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Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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2023 Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region

152 Colleges
$35,646 Avg Salary
$16,915 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants School for You

With 84,274 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, practical nursing and nursing assistants is the #2 most popular major in the United States.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for nursing students. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Nursing Degree Search has developed this Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 152 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Colleges.

Top 15% Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools

#1

Verve College

Oak Brook, IL

Our 2023 rankings named Verve College the best school in the Great Lakes Region for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Verve College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Oak Brook.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Verve College take out $15,151 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Verve College Report

#2

Ohio Institute of Allied Health

Huber Heights, OH

Out of the 152 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Ohio Institute of Allied Health landed the # 2 spot on the list. Ohio Institute of Allied Health is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Huber Heights.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Ohio Institute of Allied Health Report

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Detroit Business Institute-Downriver is a great place for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the large suburb of Riverview, DBI Downriver is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

On average, practical nursing graduates from DBI Downriver take out $25,756 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Detroit Business Institute-Downriver

#4

Ambria College of Nursing

Hoffman Estates, IL

Out of the 152 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Ambria College of Nursing landed the # 4 spot on the list. Ambria College of Nursing is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Hoffman Estates.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Ambria College of Nursing take out is $11,878.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Ambria College of Nursing

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Capital Area School of Practical Nursing is a great place for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. CASPN is a small public school located in the midsize city of Springfield.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from CASPN carry an average student debtload of $11,898.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Capital Area School of Practical Nursing Report

With a ranking of #6, Madison Area Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the large city of Madison, Madison College is a public school with a large student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Madison College accumulate an average of around $15,173 in student debt.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Madison Area Technical College

#7

MDT College of Health Sciences

Highland Heights, OH

MDT College of Health Sciences ranked #7 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. ATS Institute of Technology is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Highland Heights.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at ATS Institute of Technology accumulate an average of around $26,917 in student debt.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at MDT College of Health Sciences

With a ranking of #8, Career Center of Southern Illinois did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the rural area of Red Bud, Beck School of Practical Nursing is a public school with a fairly small student population.

Practical Nursing majors at Beck School of Practical Nursing take out an average of $16,568 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Career Center of Southern Illinois Report

Moraine Park Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #9 on the list. Moraine Park Technical College is a small public school located in the small city of Fond du Lac.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Moraine Park Technical College take out $6,975 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

Central School of Practical Nursing landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the suburb of Independence, Central School of Practical Nursing is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Central School of Practical Nursing carry an average student debtload of $16,000.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Central School of Practical Nursing Report

Miami Valley Career Technology Center ranked #11 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Miami Valley CTC is a small public school located in the suburb of Englewood.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Miami Valley CTC take out is $20,282.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Miami Valley Career Technology Center Report

#12

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN

Ivy Tech Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #12 on the list. Ivy Tech Community College is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Indianapolis.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Ivy Tech Community College carry an average student debtload of $14,751.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Ivy Tech Community College

Fox Valley Technical College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. FVTC is a large public school located in the midsize suburb of Appleton.

On average, practical nursing graduates from FVTC take out $14,176 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

#14

Oakton Community College

Des Plaines, IL

Oakton Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

Read More…

#15

Blackhawk Technical College

Janesville, WI

Blackhawk Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #15 on the list. BTC is a small public school located in the suburb of Janesville.

Practical Nursing majors at BTC take out an average of $6,604 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Blackhawk Technical College Report

#16

Northern Career Institute

Eastlake, OH

Northern Career Institute did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #16 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Eastlake, Northern Career Institute is a public school with a small student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Northern Career Institute accumulate an average of around $18,644 in student debt.

Read More…

Herzing University - Brookfield did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #17 on the list. Herzing University - Brookfield is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Brookfield.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Herzing University - Brookfield take out is $19,000.

Read More…

Chippewa Valley Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in the city of Eau Claire, CVTC is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at CVTC accumulate an average of around $14,435 in student debt.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Chippewa Valley Technical College Report

#19

College of Lake County

Grayslake, IL

College of Lake County landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College of Lake County is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at College of Lake County take out is $12,000.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at College of Lake County

William Rainey Harper College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Harper College is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Palatine.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Harper College take out is $9,400.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at William Rainey Harper College

Tri-Rivers Career Center did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #21 on the list. Tri-Rivers Career Center is a small public school located in the town of Marion.

Practical Nursing majors at Tri-Rivers Career Center take out an average of $14,500 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Tri-Rivers Career Center Report

With a ranking of #22, Herzing University - Kenosha did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Kenosha, Herzing University - Kenosha is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Practical Nursing majors at Herzing University - Kenosha take out an average of $19,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Herzing University - Kenosha

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional great schools for Nursing & Nursing Assistants students in the Great Lakes Region that almost earned our Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
23 Kellogg Community College Battle Creek, MI
24 Apollo Career Center Lima, OH
25 Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WI
26 Athena Career Academy Toledo, OH
27 Ohio Medical Career College Dayton, OH
28 Sandusky Career Center Sandusky, OH
29 Wayne County Schools Career Center Smithville, OH
30 Upper Valley Career Center Piqua, OH

Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Colleges by State

Explore the best practical nursing and nursing assistants colleges for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.

State Degrees Awarded
Michigan 0
Ohio 0
Illinois 0

Practical Nursing Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training 44,900
Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide 34,557
Other Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants 4,817

Related Major Annual Graduates
Nursing 322,592

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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