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EDUCATION
THRIVE IN SPI • SPRINGFIELD SANGAMON GROWTH ALLIANCE
University of Illinois Springfield It won’t take long to find the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) on college ranking lists, especially when it comes to esteemed programs like Computer Science and Information Systems. The numbers are impressive: • U.S. News & World Report rankings: • No. 1 public regional university in Illinois (2020-2025) • No. 10 in top public school in the Midwest regional category (2025) • No. 14 best college for veterans, Midwest regional category (2025) • Top 11% best online bachelor’s programs in the U.S. (2025); among the 15 best public regional universities in the Midwest each year since 2006. • The College of Business and Management is accredited by the AACSB, a distinction earned by less than 5% of business schools worldwide. • UIS alums comprise 30% of the college-educated workforce residing in Sangamon County. • UIS and its students and alumni added $943.2 million to the Illinois economy in fiscal year 2023. • UIS is recognized as a Rural-Serving Institution. UIS, originating as Sangamon State University, became part of the renowned University of Illinois system in 1995 and is now known for its liberal arts education, public affairs opportunities and professional preparation programs.
In 2025, Black or African American students represent 14.2% of enrollment, while Hispanic or Latino (9.1%), Asian (4.4%) and International students (16.4%) add their own diverse perspectives on campus. SIU School of Medicine For students who have already obtained an undergraduate degree and want to pursue a medical career, Southern Illinois University (SIU) School of Medicine may be the next step. Based in Springfield with a prestigious international reputation, SIU School of Medicine partners with numerous hospitals in Illinois to ensure the needs of the communities are met in four areas of excellence: medical education, patient care, research and community service. A few reasons SIU School of Medicine stands out: Nurse Educators. SIU is one of only two medical schools in the nation who use nurse educators so extensively in their curricula. Experienced nurses with master’s degrees devote their days to educating students and ensuring they develop good clinical skills. Medical Humanities. SIU School of Medicine was one of the first medical schools in the nation to establish a department of medical humanities. SIU was the fifth pilot project to bring humanities into the clinical experience within disciplines that include ethics, health policy, medical history and religious studies. Family Practice Preceptorship. SIU established the family practice preceptorship in 1981, making SIU one of the earliest medical schools in the country to engage in community-based education. The program places students in ambulatory care settings with practicing physicians. Health Information Technology Training. SIU is one of the few medical schools teaching second-year medical students how to effectively use electronic medical records (EMR). Nationally, most students learn to use them in the clinics during their third-year clerkships. Surgical Skills Center and the Resident Readiness Elective. The Center was established in 2000 and is now housed in the Memorial Learning Center. Because of the Surgical Skills Center, SIU is able to offer the Resident Readiness Elective, a surgical elective that gives fourth-year students training
SIU School of Medicine
and simulations with nurse educators to introduce management of post-operative situations and additional experiences in the dissection of human cadavers. With excellent primary care offerings and participation in innovative scientific studies, SIU’s team of physicians and students helps to advance medical research and is an asset in retaining highly qualified physicians in the Springfield area. The school includes some of the top specialists in the country who combine their expertise and research
clinical experiences, ranging from birth and wellness to care of the dying. Beginning with its founding in 1886, St. John’s College of Nursing prides itself on offering individual attention and opportunities for students to grow outside of the classroom through leadership, mission and community service. The innovative Simulation Center at St. John’s gives nursing students a realistic hands-on experience in preparation for the unexpected events they will encounter in an actual clinical environment. The center includes an operating/obstetrics room, emergency room, patient room, pediatric room, exam room and skills lab. The College also has high-tech classrooms used in every course to allow students to learn, practice and enhance their skills in a safe, risk-free environment. ISU Mennonite College of Nursing With an enrollment of over 1,100 students, Mennonite College of Nursing offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, APRN certificates, and the state’s only Downstate PhD in nursing program. Nursing students at MCN develop their skills inside a state-of-the-art simulation lab and receive clinical placements tied to coursework across five different hospital settings in the area.
to improve the future of medicine. St. John’s College of Nursing St. John’s College of Nursing is the oldest
Catholic hospital-based nursing college in the country, celebrating its 140th anniversary in 2026. Recognizing that nurses are always in demand in the health care field, the College in 2024 revamped the curriculum for an online program offering registered nurses a path to a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) to recognize prior education and on-the-job experience of working nurses. Students score highly on national licensure exams, far exceeding national and state passage rates. The College also offers programs leading to a Master of Science in nursing (MSN) and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). The College partners with local health care institutions to give students a wide range of quality
University of Illinois Springfield
Student enrollment surpassed 5,000 for the first time in the 2010-2011 academic year. 2019 brought the largest incoming freshman class in the school’s history, with a total of 373 first-year students. Not only are UIS’ excellent programs a draw for potential students, but UIS has worked to build a diverse student body reflective of today’s inclusive culture.
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