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Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

139 Colleges
$57,601 Avg Salary
$21,889 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing Associate Degree School for You

Nursing is the most popular major in the United States with 57,106 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for nursing students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Nursing Degree Search has created the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 139 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones offered the best associate degree programs 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 Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Colleges.

Top 15% Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools

Our analysis found Ohio Medical Career College to be the best school for nursing students who want to pursue a associate degree in the Great Lakes Region . Ohio Medical Career College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Dayton.

Full Nursing at Ohio Medical Career College Report

#2

Ambria College of Nursing

Hoffman Estates, IL

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Ambria College of Nursing. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Ambria College of Nursing is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Hoffman Estates.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Ambria College of Nursing carry an average student debtload of $32,601.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Rasmussen University - Illinois. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the medium-sized city of Rockford, Rasmussen University - Illinois is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Rasmussen University - Illinois accumulate an average of around $32,326 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $175.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Madison Area Technical College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the large city of Madison, Madison College is a public school with a large student population.

On average, nursing graduates from Madison College take out $26,980 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Madison Area Technical College

The excellent associate degree programs at Herzing University - Akron helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Great Lakes Region . Herzing Akron is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Akron.

On average, nursing graduates from Herzing Akron take out $35,162 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $107.

Read full report on Nursing at Herzing University - Akron

#6

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN

Ivy Tech Community College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the large city of Indianapolis.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Ivy Tech Community College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $20,860.

Read full report on Nursing at Ivy Tech Community College

James A Rhodes State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the small suburb of Lima, Rhodes State College is a public school with a small student population.

On average, nursing graduates from Rhodes State College take out $23,078 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at James A Rhodes State College

Rasmussen University - Wisconsin ranked #8 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the city of Green Bay, Rasmussen University - Wisconsin is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Rasmussen University - Wisconsin accumulate an average of around $32,326 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $175.

Full Nursing at Rasmussen University - Wisconsin Report

Galen College of Nursing - Cincinnati ranked #9 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Galen College of Nursing - Cincinnati is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Cincinnati.

Nursing majors at Galen College of Nursing - Cincinnati take out an average of $35,636 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $111.

Full Nursing at Galen College of Nursing - Cincinnati Report

Chippewa Valley Technical College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Located in the city of Eau Claire, CVTC is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

On average, nursing graduates from CVTC take out $24,781 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Full Nursing at Chippewa Valley Technical College Report

#11

Schoolcraft College

Livonia, MI

With a ranking of #11, Schoolcraft College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Schoolcraft College carry an average student debtload of $24,773.

Read full report on Nursing at Schoolcraft College

#12

Mercy College of Ohio

Toledo, OH

Mercy College of Ohio landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Located in the city of Toledo, Mercy College is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Mercy College carry an average student debtload of $35,681. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $149, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Nursing at Mercy College of Ohio

#13

Oakton Community College

Des Plaines, IL

Oakton Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in the small city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

Nursing majors at Oakton Community College take out an average of $11,885 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Oakton Community College

William Rainey Harper College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Harper College is a large public school located in the suburb of Palatine.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Harper College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $19,644.

Full Nursing at William Rainey Harper College Report

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Southwest Tech is a small public school located in the rural area of Fennimore.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Southwest Tech accumulate an average of around $20,050 in student debt.

Read full report on Nursing at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College

Ohio University - Southern Campus ranked #16 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the suburb of Ironton, OHIO Southern is a public school with a small student population.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from OHIO Southern carry an average student debtload of $26,334.

Read full report on Nursing at Ohio University - Southern Campus

Ohio University - Zanesville Campus landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. OHIO Zanesville is a small public school located in the distant town of Zanesville.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at OHIO Zanesville accumulate an average of around $26,334 in student debt.

Read More…

Felbry College School of Nursing ranked #18 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Felbry College School of Nursing is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Columbus.

Full Nursing at Felbry College School of Nursing Report

#19

Delta College

University Center, MI

Delta College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Delta College accumulate an average of around $21,140 in student debt.

Read More…

Lansing Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the city of Lansing, LCC is a public school with a fairly large student population.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at LCC accumulate an average of around $28,140 in student debt.

Read More…

Honorable Mentions

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

Rank College Location
21 Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WI
22 Parkland College Champaign, IL
23 Hondros College of Nursing Westerville, OH
24 Western Technical College La Crosse, WI
25 Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay, WI
26 University of Saint Francis - Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, IN
27 Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WI

Best Nursing Colleges by State

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

State Degrees Awarded
Michigan 7,345
Ohio 13,973
Illinois 21,938
Indiana 7,922
Wisconsin 5,410

Nursing Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 266,651
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 16,104
Nursing Administration 9,838
Nursing Practice 7,992
Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 5,092
Nursing Science 4,600
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 2,287
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing 2,021
Nurse Anesthetist 1,936
Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing 1,883
Critical Care Nursing 773
Geriatric Nurse/Nursing 563
School Nursing 553
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery 509
Clinical Nurse Leader 444
Clinical Nurse Specialist 419
Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing 331
Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing 181
Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing 57
Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing 53
Palliative Care Nursing 14
Forensic Nursing 14

Related Major Annual Graduates
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 84,274

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).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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