UIC Nursing enrollment hits all-time high
UIC Nursing sees record number of students enrolled
A record number of students are enrolled at the UIC College of Nursing this fall, according to the university’s recently released 10-day census.
Total enrollment at UIC Nursing stands at 2,105 students, with an overall increase of 15% from last fall. This includes a combination of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral students across UIC Nursing’s six campuses (Chicago, Peoria, Quad Cities, Rockford, Springfield and Urbana).
Among students in the bachelor’s (BSN) program, enrollment was up 30%, driven by a new freshmen admissions pathway, all-time high enrollment in Springfield, and the continued popularity of the online RN-BSN program, which allows registered nurses who have an associate’s degree to achieve their bachelor’s degree at UIC Nursing.
“As the only nursing program for the University of Illinois [system], we’re dedicated to fulfilling the nursing workforce needs of the state,” says Dean Eileen Collins. “So we’ve been intentional about expanding our programs—about reaching the areas that need nurses most and giving access to anyone who wants to join or grow in the nursing profession.”
This fall, the UIC College of Nursing launched a new master’s program in Rockford for career-changers (Master of Science in Nursing for non-RNs) who want to become registered nurses, and a DNP specialty in nurse anesthesia on the Chicago campus.
UIC Nursing is committed to providing the highest quality education to its students in order to prepare them for the growing complexity of the health care landscape. The bachelor’s, master’s and DNP programs are all ranked in the top 20 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The online RN-BSN program is ranked No. 3.
From 2022 to 2032, the employment of registered nurses is expected to grow 6% each year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This year, Illinois was projected to hit a 15,000 shortage of nurses, according to a 2020 report by the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center.
“Our record enrollment reflects strong collaboration across the university and UIC Nursing’s six campuses,” says Sean Boettcher, executive director of enrollment management at UIC Nursing. “By strengthening admissions processes and adding pathways and programs, we’ve expanded access, diversity and opportunity for future nurses.”
UIC Nursing’s enrollment high is mirrored by record growth across the whole university. Total enrollment at UIC stands at 35,869 students for fall 2025, an increase of nearly 2,000 students, or 5.8%, from 33,906 students in 2024.