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Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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

121 Colleges
$36,841 Avg Salary
$15,480 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate 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 assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 121 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which undergraduate certificate programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school is, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.

View our full ranking methodology.

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

Check out the practical nursing undergraduate certificate programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.

Top 15% Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate 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 working on their undergraduate certificate. Verve College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Oak Brook.

Practical Nursing majors at Verve College take out an average of $20,569 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Verve College

#2

Ohio Institute of Allied Health

Huber Heights, OH

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ohio Institute of Allied Health. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Ohio Institute of Allied Health is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Huber Heights.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Ohio Institute of Allied Health take out $21,753 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Ohio Institute of Allied Health

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Detroit Business Institute-Downriver. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the large suburb of Riverview, DBI Downriver is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Detroit Business Institute-Downriver Report

#4

Ambria College of Nursing

Hoffman Estates, IL

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ambria College of Nursing. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Ambria College of Nursing is a small private for-profit school located in the small city of Hoffman Estates.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Ambria College of Nursing take out $16,138 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

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Out of the 121 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Capital Area School of Practical Nursing landed the # 5 spot on the list. CASPN is a fairly small public school located in the medium-sized city of Springfield.

On average, practical nursing graduates from CASPN take out $15,635 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

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

#6

MDT College of Health Sciences

Highland Heights, OH

MDT College of Health Sciences did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for practical nursing and nursing assistants students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #6 on the list. ATS Institute of Technology is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Highland Heights.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at ATS Institute of Technology take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $29,222.

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

Career Center of Southern Illinois ranked #7 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the rural area of Red Bud, Beck School of Practical Nursing is a public school with a fairly small student population.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Beck School of Practical Nursing take out $20,320 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Career Center of Southern Illinois

Central School of Practical Nursing ranked #8 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the large suburb of Independence, Central School of Practical Nursing is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Central School of Practical Nursing

#9

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN

Ivy Tech Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Ivy Tech Community College is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Indianapolis.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Ivy Tech Community College take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $18,646.

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

Tri-Rivers Career Center came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Tri-Rivers Career Center is a fairly small public school located in the town of Marion.

Practical Nursing majors at Tri-Rivers Career Center take out an average of $16,468 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Tri-Rivers Career Center

#11

Northern Career Institute

Eastlake, OH

With a ranking of #11, Northern Career Institute did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the large suburb of Eastlake, Northern Career Institute is a public school with a fairly small student population.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, practical nursing graduates from Northern Career Institute carry an average student debtload of $22,417.

Read More…

Herzing University - Brookfield did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for practical nursing and nursing assistants students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #12 on the list. Herzing University - Brookfield is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Brookfield.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Herzing University - Brookfield take out $23,259 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Herzing University - Brookfield Report

Miami Valley Career Technology Center landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Miami Valley CTC is a small public school located in the suburb of Englewood.

Practical Nursing majors at Miami Valley CTC take out an average of $23,569 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Miami Valley Career Technology Center

Herzing University - Kenosha ranked #14 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Kenosha, Herzing University - Kenosha is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, practical nursing graduates from Herzing University - Kenosha carry an average student debtload of $23,259.

Read More…

#15

Kellogg Community College

Battle Creek, MI

Kellogg Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for practical nursing and nursing assistants students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the city of Battle Creek, Kellogg Community College is a public college with a small student population.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, practical nursing graduates from Kellogg Community College carry an average student debtload of $24,907.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Kellogg Community College Report

With a ranking of #16, Chippewa Valley Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the small city of Eau Claire, CVTC is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, practical nursing majors at CVTC accumulate an average of around $17,343 in student debt.

Read More…

#17

Athena Career Academy

Toledo, OH

Athena Career Academy came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Athena Career Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Toledo.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Athena Career Academy take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $24,982.

Read More…

Wayne County Schools Career Center did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for practical nursing and nursing assistants students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #18 on the list. Wayne County Schools Career Center is a fairly small public school located in the town of Smithville.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Wayne County Schools Career Center take out $13,996 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Read More…

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 Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
19 Ohio Medical Career College Dayton, OH
20 Sandusky Career Center Sandusky, OH
21 Upper Valley Career Center Piqua, OH
22 Cuyahoga Valley Career Center Brecksville, OH
23 Collins Career Technical Center Chesapeake, OH
24 Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WI

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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