dual FNP/PMHNP track.
“Varies by specialty” marks real differences. At Rush, AGACNP students attend weekly campus courses while PMHNP students have no required visits. Bradley’s PMHNP and adult-gerontology tracks are fully online, but its FNP requires a two-day bootcamp. ISU’s FNP meets weekly in Normal, while its PMHNP certificate is fully online.
NP Programs by Specialty
Family Nurse Practitioner Programs
Sixteen of Illinois’s 17 NP schools offer FNP preparation, and seven offer no other NP specialty.
| School | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| Aurora | Doctorate only, with arranged placements; Illinois RN license required |
| Bradley | MSN open to ADN, diploma, and non-nursing bachelor’s holders |
| DePaul | Online, with four start terms a year and a dual FNP/PMHNP track |
| Governors State | $421 per credit for all U.S. residents |
| Illinois State | Lowest resident MSN ($25K), with a weekly campus day in Normal |
| Loyola | Only DNP with a dedicated emergency department block |
| North Central | Per-credit rate locked to the start year |
| North Park | Most MSN clinical hours (765); Illinois RN license required |
| NIU | MSN and BSN-to-DNP at a public-university rate |
| Olivet Nazarene | Fully online, with a 13-month certificate |
| Rush | Doctorate only, with placement inside its academic medical center |
| Saint Anthony | Weeknight classes in Rockford |
| Saint Xavier | Campus skills intensive; applicants must live and work in IL, IN, or WI |
| SIUE | Doctorate only, at public-university pricing for out-of-state nurses |
| St. Francis | Online MSN, with licensure alignment confirmed in seven states |
| UIC | Part-time DNP at three campuses with faculty-arranged placements |
- Cost: Resident MSN tuition runs from $25K at ISU and about $28K at Governors State to $58K at Bradley and DePaul.
- Doctorates: ISU’s $44K resident BSN-to-DNP is the lowest; Loyola’s Emergency-specialty DNP is the highest at $103K–$108K.
- Clinical hours: MSN totals range from 500 (DePaul) to 765 (North Park).
- Doctorate only: Aurora, Loyola, Rush, SIUE, and UIC offer no FNP master’s.
Compare all Illinois FNP programs →
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Programs
Nine schools offer PMHNP preparation, but only four offer a master’s.
| School | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| Bradley | RN-to-MSN, MSN, DNP, and certificate, with no campus visits |
| DePaul | MSN, DNP, certificate, and dual FNP/PMHNP, all online |
| Illinois State | Certificate only, open only to certified FNPs |
| Loyola | DNP with a substance use and addictions specialty |
| North Central | MSN with a single fall start each year |
| Rosalind Franklin | Arranges every placement across 1,120 clinical hours |
| Rush | Reduced-credit MSN-to-DNP; no required campus visits |
| St. Francis | Lowest-cost MSN ($39K), with RN-to-MSN entry |
| UIC | DNP and post-DNP certificate with faculty-arranged placements |
- Master’s options: Bradley, DePaul, North Central, and St. Francis. The other five offer the PMHNP as a doctorate, a certificate, or both.
- Certificate eligibility: ISU admits only certified FNPs and UIC requires a DNP, while DePaul accepts RNs with any graduate degree.
- Doctoral cost: about $68K at DePaul (derived) to $118K at Rosalind Franklin.
Compare all Illinois PMHNP programs →
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP Programs
Six schools offer AGPCNP preparation, and all six offer a doctorate.
| School | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| Bradley | No campus attendance; RN-to-MSN entry |
| DePaul | Online certificate open to RNs with any graduate degree |
| Loyola | Only AGPCNP track with an oncology specialty |
| North Park | Lowest doctoral tuition ($53K–$58K) and 765 patient-care hours |
| Rush | 38-credit DNP for certified APRNs |
| UIC | Faculty arrange every clinical site |
- Master’s options: North Park ($43K), Bradley ($54K), and DePaul ($57K).
- Placement: UIC and Loyola arrange sites. Bradley, DePaul, and North Park students find their own, with North Park faculty helping if the search fails.
Compare all Illinois AGPCNP programs →
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP Programs
All five AGACNP schools offer a BSN-to-DNP and a certificate, but only one offers a master’s.
| School | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| Bradley | Only MSN, including RN-to-MSN; fully online |
| Loyola | Requires CCRN and 2,000 practice hours before the first APRN rotation |
| Rosalind Franklin | Procedure-heavy DNP plus the lowest-cost certificate |
| Rush | Only MSN-to-DNP entry; weekly on-campus courses |
| UIC | Assigns sites near its Chicago, Rockford, or Urbana campus |
- Experience gates: Loyola, Rosalind Franklin, UIC, and Rush require six months to a year or more of acute care experience. Bradley publishes no minimum.
