Instituto College Expands Nursing Skills Labs
A new gift supports increased enrollment and updated technology at the Southwest Side nursing school.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
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Instituto College has expanded its nursing skills labs on the Southwest Side of Chicago using a gift of over $3 million from the McCormick Foundation. This investment updates clinical learning spaces with high-fidelity simulation and electronic health record systems.
Why it matters
The expansion aims to narrow the gap between the 18 percent Latino population in Illinois and the 6 percent representation of Latinos in the state's healthcare workforce. By increasing program capacity, the college seeks to train more nursing professionals to meet regional demand.
The college operates an 11-week Basic Nursing Associate program and a 2-year Associate Degree in Nursing program. Enrollment capacity for the BNA program is rising to three concurrent cohorts annually.
The players
Instituto del Progreso Latino
This community-based organization operates Instituto College to provide educational and vocational opportunities on the Southwest Side of Chicago.
McCormick Foundation
This philanthropic organization provided the $3 million gift that funded the recent expansion of the nursing training facilities.
The details
The facility upgrades include two new clinical learning spaces equipped with high-fidelity simulation technology and electronic health record systems that emulate real hospital environments. These improvements support the college's ongoing mission to train nurses through both its 11-week BNA program and its 2-year ADN program.
Timeline
Instituto College launched its BNA program in 2019.
The college is executing a strategic development plan spanning 2024 to 2027.
The ninth ADN cohort begins training in October 2026.
Applications are currently open for the Spring 2027 ADN cohort.
Market Landscape
The expansion of Instituto College aligns with efforts to meet Illinois healthcare workforce diversity benchmarks by increasing educational pathways for underrepresented communities. This growth positions the institution to play a larger role in addressing the state's professional nursing shortages.
Students pursuing nursing careers in Chicago now have increased access to training due to the higher enrollment capacity at the Southwest Side facility. Applicants looking to enter the workforce can apply for the upcoming Spring 2027 ADN cohort.
The takeaway
Investments in specialized simulation technology allow vocational colleges to better prepare students for the demands of modern hospital systems. Prospective nurses should monitor admission cycles closely as programs increase their overall capacity.
What happens next
The ADN program is currently accepting applications for the Spring 2027 cohort.
Further reading
Learn more about local career pathways in the Nursing Jobs section.
More information
For additional details on program requirements and enrollment, visit the Instituto del Progreso Latino information portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Lawndale News.
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