Chamberlain University

About Chamberlain University

The database record’s former Illinois-specific identity now corresponds to Chamberlain University, whose Addison location serves as the main campus. Illinois authorities approved the institutional name change in 2017, and the university remains active and accredited in 2026. Online degrees are conferred from Addison, while Chamberlain also operates campus locations elsewhere in the United States. The university’s history is rooted in nursing education. Its official history traces the institution to the Deaconess School of Nursing, which developed from healthcare services proposed in St. Louis in 1889. Following an acquisition in 2005, the school adopted the Chamberlain name. The present university contains a College of Nursing and a College of Health Professions, making it a specialized institution rather than a comprehensive university covering the broad list of conventional majors shown in the existing metadata. Institutional accreditation is provided by the Higher Learning Commission. Specialized accreditors cover the BSN, MSN, DNP, public health, and social work programs, although approval and availability can differ by program and location. The Addison campus is especially relevant to prospective prelicensure nursing students: its published BSN pathway combines classroom instruction, simulation, and Chicago-area clinical experience. Online learners may access a wider set of university programs, but applicants must confirm whether a program accepts residents of their state and whether it meets the professional-licensure rules where they intend to practice.

Admission requirements depend on the program. All applicants generally submit an application, transcripts from previously attended institutions, and any additional program documents. Chamberlain says its committees use a weighted review that considers prior coursework, test results, and other factors associated with success in nursing education. Applicants should rely on the current catalog and written decision for their exact location and class cycle rather than the database’s stored acceptance rate. For the Addison prelicensure BSN, the campus page states that applicants complete an application and work with an Enrollment Representative. It lists proof of high-school graduation with at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA, or the specified qualifying GED score, together with a minimum HESI A2 score of 73. Elsewhere, the general admissions page says valid HESI A2, TEAS, ACT, or SAT results from the previous five years can be submitted for committee review; applicants without acceptable prior results must complete Chamberlain’s HESI assessment. Because the general page and campus page describe testing somewhat differently, applicants should obtain written confirmation of which score route applies to their 2026 Addison application. Prelicensure admission also depends on clearing a drug screen, background check, and fingerprint check. Post-licensure nursing applicants must document an eligible active RN license, while graduate nursing applicants generally must maintain an active, unrestricted qualifying RN license. Program-specific GPA, licensure, assessment, residency, and professional-authorization requirements may add further conditions. The Addison page showed an August 31 start when accessed in August 2026, but applicants should confirm available cycles and seat availability directly rather than treating that as a universal annual deadline.

At the undergraduate level, Chamberlain’s defining program is the Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The Addison prelicensure BSN requires at least 122 credits, divided into 56 general-education credits and 66 credits in the nursing major. The university advertises completion in as few as three years, with no separate college-level prerequisites required before entry. An August 2026 curriculum is published for Illinois and other participating states. Licensed practical or vocational nurses may be eligible for proficiency credit after completing the required validation process. Nursing preparation combines conceptual coursework with applied learning. Addison students practice fundamental skills in the SIMCARE Center using patient simulators before and alongside clinical education. Clinical experiences can occur in hospitals, long-term-care facilities, community and public-health organizations, ambulatory settings, schools, home-health environments, and other healthcare sites. Chamberlain states that it coordinates required clinical placements for prelicensure nursing students, though students must satisfy health, background, drug-screening, fingerprinting, and site-specific compliance requirements. University-wide graduate offerings include the MSN, Master of Public Health, Master of Social Work, Master of Physician Assistant Studies, and Doctor of Nursing Practice, plus certificates and nursing specialty tracks. Delivery and authorization vary by program, campus, and state; several graduate offerings are online rather than Addison classroom programs. The published curriculum page includes a DNP curriculum effective July 2026 and newer plans for selected accelerated nursing pathways. Academic support at Addison includes tutoring, workshops, study materials, NCLEX preparation, and individualized assistance through the Center for Academic Success.

Key Highlights

• Addison is Chamberlain University’s main campus and the degree-conferring location for online programs.
• The institution traces its roots to the Deaconess School of Nursing established in 1889.
• Chamberlain is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
• The university is a specialized private, for-profit institution centered on nursing and health professions.

Student Life & Environment

Student life at Addison is oriented toward a professional nursing program rather than a traditional residential liberal-arts campus. Students divide their time among classes, simulation, clinical preparation, and assigned healthcare experiences. The campus page identifies student spaces and several wellbeing supports, including a Care Closet, Relaxation Room, vaccine clinics, blood drives, CPR classes, and community partnerships that bring comfort dogs to campus. Students can participate in organizations and leadership activities. Chamberlain identifies a Student Government Association as a liaison between students and campus administration, while the Addison campus specifically lists a registered organization affiliated with the American Association for Men in Nursing. Social, volunteer, and cause-related activities may supplement the demanding academic schedule, but applicants should ask the campus which organizations are currently active in their intended session. Support services are a more prominent feature than residential amenities. The Center for Academic Success offers tutoring appointments, workshops, and study resources; the Student Assistance Program provides confidential mental-health and life-balance support. Published campus-security material discusses students living in off-campus apartments and does not establish a conventional Addison residence-hall experience. Students who need housing should therefore confirm options independently and budget for commuting, rent, and transportation to clinical sites.

Location & Surroundings

The main campus is at 1221 North Swift Road in Addison, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. Chamberlain describes it as approximately 20 to 22 miles from downtown Chicago. This location gives BSN students potential exposure to both suburban and urban healthcare environments through assigned clinical experiences, though a particular hospital or site should never be assumed before placement is confirmed. Addison offers a quieter suburban base than central Chicago, while the city’s employment, cultural, and healthcare resources remain within regional travel distance. The campus also points to the 25-mile Salt Creek Greenway Trail as a nearby recreation option. Campus visitors can tour classrooms, the SIMCARE Center, and student spaces; the university’s open-house information says visitor parking is available without charge. The practical issue is transportation. Clinical education may occur away from campus and at varying hours, so applicants should ask how far placements can be from Addison and whether access to a car is advisable. Those relocating should research off-campus rent and commuting before enrolling because the available official materials do not describe a standard residence-hall system at Addison.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For the Addison campus BSN, Chamberlain’s tuition page lists tuition of $775 per credit hour effective July 2026. That rate should not be multiplied mechanically without reviewing transfer credit and the official total-cost calculation. Listed additional charges include a $235 student-services charge per session, a $15 campus-based student-activity fee per session, $150 per session for books and related materials, and a one-time $350 NCLEX-preparation fee in the specified BSN course. Background screening, health compliance, insurance, and other clinical costs can also apply. Costs may change by session and individual circumstances. The university provides a net-price calculator and says eligible students may combine federal or institutional assistance, family resources, employer reimbursement, and payment plans. Applicants should request an individualized financial plan covering tuition, fees, commuting, off-campus housing, clinical transportation, and any reduction from transfer or proficiency credit. They should also compare total borrowing with likely entry-level earnings rather than relying on the outdated annual tuition stored in the database. Career preparation is closely tied to licensure. The Addison campus provides simulation, clinical experience, tutorials, assessments, and NCLEX-readiness support, but completing the BSN does not itself grant registered-nurse licensure. CareerCare resources available to students and alumni include career advising, interview preparation, résumé and cover-letter tools, employer-specific opportunities, career events, and a healthcare job board. Chamberlain does not guarantee employment, and applicants should review current campus-level licensure and completion disclosures when judging outcomes.