Top LPN to RN Programs in Chicago, Illinois 2023/2024
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) provide critical hands-on patient care in medical settings but often seek to advance to the Registered Nurse (RN) role for enhanced career opportunities and earning potential. LPN to RN bridge programs build on existing medical knowledge while training students in additional nursing skills, patient assessment, care planning, leadership, and more.
According to the Illinois Center for Nursing, demand for RNs in Illinois could outpace annual graduates by over 1,600 nurses by 2030. The Chicago metro alone could see over 11,500 RN job openings per year. LPN to RN programs offer an accelerated path to begin filling this growing talent gap while advancing your nursing competencies.
Here are 20 of the top LPN to RN programs in Chicago, Illinois that can launch your nursing career to new heights:
1. Elgin Community College
Key Program Features:
- Accredited LPN to RN Associate Degree program
- Blended curriculum with online and on-campus components
- Full-time (5 semesters) and part-time tracks available
- 650 hours of clinical practice through hospital partnerships
- High NCLEX-RN exam pass rate
- Faculty with extensive clinical experience
Elgin Community College provides a flexible and comprehensive LPN to RN program with the option to complete some general education courses online. The curriculum covers topics like adult medical nursing, mental health, pediatrics, obstetrics, and leadership. With 650 hours of clinical rotations across various specialty units, graduates gain exposure to diverse real-world health situations to prepare for RN practice.
2. McHenry County College
Key Program Features:
- Accredited LPN to RN Associate Degree program
- Blended online and on-campus coursework
- Full-time track takes 5 semesters; part-time options available
- 630 hours of clinical training through partnerships with 35 regional healthcare providers
- Career readiness support including resume reviews and job search strategies
- Over 87% first-time NCLEX-RN exam pass rate
McHenry County College offers a flexible pathway for LPNs to achieve an ADN degree and RN licensure. The college has transfer partnerships with several universities to continue towards a bachelor‘s degree. With over 600 hours of clinical experience across medical, surgical, mental health and community health settings, graduates gain versatile real-world skills to excel in diverse nursing positions.
3. Malcolm X College
Key Program Features:
- Accredited LPN to RN Associate Degree program
- Blended curriculum with online and on-campus courses
- Full-time track takes 4 semesters; part-time options
- 500+ supervised clinical hours
- NCLEX-RN exam prep and testing fee coverage
- Faculty advising and career support services
Malcolm X College, one of Chicago‘s most affordable community college options, offers an accelerated LPN to ADN program. Students gain over 500 hours of clinical experience across pediatrics, mental health, critical care and other specialties to prepare for RN practice in diverse settings. Graduates praise the supportive faculty and career counseling services helping Chart a path to continue advancing their nursing education.
4. National Louis University
Key Program Features:
- CCNE-accredited accelerated online LPN to BSN program
- Can be completed part-time in 18 months
- 600+ hours clinical training focused on population health and community nursing
- NCLEX-RN exam prep and fee coverage
- Academic success coaching and career placement support
National Louis University‘s 100% online LPN to BSN pathway allows working nurses to achieve their bachelor‘s degree and develop specialized community health skills needed for today‘s shifting healthcare landscape. Graduates are prepared to help address social determinants impacting patient outcomes through roles bridging healthcare access gaps across underserved communities.
5. North Park University
Key Program Features:
- CCNE-accredited LPN to BSN program
- Accelerated 1-year timeline combining online and on-campus learning
- 600 supervised clinical hours focused on research and evidence-based care practices
- Access to pediatric, mental health, community nursing and medical-surgical rotations
- NCLEX-RN exam preparation workshops
- One-on-one faculty mentoring and career advising
North Park University offers an intensive year-long LPN to BSN pathway for working nurses to expand their scope of practice. Graduates gain versatille competencies and leadership skills to manage teams across diverse healthcare settings ranging from hospitals to home health agencies.
6. Chamberlain University
Key Program Features:
- CCNE-accredited 3-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program
- Blended curriculum combining online coursework and on-site clinical simulations
- 800+ hours of supervised clinical training
- Lifetime career placement support and 24/7 online tutoring services
- NCLEX-RN exam preparation materials access
- Availability of scholarships and financial aid
Chamberlain University‘s Degree Plus Option allows LPN students to complete their BSN in just 3 years by transferring prior nursing credits. The flexible blended program accommodates working nurses with online academics and focused in-person clinical intensives offered year-round at their Chicago campus location.
7. Resurrection University
Key Program Features:
- ACEN-accredited accelerated online LPN to BSN program
- Can be completed in as little as 16 months
- 500+ hours of clinical rotations focused on evidence-based care practices
- NCLEX-RN preparation and exam fee coverage
- On-demand access to faculty advising and career counseling
Resurrection University‘s accelerated pathway allows LPNs to achieve BSN licensure and advanced skills needed for supervisory nursing roles. The curriculum blends online delivery with immersive on-site clinical simulations for flexibility. Graduates gain competencies in emerging focus areas like quality improvement and interdisciplinary collaboration to drive better patient outcomes.
8. South Suburban College
Key Program Features:
- Accredited LPN to RN Associate Degree program
- Flexible blended course options combining online and on-campus instruction
- Completed in just 4 semesters factoring LPN credits
- 500+ clinical training hours across diverse medical and community health settings
- Academic advising and NCLEX-RN preparation support
South Suburban College provides an affordable LPN to ADN pathway with blended online and in-person courses, accommodating busy work schedules. With over 500 supervised clinical hours focused on evidence-based care delivery, graduates gain versatile competencies to practice across settings ranging from large hospitals to neighborhood clinics.
