COD Associate Degree Nursing Program Named Top 25 Most Affordable

COD Associate Degree Nursing Program Named Top 25 Most Affordable in Nation

Program Training the Next Generation of Nurses to Address Growing Deficit in Illinois

Nursing School Hub recently named College of DuPage’s Associate Degree in Nursing program as one of the top 25 most affordable ADN programs in the nation for 2021. Editors based their findings on an assessment of reputable and accredited nursing programs across the nation.

Dilyss Gallyot, Interim Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences, said COD’s ADN program prides itself on providing high-caliber education at an affordable cost.

“The 95 percent pass rates among our nursing students on board certified exams speaks to the robustness of the curriculum, the rigor of the program, the quality of the faculty and the hard work of the students. Our nursing graduates are highly valued by employers,” she said.

The College’s ADN program offers a balanced curriculum that combines theoretical knowledge, laboratory experience and clinical practice. With one of the most comprehensive simulation labs in the state, COD’s Nursing Simulation Laboratory is comprised of several learning environments, including a four-bed hospital, two lab classrooms, an open lab for student practice, and a clinic that mimics long-term care and home health care settings.

“We are able to create labs that mirror real world situations, helping students grasp the work environments and medical cases they will encounter,” Gallyot said. “We use technology-rich, simulation-based situations where students can constantly practice, learn, fail, team with others, try again and improve themselves.”

According to a recent report by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute, Illinois is experiencing a shortage of registered nurses caused by numerous factors, including a rising demand for health care services due to an aging population and broadened access to public health care. Over the next 10 years, report findings indicate Illinois will need about 21,000 more registered nurses to avoid a nursing shortage crisis.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has shined an even greater light on the serious shortage of nurses in Illinois and across the nation,” Gallyot said. “Nurses are essential and are expected to play an increasingly critical role in health care delivery. The rapid employment growth projected for nursing results from an emphasis on preventive care, rising rates of chronic conditions and an aging population.”

Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN), the Associate Degree in Nursing program at College of DuPage is a two-year, sequential program that prepares students for a career in nursing through a combination of classroom, lab activities, simulation and hands-on clinical experiences. As an added benefit, students completing the first year of the ADN program are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN exam and go on to work as Licensed Practical Nurses while completing their ADN degree at COD.

Learn more about the ADN Nursing program at College of DuPage.

College of DuPage is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Serving approximately 21,000 students each term, College of DuPage is the largest public community college in the state of Illinois. The College grants seven associate degrees and offers more than 170 career and technical certificates in over 50 areas of study.