Accelerated BSN Programs in Illinois

In Illinois, there are quite a few accelerated BSN degrees to choose from – over 10. Featured online programs and the full list of accelerated bachelor’s of science in nursing programs are highlighted below.

Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing
Broadway at 11th Street, Quincy, IL 62301. Tel: 217-228-5520.
Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing is a private institution located in downtown Quincy, Illinois as part of the Blessing Hospital complex. Initially known as the Blessing Hospital School of Nursing, it was founded in 1861 by the Board of Managers of Blessing Hospital. Later, after Cedric H. Rieman left the school a substantial endowment in memory of his wife, the name of the school was changed to the Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing.

Blessing now offers several degree programs on its own and in partnership with Culver-Stockton College and Quincy University. In 2003 Blessing started the Advanced Placement Track for second degree students seeking the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. The program allows students to earn a BSN after two years of full-time study. To qualify for this BSN accelerated program, the student must also complete the prerequisite classes. The prerequisite classes include: Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, General Psychology, Developmental Psychology, English Composition, and Speech. The application deadline is November 1 for April entry.

Bradley University

Bradley University

1501 W Bradley Ave., Peoria, IL 61625,

309-676-7611

Bradley University is a private university located on 85 acres in the West Bluff section of Peoria, Illinois. Originally known as Bradley Polytechnic Institute, Bradley was founded in 1897 by Lydia Moss Bradley in memory of her husband and children. The name was changed in 1946 to Bradley University. Named a top-ranking Midwestern school by US News and World Report, Bradley now has seven schools and colleges and over 6,100 students.

Created in 1956, Bradley University’s Department of Nursing offers an Accelerated Track to achieve the BSN degree. The program allows students to earn a BSN after 15 months of rigorous, full-time study. To qualify for this accelerated 2nd degree BSN program, in addition to having a bachelors degree in a field other than nursing, the student must have completed all ten prerequisite classes prior to admission.

Chamberlain College of Nursing

Chamberlain College of Nursing

1221 North Swift Road, Addison, IL 60101,
630-953-3660

Chamberlain College of Nursing is a private, for-profit nursing school with its corporate headquarters in Downers Grove, Illinois, and several locations across the United States, including in Addison, Illinois. It was established in 1889 as the Deaconess School of Nursing. In 2005 Deaconess was acquired by Illinois-based, DeVry, Inc. In addition to its traditional three-year track to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, Chamberlain offers a Second Degree BSN Option to adult learners who have already earned a bachelors degree in another field. This accelerated BSN program uses the same curriculum as its traditional BSN program, but is designed so that student can complete the program in 13 months. To qualify for this BSN accelerated program, the student must have a bachelors degree with an cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and must have completed the 16 prerequisite classes. The application deadline varies by location.

Illinois State University

Illinois State University

100 N University Street, Normal, IL 61790,
309-438-2181

Illinois State University (ISU) is a public university located in Normal, Illinois, 137 miles southwest of Chicago. Founded in 1857 by the Illinois legislature as the Illinois State Normal University, a teacher’s college, ISU is the oldest university in Illinois. Since then the school has changed its curriculum from a teacher education-focused program to a liberal arts program, and in 1968 changed its name to Illinois State University. ISU now offers over 200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs

The Mennonite College of Nursing was established as a private college in 1919 and became the sixth college at Illinois State University in 1999. It offers three programs to achieve the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, including the Accelerated BSN Program. This accelerated BSN program is designed for students with bachelors degrees who wish to become registered nurses. The program allows students to earn a BSN after 15 months of rigorous, full-time study, starting in May and ending in August of the following year. To qualify for this BSN second degree program, the student must have completed all nine prerequisite science and statistics classes prior to admission. The application deadline is June 15 for entry in May of the following year.

Lewis University

Lewis University

1 University Parkway, Romeoville, IL 60446,
815-838-0500

Lewis University is a private, Catholic university located 30 miles southwest of Chicago in Romeoville, Illinois, adjacent to Lewis Airport. Originally called the Holy Name Technical School, Lewis University was founded in 1932 by the Chicago Archdiocese and Bishop Bernard J. Scheil. It was renamed in honor of Frank J. Lewis, a local philanthropist who provided funding to construct several of the school’s buildings. Initially Lewis was an aeronautics school. Its resources were used to help train pilots during World War II. In 1944 the school began to expand its curriculum to include traditional liberal arts classes. In 1973 the school’s name was changed to Lewis University. It has been cited by both The Princeton Review and US News and World Report as one of the best regional schools.

