Find Evening & Weekend LPN Programs Near You in Illinois
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If you're working full-time or raising a family in the Chicago area, you don't have to quit your job to become an LPN. Several Illinois schools offer evening, weekend, and hybrid LPN programs designed for working adults. ATS Institute of Technology in Chicago has day, evening, and weekend tracks. Ambria College in Hoffman Estates runs morning, afternoon, and evening classes. Downstate, Carl Sandburg College offers a hybrid format with NCLEX pass rates as high as 100%. Illinois LPNs earn $58,840/year on average — above the national median — and 35% of the state's LPN workforce is nearing retirement, which means job openings are accelerating.
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Here's a number most people don't know: 57% of Illinois's LPN workforce is over 45 years old, and 35% of those nurses plan to retire within the next decade. That's according to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The state needs new LPNs across every setting — long-term care, home health, hospitals, and physician offices — and the pipeline isn't keeping up.
For working adults considering a career change, the timing is strong. Illinois LPN programs run 12–15 months full-time, or 16–24 months on an evening/weekend track. Community colleges charge $4,000–$9,000 in tuition. Private schools in the Chicago area cost $14,000–$20,000+ but offer more flexible scheduling — the premium you're paying is for the ability to keep your current income while you train.
The most flexible scheduling in the city — day, evening, AND weekend tracks available. Three-semester program (two 15-week sessions + one 19-week session). Includes clinical judgment coursework, simulation labs, and a built-in NCLEX-PN review course. Located in Chicago proper.
Illinois's only private nursing school with a seamless LPN → LPN-to-RN → RN-to-BSN degree progression. 36-credit certificate can be completed in 12 months accelerated or 16–20 months at a standard pace. Part-time and full-time options. Choose morning, afternoon, or evening classes to fit your work schedule.
One of the most affordable private options in Chicago with day, evening, and weekend classes. Based on Virginia Henderson's nursing philosophy. Small class sizes with hands-on training. NCLEX-PN eligible upon completion. Good fit for working CNAs looking to advance.
One-year hybrid LPN certificate with NCLEX-PN pass rates as high as 100% and a 100% job placement rate in recent years. Online coursework with in-person clinicals. Satellite campuses available. Among the cheapest accredited options in the state. LPN-to-RN bridge pathway available.
Public community college with a 100% NCLEX-PN pass rate (2025). 46 semester hours. Located in the southwest suburbs with clinical placements at area hospitals and long-term care facilities. Pell Grant eligible — at this tuition, grants can cover most or all of the cost.
Affordable community college LPN program in central Illinois. Full-time day format with strong clinical partnerships at local facilities. One of the lowest tuition options in the state. Strong NCLEX preparation and small class sizes. Pell Grant eligible.
Tuition based on 2024–2025 IPEDS data and published program costs. Illinois does not permit fully online LPN programs — all require in-person clinicals. Always verify current costs and schedules directly with schools.
This is the real decision for Illinois LPN students: Chicago-area private schools cost $14,000–$20,000+ but offer evening and weekend schedules that let you keep working. Downstate community colleges cost $4,000–$8,000 but mostly run daytime-only programs. The tuition difference is real — but so is the income you'd lose by quitting a job to attend a daytime program.
If you're already working in healthcare (as a CNA, medical assistant, or aide), Chicago-area employers like Advocate Aurora Health, Northwestern Medicine, and Amita Health may offer tuition reimbursement that closes the private school cost gap. Ask your HR department before enrolling — employer sponsorship is common in Illinois health systems and rarely advertised.
Illinois LPN salaries average $58,840/year — above the national median of $59,730. Chicago pays the most, but downstate areas have significantly lower cost of living, which changes the real purchasing power calculation.
| Area | Annual Salary | Hourly | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago / Naperville / Joliet | $59,000–$68,000 | $28.37–$32.69 | Largest IL healthcare market |
| Rockford | $50,000–$55,000 | $24.04–$26.44 | Lower COL, steady demand |
| Kankakee | $52,000–$56,000 | $25.00–$26.92 | Highest LPN concentration |
| Springfield / Champaign | $48,000–$54,000 | $23.08–$25.96 | State capital + university town |
| Peoria / Bloomington | $47,000–$53,000 | $22.60–$25.48 | Central IL, OSF + Carle Health |
| Statewide Average (BLS) | $58,840 | $28.29 | BLS May 2024 — above national avg |
The Chicago-to-downstate salary gap is roughly $10,000–$15,000 per year. But housing costs in Chicago are 40–60% higher than in Springfield or Peoria. If purchasing power matters more than nominal salary, downstate Illinois is surprisingly competitive.
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At downstate community colleges ($4,000–$7,000 tuition), a Pell Grant covers everything with money left for books. Even at Chicago private schools, Pell knocks $7,395 off the top. File FAFSA at studentaid.gov — always the first step.
Illinois's primary state grant for residents attending eligible institutions. Need-based, no repayment required. Stacks with Pell Grant. Apply through FAFSA — MAP eligibility is determined automatically. Funds are limited and awarded on a first-come basis, so file early.
Illinois's largest healthcare employers offer tuition assistance for employees pursuing nursing credentials. If you currently work in healthcare — even as a CNA or aide — contact your HR department before enrolling. Employer sponsorship is common but rarely advertised publicly.
Illinois WIOA programs cover LPN training for displaced workers, single parents, and low-income adults entering healthcare careers. Contact your local Illinois workNet center for current training grant availability.
Illinois has major military installations including Scott AFB and the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Veterans and eligible dependents can cover full LPN tuition plus a monthly housing allowance. Illinois also offers state veteran education benefits beyond federal GI Bill.
With Pell + MAP Grant potentially covering community college tuition entirely, loans should rarely be needed. If required, federal Direct Loans offer low interest rates. Complete FAFSA to access.
Passing the NCLEX-PN is your final step to becoming a licensed LPN in Illinois. Our sister site offers 50 free practice questions covering pharmacology, patient care, safety, and ethics — with full answer explanations so you can learn as you go.
Take 50 Free NCLEX-PN Practice Questions →Enter your zip code to see accredited programs near you.
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