- Doctoral cost: BSN-entry tuition runs $80K to $106K, so placement and experience rules separate the options more than price.
Compare all Illinois AGACNP programs →
Pediatric Primary Care NP Programs
Rush and UIC are the only Illinois schools offering pediatric primary care, and both offer it only as a doctorate.
- Rush: BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP entry, with two campus skills days.
- UIC: BSN-to-DNP and a post-DNP certificate, with faculty-arranged clinicals and no RN experience requirement.
Compare all Illinois PNP programs →
Pediatric Acute Care NP Programs
Rush and UIC also both offer pediatric acute care, and their experience rules and placement models differ.
- Rush: BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, and a postgraduate certificate open to certified NPs. It requires six months of recent pediatric acute care experience and coordinates sites without guaranteeing one.
- UIC: a BSN-to-DNP requiring a year of full-time pediatric acute care experience by admission, plus a post-DNP certificate. Faculty arrange all sites near Chicago, Peoria, Rockford, or Urbana.
Compare all Illinois acute care NP programs →
Which Illinois NP School Fits Your Goals?
Widest Specialty Selection
Rush University and UIC each offer all six NP specialties. Rush adds MSN-to-DNP entry for certified APRNs in most of them, and UIC also offers a women’s health NP track.
Strongest Documented Placement Support
UIC faculty arrange clinical sites and preceptors in every specialty. In return, students must live within commuting distance of the campus that admits them.
Best for Nurses Without a BSN
Bradley University admits ADN, diploma, and non-nursing bachelor’s holders into FNP, PMHNP, AGACNP, and AGPCNP. No other Illinois school offers ADN entry in more than one specialty.
Lowest Cost
ISU’s fee-inclusive $562.91 resident rate produces a $25K FNP MSN and a $44K FNP doctorate, with a weekly campus day in Normal. Governors State charges $421 per credit to every U.S. resident.
No Campus Travel Across Several Specialties
DePaul University names no campus visits in its FNP, PMHNP, or AGPCNP tracks at any degree level, and it starts students four times a year. Students find their own preceptors, and practicums are closed in nine states.
Illinois NP Programs by Entry Pathway
ADN or RN to NP Programs
Three schools admit some RNs without a BSN, and the eligible credentials differ:
- Bradley (FNP, PMHNP, AGACNP, AGPCNP): ADN, diploma, or non-nursing bachelor’s, through an RN-to-MSN bridge
- DePaul (FNP, PMHNP, AGPCNP): ADN plus a non-nursing bachelor’s, with three bridge courses; ADN-only nurses must finish a BSN first
- St. Francis (PMHNP): RN-to-MSN entry for nurses without a BSN
No Illinois school offers ADN entry for pediatrics. Rush and UIC do accept RNs with a non-nursing bachelor’s into their doctorates.
BSN to MSN NP Programs
Eleven schools offer an NP master’s, but availability drops sharply outside FNP:
- FNP: 11 schools
- PMHNP: Bradley, DePaul, North Central, St. Francis
- AGPCNP: Bradley, DePaul, North Park
- AGACNP: Bradley
- Pediatrics: no in-state option
Six schools offer no NP master’s in any specialty: Aurora, Loyola, Rosalind Franklin, Rush, SIUE, and UIC.
BSN to DNP NP Programs
Twelve schools offer direct doctoral entry from a BSN:
- Rush and UIC: all six specialties
- Loyola: FNP, PMHNP, AGACNP, AGPCNP
- DePaul: FNP, PMHNP, AGPCNP, and dual FNP/PMHNP
- Bradley: FNP, PMHNP, AGACNP, AGPCNP
- Rosalind Franklin: PMHNP, AGACNP
- North Park: AGPCNP
- Aurora, Illinois State, NIU, Saint Anthony, SIUE: FNP
UIC’s doctorates are part-time, and its FNP runs four to five years. ISU’s $44K resident FNP is the lowest-cost doctorate.
