Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

Southern Illinois University, in Carbondale, Illinois, is a public, four-year university with nursing programs housed in its School of Nursing. Its offerings include undergraduate BSN study and graduate nursing pathways, with a mix of campus-based, online, and hybrid learning depending on the program track.

Students can expect to build core competencies in patient assessment, critical thinking, evidence-based practice, communication, leadership, and compassionate, patient-centered care. Supervised clinical experiences are part of the curriculum and help students apply classroom learning in regional healthcare settings. The prelicensure BSN prepares graduates for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. Southern Illinois University is known as a larger public option in downstate Illinois, giving students broad academic resources and access to a range of clinical partners while offering a more regional, community-focused environment than many urban programs.