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

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

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

152 Colleges
$7,437 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$35,646 Avg Salary

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.

The Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 152 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which programs offered the best value experiences for practical nursing students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.

For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

Top 15% Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools

Our 2023 rankings named Madison Area Technical College the best value school in the Great Lakes Region for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the city of Madison, Madison College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Madison College are $6,769 a year. While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Madison College accumulate an average of around $15,173 in student debt.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Madison College is ranked #3 for overall quality for practical nursing in the Great Lakes Region .

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The excellent programs at Moraine Park Technical College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best practical nursing and nursing assistants schools in the Great Lakes Region . Moraine Park Technical College is a small public school located in the small city of Fond du Lac.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Moraine Park Technical College are $6,683 a year. On average, practical nursing graduates from Moraine Park Technical College take out $6,975 in student loans while working on their degree.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Moraine Park Technical College also is in the top 5% of our Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.

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$4,032 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Washington State Community College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. WSCC is a small public school located in the rural area of Marietta.

WSCC undergraduate students pay an average of $4,032 in tuition and fees each year. Practical Nursing majors at WSCC take out an average of $12,709 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#4

Blackhawk Technical College

Janesville, WI

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Blackhawk Technical College is a great value for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. BTC is a small public school located in the suburb of Janesville.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at BTC are $6,683 a year. Practical Nursing majors at BTC take out an average of $6,604 in student loans while working on their egree.

On top of its placing in our value ranking, BTC also did well on our Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.

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The excellent programs at Chippewa Valley Technical College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best practical nursing and nursing assistants schools in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the small city of Eau Claire, CVTC is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at CVTC are $6,683 a year. While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at CVTC accumulate an average of around $14,435 in student debt.

CVTC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

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Fox Valley Technical College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. FVTC is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at FVTC are $6,861 per year. On average, practical nursing graduates from FVTC take out $14,176 in student loans while working on their degree.

FVTC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

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$5,415 Average Tuition & Fees

Northcentral Technical College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. North Central Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the small city of Wausau.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at North Central Technical College are $5,415 per year. On average, practical nursing graduates from North Central Technical College take out $9,989 in student loans while working on their degree.

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Gateway Technical College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Gateway Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in the suburb of Kenosha.

Gateway Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,803 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Gateway Technical College accumulate an average of around $12,750 in student debt.

In addition to its great value ranking, Gateway Technical College is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

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Northeast Wisconsin Technical College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. NWTC is a large public school located in the midsize city of Green Bay.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at NWTC are $6,849 a year. On average, practical nursing graduates from NWTC take out $15,210 in student loans while working on their degree.

In addition to its great value ranking, NWTC is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

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Waukesha County Technical College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, WCTC is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at WCTC are $6,603 a year. Practical Nursing majors at WCTC take out an average of $11,992 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#11

Western Technical College

La Crosse, WI
$6,687 Average Tuition & Fees

Western Technical College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the small city of La Crosse, Western Technical College is a public college with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Western Technical College are $6,687 per year. Practical Nursing majors at Western Technical College take out an average of $11,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#12

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN

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

Ivy Tech Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,927 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Ivy Tech Community College carry an average student debtload of $14,751.

In addition to its great value ranking, Ivy Tech Community College is in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

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$6,683 Average Tuition & Fees

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Southwest Tech is a small public school located in the rural area of Fennimore.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Southwest Tech are $6,683 a year. The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Southwest Tech take out is $8,400.

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#14

Delta College

University Center, MI
$7,100 Average Tuition & Fees

Delta College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Delta College are $7,100 per year. While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Delta College accumulate an average of around $18,502 in student debt.

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#15

Mid-State Technical College

Wisconsin Rapids, WI
$6,351 Average Tuition & Fees

Mid-State Technical College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the rural area of Wisconsin Rapids, Mid-State is a public school with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Mid-State are $6,351 per year. After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Mid-State carry an average student debtload of $11,000.

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#16

Kellogg Community College

Battle Creek, MI

Kellogg Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #16 on the list. Located in the small city of Battle Creek, Kellogg Community College is a public college with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Kellogg Community College are $9,450 per year. Practical Nursing majors at Kellogg Community College take out an average of $23,125 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#17

Highland Community College

Freeport, IL
$6,846 Average Tuition & Fees

Highland Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #17 on the list. Highland Community College is a small public school located in the distant town of Freeport.

Highland Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,846 in tuition and fees each year.

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#18

Lakeshore Technical College

Cleveland, WI
$6,056 Average Tuition & Fees

Lakeshore Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in the rural area of Cleveland, LTC is a public college with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at LTC are $6,056 per year. While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at LTC accumulate an average of around $7,000 in student debt.

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#19

John A Logan College

Carterville, IL
$6,980 Average Tuition & Fees

John A Logan College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the suburb of Carterville, John A Logan College is a public school with a small student population.

John A Logan College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,980 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at John A Logan College accumulate an average of around $13,125 in student debt.

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#20

Black Hawk College

Moline, IL
$7,650 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #20, Black Hawk College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. BHC is a small public school located in the city of Moline.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at BHC are $7,650 a year.

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James A Rhodes State College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the suburb of Lima, Rhodes State College is a public school with a small student population.

Rhodes State College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,721 in tuition and fees each year. Practical Nursing majors at Rhodes State College take out an average of $14,900 in student loans while working on their egree.

Rhodes State College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.

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#22

West Shore Community College

Scottville, MI
$6,400 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #22, West Shore Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. West Shore Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Scottville.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at West Shore Community College are $6,400 a year. The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at West Shore Community College take out is $18,096.

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Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
23 Ohio Institute of Allied Health Huber Heights, OH
24 Central Ohio Technical College Newark, OH
25 Choffin Career and Technical Center Youngstown, OH
26 Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WI
27 Rend Lake College Ina, IL
28 Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor, MI
29 William Rainey Harper College Palatine, IL
30 Oakton Community College Des Plaines, IL

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.

  • 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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