The College of Nursing and Health Professions at Lewis University offers a learning environment that emphasizes small classes with individualized attention combined with Catholic values of compassion and community. Among its degree programs, the College of Nursing and Health Professions offers the Accelerated Bachelors to BSN Program that allows students to receive the BSN degree in two years. Available at several of Lewis University’s campuses, this accelerated BSN program is designed for the individual seeking a career change. The program is offered in 8 week segments that include classroom work during the week and clinicals on the weekends. To qualify for this ABSN (Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program, the student must have taken the prerequisite science coursework as well as the mission-based classes, including Ethics, Cultural Diversity and Intergroup Relations and Theology. Applications are accepted and admission is offered on a rolling basis.

Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University Chicago

1032 W. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60660,

773-274-3000

Loyola University Chicago is a private, Catholic university located in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1870 as St. Ignatius College, it is the largest Jesuit, Catholic University in the United States. It has 6 campuses in the Chicago area, one campus in Rome, Italy and 10 colleges and schools. The school changed its name to Loyola University Chicago in 1909.

Loyola’s Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing was created in 935 and was the first fully accredited nursing school in Illinois. The School of Nursing is located on Loyola’s Health Sciences Campus in Maywood, Illinois. It offers three undergraduate nursing degree programs, including the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing. This accelerated BSN program allows students to earn a BSN degree after 16 months of full-time study. To qualify for this BSN accelerated program, the student must have a bachelors degree and must have completed 37 hours of prerequisite coursework prior to matriculation. The application deadlines are May 1 for the Fall term and November 1 for the Spring term.

Methodist College of Nursing

Methodist College of Nursing

415 St. Mark Ct. Peoria, IL 61603,

309-672-5513

The Methodist College of Nursing is a private institution located in Peoria, Illinois. Established in 1900 by the Deaconesses of the Methodist Episcopal Church, it is now owned by the Methodist Medical Center of Illinois. The Methodist College of Nursing offers three options to obtain the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, including the Second Degree Accelerated BSN that allows students to complete the coursework for the BSN in five semesters of continuous, full-time study. This accelerated second degree program is designed for working adults, with many of its classes offered in the evening, on weekends and online. To qualify for this accelerated BSN program, the student must have a bachelors degree in a field other than nursing and must have completed the eight prerequisite classes. The application deadlines are April 15 for the Fall term and September 15 for the Spring term.

Resurrection University

Resurrection University

3 Erie Court, Oak Park, IL 60302,
708-763-6530

Resurrection University is a private, Catholic institution located in Oak Park, Illinois. It was founded in 1914 as West Suburban School of Nursing. Resurrection University now is a health sciences school, owned by Presence Health, a Catholic nonprofit organization. It offers nursing degrees with flexible schedules to accommodate working, adult learners. The Fast Track BSN program at Resurrection University allows students to complete the requirements for the BSN degree in 5 semesters. To qualify for admission, the student must have completed both the prerequisite general education classes and the prerequisite nursing support classes. The application deadlines are April 1 for the Fall term and September 1 for the Spring term.

Southern Illinois University- Edwardsville

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Edwardsville, IL 62026,

888-328-5168

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) is a public institution located in Edwardsville, Illinois, about 20 miles from St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1957 in response to the lack of post-secondary institutions in the area, SIUE remains committed to the Southwestern Illinois community. The School of Nursing at SIUE conferred its first BSN degrees in 1966 and now has over 5000 alumni who have earned degrees from three different BSN programs, including the Accelerated Option. This accelerated BSN degree program allows students to earn a BSN after 3 semesters and one summer of full-time study. The program includes the same classroom and clinical work that is offered in the traditional BSN program on an accelerated schedule. To qualify for this BSN accelerated program, the student must have completed the nine prerequisite classes within seven years of applying. The application deadline is April 1.

Trinity College of Nursing

Trinity College of Nursing

2122 25th Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201,

309- 779-7700

Trinity College of Nursing is a private nursing college located in Rock Island, Illinois. The history of Trinity College goes back to the late 19th century when four different hospitals and affiliate nursing schools served the Quad Cities: Moline, IL, East Moline, IL, Davenport, IA, and Bettendorf, IA. Over the years these nursing schools and other nursing training programs merged to ultimately become the fully accredited Trinity College of Nursing in 1998. Trinity College is now associated with Trinity Regional Health System, a nonprofit organization serving Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. There are three options for earning the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Trinity College. The accelerated BSN-A program allows students to earn a BSN after completing a 15-month, intensive course of full-time study. To qualify for this BSN accelerated program, the student must have completed the six prerequisite science and statistics classes.