2023 Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Finding the Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree School for You
Nursing is the most popular major in the United States with 55,295 degrees and certificates handed out in 2021-2022.
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 Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 167 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones offered the best bachelor's 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.
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2023 Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree Colleges.
Top 25 Top Great Lakes Region Schools for a Bachelor's in Nursing
Our analysis found University of Wisconsin - Madison to be the best school for nursing students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the Great Lakes Region . UW - Madison is a fairly large public school located in the city of Madison.
On average, nursing graduates from UW - Madison take out $20,826 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $325.
Out of the 167 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Chamberlain University - Michigan landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the small city of Troy, Chamberlain - Michigan is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from Chamberlain - Michigan carry an average student debtload of $25,436. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $283, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Nursing at Chamberlain University - Michigan
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ottawa University - Milwaukee. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Ottawa University - Milwaukee is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Brookfield.
Nursing majors at Ottawa University - Milwaukee take out an average of $20,101 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Chamberlain University - Ohio is a great place for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the city of Columbus, Chamberlain - Ohio is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Nursing majors at Chamberlain - Ohio take out an average of $25,436 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $283, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Nursing at Chamberlain University - Ohio
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UWM Flexible Option is a small public school located in the city of Milwaukee.
While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at UWM Flexible Option accumulate an average of around $21,965 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $218.
Chamberlain University - Indiana landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Chamberlain - Indiana is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis.
On average, nursing graduates from Chamberlain - Indiana take out $25,436 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $283, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Chamberlain University - Illinois landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Located in the large suburb of Addison, Chamberlain - Illinois is a private for-profit college with a very large student population.
After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from Chamberlain - Illinois carry an average student debtload of $25,436. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $283, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #8 on the list. UW - Eau Claire is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Eau Claire.
On average, nursing graduates from UW - Eau Claire take out $18,446 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
Read full report on Nursing at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Loyola University Chicago did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #9 on the list. Loyola Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago.
On average, nursing graduates from Loyola Chicago take out $21,779 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $862, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Illinois Wesleyan University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the city of Bloomington, Illinois Wesleyan is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $297.
Purdue University Northwest ranked #11 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Purdue Northwest is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Hammond.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Purdue Northwest take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $19,304. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $155, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Saint Anthony College of Nursing landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs. SACN is a small private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Rockford.
On average, nursing graduates from SACN take out $19,600 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $319, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Located in the small city of Oshkosh, UW Oshkosh is a public school with a large student population.
Nursing majors at UW Oshkosh take out an average of $21,389 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $172, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Nursing at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #14 on the list. U-M is a very large public school located in the midsize city of Ann Arbor.
While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at U-M accumulate an average of around $17,119 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $690.
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay ranked #15 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the midsize city of Green Bay, UW - Green Bay is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from UW - Green Bay carry an average student debtload of $16,612.
Marquette University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $529, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Saint Mary’s College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. St. Mary's College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Notre Dame.
With a ranking of #18, Ohio Northern University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. ONU is a small private not-for-profit school located in the fringe town of Ada.
Nursing majors at ONU take out an average of $26,419 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
Oak Point University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Oak Point is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Oak Brook.
After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from Oak Point carry an average student debtload of $21,498. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $351, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #20 on the list. UWM is a very large public school located in the large city of Milwaukee.
Nursing majors at UWM take out an average of $21,965 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $218.
Ball State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ball State is a large public school located in the small city of Muncie.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Ball State take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $22,910. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $280.
Case Western Reserve University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $351, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Herzing University - Brookfield ranked #23 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Herzing University - Brookfield is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Brookfield.
While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at Herzing University - Brookfield accumulate an average of around $27,801 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $186, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
McKendree University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the suburb of Lebanon, McKendree is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
On average, nursing graduates from McKendree take out $18,943 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
Milwaukee School of Engineering came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. MSOE is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Milwaukee.
Read full report on Nursing at Milwaukee School of Engineering
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 Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Hope College | Holland, MI |
| 27 | University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point | Stevens Point, WI |
| 28 | Edgewood College | Madison, WI |
| 29 | Illinois State University | Normal, IL |
| 30 | Kettering College | Kettering, OH |
| 31 | Purdue University - Main Campus | West Lafayette, IN |
| 32 | Herzing University - Kenosha | Kenosha, WI |
| 33 | Carroll University | Waukesha, WI |
Best Nursing Colleges by State
Explore the best nursing schools 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 |
Rankings in Majors Related to Nursing
Nursing Concentrations
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | 262,974 |
| Family Practice Nurse/Nursing | 16,647 |
| Nursing Practice | 8,862 |
| Nursing Administration | 8,663 |
| Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 4,717 |
| Nursing Science | 4,701 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing | 2,895 |
| Adult Health Nurse/Nursing | 2,075 |
| Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing | 2,011 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | 1,768 |
| Critical Care Nursing | 747 |
| Geriatric Nurse/Nursing | 622 |
| Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery | 567 |
| School Nursing | 539 |
| Clinical Nurse Leader | 502 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist | 340 |
| Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing | 269 |
| Women’s Health Nurse/Nursing | 262 |
| Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing | 192 |
| Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing | 87 |
| Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing | 26 |
| Forensic Nursing | 23 |
| Palliative Care Nursing | 13 |
Most Popular Majors Related to Nursing
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants | 85,339 |
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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