City Colleges of Chicago and the University of Illinois Chicago renew their dual-admissions nursing agreement for the next five years, ensuring students continue to have a seamless pathway to earn their bachelor’s degree in nursing

CHICAGO — City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) and the University of Illinois Chicago have officially renewed their dual-admissions nursing agreement for the next five years (2026-2031), ensuring students continue to have a seamless pathway to earn their bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Since the original agreement was signed in 2021, 219 Malcolm X College students earning their Associate Degree in Nursing have been admitted to pursue their Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing at UIC.

“We are thankful to have such an incredible partnership with UIC in support of students pursuing their four-year degree in nursing,” said Chancellor Juan Salgado, City Colleges of Chicago. “The partnership takes the guess work out for our nurse graduates, and it helps them enroll at UIC at a lower cost.”

“We know that today’s nurses are being asked to do more than ever before, and higher levels of education help prepare them for those challenges,” says UIC College of Nursing Dean Eileen Collins. “This agreement gives students a straightforward path from an associate degree to a bachelor’s degree, equipping graduates with the knowledge, critical thinking skills and clinical perspective needed to meet the evolving needs of patients and healthcare systems.”

With nursing shortages projected to continue, the career outlook for registered nurses remains in-demand. To help meet ongoing workforce demands for highly skilled healthcare professionals, this five-year renewal guarantees that nursing students can continue to earn their associate degree at CCC’s Malcolm X College while simultaneously enrolling in courses for UIC’s fully online RN to BSN program.

“Choosing the BSN Dual Admissions Pathway program was the perfect next step after starting my nursing career at Malcolm X College. The program offered by UIC and Malcolm X College allowed me to start completing my bachelor’s coursework while finishing my associate degree, ensuring every single credit transferred smoothly. This option also gave me flexibility and a healthy work-life balance,” said Jazmine Mason, a Registered Nurse and alumna of UIC and Malcolm X College’s nursing program. “The strong foundation I built through both schools has greatly prepared me to begin my MSN program to become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. It also saved me time, for which I will be forever thankful for the program.”

UIC’s online bachelor’s degree programs — including the RN to BSN program — were ranked No. 3 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in its 2026 list of Best Online Bachelor’s Programs. UIC Nursing’s program offers access to faculty experts, online courses tailor-made by professional instructional designers, ample student support from advisors and instructors, and an emphasis on practical application that ensures authenticity with working learners.

“Many of our students are already working as nurses and balancing work, family and other responsibilities as they pursue their bachelor’s degree,” says UIC Nursing RN to BSN director Gloria E. Barrera. “Our program is designed with those professionals in mind, by offering the flexibility of a fully online, asynchronous format. This allows students to complete coursework on a schedule that works for them while engaging with content, assignments and assessments that are relevant to their practice and professional goals.”

“This partnership ensures continued, expanded educational access for diverse student populations, and we are thrilled to extend this degree pathway for our ADN,” said President David A. Sanders, Malcolm X College. “For many of our nursing students, this renewal means it will remain possible to earn their BSN more quickly and affordably.”

“As we proudly renew our partnership with the University of Illinois Chicago, there has never been a better time to launch your nursing career,” said Dean Tammy Scott-Brand, Malcolm X College. “By enrolling in City Colleges of Chicago’s associate degree in Nursing program today, students secure a guaranteed, direct pathway into UIC’s prestigious BSN program. This renewed agreement ensures that Malcolm X College’s School of Nursing continues to provide a seamless transfer process.”

To learn more about the RN to BSN dual admissions pathway with UIC, attend the information session from 3pm to 4pm on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, RSVP today via Zoom.

For more information on the ADN + BSN Dual Admission Pathway visit https://onlinenursing.uic.edu/dual-admissions-pathway/.

City Colleges of Chicago is currently enrolling now for its Winter 4-Week, and Spring 16-Week sessions. Spring 16-week session begins December 31, 2026. Register today, click here to apply or visit www.ccc.edu or call 773-COLLEGE.

About City Colleges of Chicago

City Colleges of Chicago is the city’s most accessible higher education engine of socioeconomic mobility and racial equity, City Colleges of Chicago catalyzes our students’ capacity to prosper and take part in building a stronger and more just Chicago.

ABOUT THE UIC COLLEGE OF NURSING

The College of Nursing at the University of Illinois Chicago is one of the premier nursing schools in the nation. Its bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs are all ranked among the top 25 nursing programs nationwide by U.S. News & World Report.

More than 2,400 future nurse leaders are enrolled in bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs at five UIC Nursing campuses throughout Illinois: Chicago, Peoria, Rockford, Springfield and Urbana. All UIC Nursing campuses serve the college’s mission to transform health, healthcare and policy through knowledge generation and translation, and also through education of future nurse leaders from diverse backgrounds.