MSN to DNP Programs
Rush runs the broadest MSN-entry doctorate, with separate plans for certified APRNs that cut the credit load roughly in half in PMHNP, AGACNP, AGPCNP, and pediatrics. North Park offers an AGPCNP MSN-to-DNP, and DePaul admits MSN holders with up to 12 transferred quarter hours. Aurora, Loyola, and Saint Anthony accept MSN-prepared nurses into their FNP doctorates, and UIC runs post-master’s DNPs for certified FNPs and PNP-ACs.
Post-Graduate NP Certificates
Certificates are widely available, but eligibility varies more than price.
| Specialty | Schools | Key Restriction |
|---|---|---|
| FNP | 12 schools | UIC requires a DNP; Governors State requires two years of hospital experience; several price by gap analysis |
| PMHNP | Bradley, DePaul, Illinois State, North Central, St. Francis, UIC | ISU: certified FNPs only; UIC: DNP required; DePaul: any graduate degree |
| AGPCNP | Bradley, DePaul, Loyola, North Park, UIC | Loyola and UIC: DNP required |
| AGACNP | All 5 | UIC and Rush: DNP required; Rosalind Franklin: APRN plus 1 year of acute care practice |
| PNP-PC | UIC | DNP required |
| PNP-AC | Rush, UIC | UIC: DNP required; Rush: certified NPs with pediatric acute care experience |
Master’s-prepared NPs adding a specialty should confirm eligibility first. Every UIC certificate requires a doctorate.
What Do NP Programs Cost in Illinois?
| School | Published Tuition Rate | Important Cost Context |
|---|---|---|
| Governors State | $421/credit | All U.S. residents; fees add $75 per credit; FNP only |
| Illinois State | $562.91/credit (resident) | Fees included; non-residents pay $1,040.82 |
| SIUE | $700/credit | Plus $114.80/credit in general fees; FNP DNP only |
| Olivet Nazarene | $725/credit | FNP only |
| NIU | $792.18/credit | FNP only |
| Saint Xavier | $799/credit | Online nursing rate; FNP only |
| St. Francis | $830/credit MSN; $810 certificate | FNP and PMHNP |
| DePaul | $852/quarter hour | About $1,278 per semester-hour equivalent |
| Rosalind Franklin | $845–$870/quarter hour | Varies by specialty and pathway |
| North Central | $861/credit | Locked to entry year |
| North Park | $876–$941/credit | Fee-inclusive; varies by pathway |
| Aurora | $900/credit | FNP DNP only |
| Saint Anthony | $1,014/credit | Total credits not published |
| UIC | $1,129/credit | Same for in-state and out-of-state; all six specialties |
| Bradley | $1,158/credit | Plus $250/semester technology fee |
| Loyola | $1,295/credit | Four specialties; course fees extra |
| Rush | $1,493/credit | Plus $429/semester DNP fee |
Compare equivalent pathways, not just per-credit rates:
- MSN: ISU’s $25K resident FNP is the lowest, and Governors State’s runs about $28K for all U.S. residents. Olivet and St. Francis are the lowest no-campus master’s at about $38K.
- BSN-to-DNP: ISU’s $44K resident FNP is the lowest. Most other doctorates run $56K to $108K, and Rosalind Franklin’s PMHNP reaches $118K.
- Certificates: Rosalind Franklin’s AGACNP ($13K–$15K), ISU’s PMHNP ($14K), Governors State’s FNP (about $15K), and ISU’s FNP ($15K) are the cheapest, but each limits who can enroll.
The lowest per-credit school may not be the cheapest route to your goal. Specialty availability, fees, residency status, and total credits all shift the final cost.
Online NP Programs in Illinois
Attendance requirements change by specialty more often than by school.
No required campus attendance
- DePaul (FNP, PMHNP, AGPCNP)
- Bradley (PMHNP, AGACNP, AGPCNP)
- St. Francis (FNP, PMHNP) and Olivet Nazarene (FNP)
- Rush (PMHNP; synchronous classes)
- Illinois State (PMHNP certificate) and Rosalind Franklin (AGACNP certificate)
Limited campus attendance
- Bradley FNP: one 2-day bootcamp
- North Park FNP and AGPCNP: one 3-day immersion
- North Central FNP and PMHNP: 2–3 immersions
- Saint Xavier FNP: campus skills days in years 2 and 3
- NIU FNP: one immersion day per DNP project semester
- SIUE FNP: immersions about once a year
- Aurora FNP: weekend intensives
- Rosalind Franklin PMHNP: four 2–4 day immersions
- Rush FNP: 17 to 18 campus days in total; AGPCNP: at least five visits; pediatric tracks: two to four short visits
- Loyola PMHNP: immersion weekends, number not published
Recurring campus attendance
- Illinois State FNP: weekly campus day in Normal
- Saint Anthony FNP: weeknight classes in Rockford
- UIC (all specialties): on-site and blended courses; FNP courses meet every 3–4 weeks
- Rush AGACNP: weekly on-campus courses
- Loyola FNP, AGACNP, AGPCNP: on-site courses, labs, and simulation
- Rosalind Franklin AGACNP DNP: monthly campus blocks in two quarters
- Governors State FNP: hybrid, with meeting cadence not published
Every school with recurring attendance is in Chicago, Normal, Rockford, or University Park, or near a UIC regional campus. Nurses outside those areas will find their realistic options mostly in the first two groups.