9. Sauk Valley Community College
Key Program Features:
- Accredited online LPN to RN Associate Degree program
- Completed in just 3 semesters of full-time study
- Over 500 hours clinical rotations at regional hospitals and medical centers
- On-campus simulation lab for experiential skill development
- NCLEX-RN exam preparation and career placement support
Sauk Valley Community College offers an accelerated online pathway for LPNs to achieve RN licensure. Graduates gain over 500 hours of supervised clinical experience focused on developing competent and compassionate bedside nurses equipped to deliver exceptional medical care across diverse settings.
10. Lakeview College Of Nursing
Key Program Features:
- BON-approved LPN to BSN program pathway
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in as little as 16 months
- Blended course delivery model with online and in-person simulations
- 500+ hours of supervised clinical practicum experience
- Facilitated NCLEX-RN preparation program
- Availability of academic scholarships and financial aid
Lakeview College of Nursing offers a Practice Transition pathway to advance from LPN to BSN in less than 2 years. Graduates gain leadership capabilities and specialized expertise required for supervisory roles focused on enhancing clinical care quality, improving population health outcomes and designing systemic process improvements.
When researching LPN to RN programs, consider accreditation status, credit transfer eligibility, curriculum focus and clinical hour requirements for licensure in Illinois. Evaluating cost, location and program timelines are also essential to find the best fit based on your situation.
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Accreditation | Ensure regional and national nursing education accreditation bodies recognize program curriculum quality. |
| Credit Transfers | Compare how programs award credits for prior LPN coursework to accelerate degree timelines. |
| Cost | Review both per-credit tuition rates along with availability of financial assistance programs. |
| Clinical Requirements | Illinois mandates set hours across specific care settings – verify program alignments. |
| Location and Timelines | Evaluate commute feasibility and pace options fitting work schedules. |
Illinois offers versatile LPN to RN program options including:
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN): Typically completed in 2-4 semesters, ADN programs focus on practical nursing skills for frontline patient care roles. Graduates can optionally continue towards a bachelor’s degree.
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): Usually taking 3-4 years, BSN programs build advanced competencies in areas like leadership, research, and population health required for supervisory positions.
- LPN to RN Bridge Programs: Offer accelerated degree timelines accounting for prior LPN medical coursework through credit transfers and challenge exams.
With Illinois facing widening nursing workforce shortages, innovative solutions to better leverage the existing LPN talent pool while expanding their scope of practice are gaining support.
In contrast to Illinois limiting LPN practice, select U.S. states allow advanced practice under RN supervision. Pilot programs deploying LPNs in greater patient care coordination roles and procedures including blood draws, EKG tracings, and wound care management are also demonstrating positive outcomes.
Though LPNs will still need to pursue further nursing education to achieve full practice authority, selective scope expansion by state boards and healthcare institutions could better allocate talent to enhance care capacity – especially in community-based settings.
While interest in nursing programs remains high, enrollment capacity constraints combined with affordability challenges pose barriers even for qualified applicants.
The State of Illinois offers Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants supporting income-qualified students plus loan forgiveness programs targeting high-need disciplines like nursing. However both funding sources face capacity shortages:
- Only around 40% of eligible students received MAP grants for 2021/2022 with advocacy groups calling for doubling the funded amounts.
- Illinois‘ current loan forgiveness program applications exceed available annual awards, limiting eligible applicant approvals.
Policy proposals to continue expanding MAP grants along with growing state and federal loan forgiveness programs for nursing students are essential to improving accessibility and scaling LPN to RN pipelines.
Private foundations and healthcare systems are also stepping up with increased scholarships and stipends:
- The Chicago-based Foster G. McGaw Foundation provides over $500,000 in annual nursing education scholarships.
- Hospital employer partnerships at schools like Resurrection University offer tuition assistance for those committing to work terms post-graduation.
LPNs in Illinois earn median annual salaries of $48,000 – advancing to the registered nurse role boosts both competencies and earning potential.
Based on latest Illinois labor data, Associate Degree RNs earn median salaries of $75,000 annually while those with Bachelor of Science degrees in Nursing (BSN) earn $85,000 as outlined below:
| Nursing Role | Average Annual Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $42,000 – $55,000 |
| Registered Nurse (ADN) | $65,000 – $90,000 |
| Registered Nurse (BSN) | $75,000 – $105,000 |
Accounting for variations across program types, LPNs advancing to an ADN within 2 years could realize 50%+ earning increases. Continuing to a 4-year BSN could nearly double prior LPN salaries.
When factoring tuition costs ranging from $6,000 – $30,000 for LPN to RN programs against earning acceleration timelines, most graduates achieve salary payback well within their first year post-graduation.
As Illinois aims to expand LPN to RN pipelines, nursing education institutions are piloting emerging models leveraging telehealth and distance learning technologies.
Schools like Sauk Valley Community College offer asynchronous online LPN to ADN programs with intensive on-campus clinical bootcamps during semester breaks. This structure accommodates student schedule flexibility while providing immersive hands-on skill development.
Partnerships are also enabling more seamless progressions from LPN through ADN to BSN programs. Mather Hospital in New York provides a seamless pathway spanning across its affiliated institution curriculums.
With over 80% of nurses requiring at least a bachelor‘s by 2025, changes across educational models, funding structures and scope advancement policies are essential to support Illinois‘ LPN talent progression.