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Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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2023 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region

194 Colleges
$35,045 Avg Salary
$11,219 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants School for You

In 2021-2022, 85,339 practical nursing & nursing assistants students received a degree or certificate, making the major the #2 most popular in the country.

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 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 194 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which programs were the most popular for nursing students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants program at each school on the list.

Check out the practical nursing programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the Great Lakes Region .

#1

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN

Our analysis found Ivy Tech Community College to be the most popular school for practical nursing & nursing assistants students who want to pursue a degree in the Great Lakes Region . Ivy Tech Community College is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Indianapolis.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Ivy Tech Community College accumulate an average of around $8,325 in student debt.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. NWTC is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from NWTC carry an average student debt load of $10,250.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

Out of the 194 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Gateway Technical College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Gateway Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in the suburb of Kenosha.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Gateway Technical College Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Fox Valley Technical College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. FVTC is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at FVTC take out is $8,250.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Waukesha County Technical College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, WCTC is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Waukesha County Technical College

#6

Hondros College of Nursing

Westerville, OH

With a ranking of #6, Hondros College of Nursing did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. Located in the suburb of Westerville, Hondros College of Nursing is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Practical Nursing majors at Hondros College of Nursing take out an average of $13,000 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $131, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Hondros College of Nursing Report

Chippewa Valley Technical College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing & nursing assistants programs. Located in the small city of Eau Claire, CVTC is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at CVTC accumulate an average of around $11,562 in student debt.

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Madison Area Technical College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the city of Madison, Madison College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

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

#9

College of Lake County

Grayslake, IL

College of Lake County landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing & nursing assistants programs. Located in the large suburb of Grayslake, College of Lake County is a public college with a large student population.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at College of Lake County Report

Columbus State Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State is a public school with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Columbus State accumulate an average of around $3,500 in student debt.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Columbus State Community College Report

#11

Moraine Park Technical College

Fond du Lac, WI

Moraine Park Technical College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing & nursing assistants programs. Moraine Park Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Fond du Lac.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Moraine Park Technical College accumulate an average of around $3,500 in student debt.

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With a ranking of #12, William Rainey Harper College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. Harper College is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Palatine.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Harper College carry an average student debt load of $6,258.

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With a ranking of #13, Milwaukee Area Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. MATC is a fairly large public school located in the city of Milwaukee.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from MATC carry an average student debt load of $11,750.

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Northcentral Technical College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. North Central Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Wausau.

On average, practical nursing graduates from North Central Technical College take out $3,750 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Northcentral Technical College Report

Sinclair Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Sinclair Community College is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of Dayton.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Sinclair Community College accumulate an average of around $5,868 in student debt.

Read More…

#16

Kaskaskia College

Centralia, IL

Kaskaskia College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing & nursing assistants programs. Located in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a public college with a small student population.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Kaskaskia College Report

With a ranking of #17, Lansing Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. Located in the city of Lansing, LCC is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Lansing Community College

#17

Lincoln Land Community College

Springfield, IL

Lincoln Land Community College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing & nursing assistants programs. Located in the medium-sized city of Springfield, LLCC is a public college with a small student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from LLCC carry an average student debt load of $6,951.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Lincoln Land Community College Report

#19

Blackhawk Technical College

Janesville, WI

Blackhawk Technical College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing & nursing assistants programs. BTC is a small public school located in the small suburb of Janesville.

On average, practical nursing graduates from BTC take out $3,500 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Blackhawk Technical College

#20

John A Logan College

Carterville, IL

John A Logan College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing & nursing assistants programs. Located in the small suburb of Carterville, John A Logan College is a public school with a small student population.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at John A Logan College Report

Heartland Community College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing & nursing assistants programs. Located in the suburb of Normal, Heartland Community College is a public school with a small student population.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Heartland Community College Report

With a ranking of #22, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. Southwest Tech is a small public school located in the rural area of Fennimore.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Report

With a ranking of #23, Butler Tech - D Russel Lee Career Center did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. D Russel Lee Career Center is a small public school located in the suburb of Monroe.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from D Russel Lee Career Center carry an average student debt load of $9,500.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Butler Tech - D Russel Lee Career Center

City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the large city of Chicago, Malcolm X College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College Report

#25

Mid-State Technical College

Wisconsin Rapids, WI

With a ranking of #25, Mid-State Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. Located in the rural area of Wisconsin Rapids, Mid-State is a public school with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Mid-State take out is $4,500.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Mid-State Technical College

#26

College of DuPage

Glen Ellyn, IL
#27

Apollo Career Center

Lima, OH
#28

Western Technical College

La Crosse, WI
#29

Oakton Community College

Des Plaines, IL

Honorable Mentions

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

Rank College Location
30 Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, IL
31 Dorsey College, Woodhaven Madison Heights, MI
31 Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills, IL
33 Joliet Junior College Joliet, IL
34 Illinois Valley Community College Oglesby, IL
35 Parkland College Champaign, IL
36 McHenry County College Crystal Lake, IL
37 Lakeshore Technical College Cleveland, WI
38 American Institute of Alternative Medicine Columbus, OH

Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Colleges by State

Explore the best practical nursing & 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 45,031
Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide 35,655
Other Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants 4,653

Related Major Annual Graduates
Nursing 319,502

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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