Clinical Placement and Practicum Requirements
| School | Placement Approach | Important Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| UIC | University-arranged (all specialties) | Must live within commuting distance of a UIC campus |
| Loyola | University-arranged | Chicago-area sites only |
| Rush | Varies by specialty | Adult tracks placed in the Chicago area; PNP-AC coordinated without a guarantee |
| Illinois State | Varies by specialty | FNP arranged within about an hour of Normal; PMHNP certificate student-secured |
| Rosalind Franklin | University-arranged (PMHNP) | Sites concentrated in Lake County; AGACNP policy not stated |
| Aurora, Saint Anthony | University-arranged (FNP) | Aurora requires an Illinois RN license; Saint Anthony typically places within 20 miles of Rockford |
| North Park, Saint Xavier | Faculty-assisted | North Park students search first; Saint Xavier admits only IL, IN, and WI residents |
| Governors State | Student-initiated, with school support | Some preceptors charge $6–$11 per clinical hour |
| Bradley, DePaul | Student-secured | Applies across all their specialties; DePaul practicums closed in nine states |
| North Central, Olivet, St. Francis | Student-secured | Preceptor search is largely the student’s job |
The trade-off is consistent across Illinois: schools that arrange placements tie students to a region, while the most location-flexible programs leave the preceptor search to the student.
Choosing an NP Program in Illinois
- Start with specialty. FNP students can choose from 16 schools; pediatric students have two.
- Decide on MSN or DNP early. Rush, UIC, and Loyola, the three broadest schools, offer no NP master’s.
- Check eligibility before comparing prices. Many certificates require a DNP or a specific existing certification.
- Map campus travel by specialty, not by school. The same university may require weekly attendance in one track and none in another.
- Weigh placement against location. Arranged placements usually come with geographic limits.
- Confirm residence and licensure rules. Aurora and North Park require an Illinois RN license at admission, Saint Xavier admits only IL, IN, and WI residents, and UIC requires students to live near a campus.
FAQ
How many nurse practitioner schools are in Illinois?
Seventeen Illinois universities offer NP programs. Sixteen offer FNP, and seven offer FNP as their only identified specialty.
Which NP specialties are available in Illinois?
Six: FNP (16 schools), PMHNP (9), AGPCNP (6), AGACNP (5), pediatric primary care (2), and pediatric acute care (2). UIC also offers a women’s health NP track.
Which Illinois school offers the most NP specialties?
Rush University and UIC each offer all six. Bradley and Loyola follow with four, and DePaul offers three.
Are there online NP programs in Illinois?
Yes. DePaul names no campus visits in FNP, PMHNP, or AGPCNP, and Bradley’s PMHNP, AGACNP, and AGPCNP are fully online. Olivet Nazarene (FNP), St. Francis (FNP and PMHNP), and Rush (PMHNP) also require no campus attendance.
Can I become an NP in Illinois with an ADN?
Yes. Bradley admits ADN-prepared nurses in FNP, PMHNP, AGACNP, and AGPCNP. DePaul admits ADN nurses who hold a non-nursing bachelor’s, and St. Francis offers RN-to-MSN entry in PMHNP.
Which schools offer BSN-to-DNP NP programs?
Twelve of the 17 do. Governors State, North Central, Olivet Nazarene, Saint Xavier, and St. Francis have no identified BSN-to-DNP.
What are the lowest-cost NP options?
For Illinois residents, Illinois State has the lowest FNP MSN ($25K) and FNP doctorate ($44K). Governors State charges $421 per credit to all U.S. residents, and Olivet’s and St. Francis’s $38K FNP master’s are the lowest with no campus attendance.