2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Finding the Best Nursing 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.
The Best Nursing 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. This report analyzed 305 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones offered the best programs for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Check out the nursing programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.
Top 25 Top Great Lakes Region Schools in Nursing
Our 2023 rankings named Trinity Health System School of Nursing the best school in the Great Lakes Region for nursing students. Trinity Health System School of Nursing is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Steubenville.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Trinity Health System School of Nursing take out is $20,824.
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Out of the 305 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Graham Hospital School of Nursing landed the # 2 spot on the list. Graham Hospital School of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Canton.
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Out of the 305 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Saint Elizabeth School of Nursing landed the # 3 spot on the list. St. Elizabeth School of Nursing and University of Saint Francis Cooperative Nursing Program is a small private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Lafayette.
Nursing majors at St. Elizabeth School of Nursing and University of Saint Francis Cooperative Nursing Program take out an average of $43,960 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $424.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ohio Institute of Allied Health. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Nursing 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.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit school located in the distant town of Sandusky.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing accumulate an average of around $30,000 in student debt.
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Ohio Medical Career College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Ohio Medical Career College is a small private for-profit school located in the midsize city of Dayton.
Nursing majors at Ohio Medical Career College take out an average of $27,971 in student loans while working on their egree.
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With a ranking of #7, University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. UW - Madison is a very large public school located in the large city of Madison.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at UW - Madison take out is $24,104.
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Tri-Rivers Career Center came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Tri-Rivers Career Center is a small public school located in the distant town of Marion.
On average, nursing graduates from Tri-Rivers Career Center take out $27,748 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Chamberlain University - Michigan ranked #9 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the small city of Troy, Chamberlain - Michigan is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
On average, nursing graduates from Chamberlain - Michigan take out $38,460 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $256.
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Ottawa University - Milwaukee came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ottawa University - Milwaukee is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Brookfield.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Ottawa University - Milwaukee carry an average student debtload of $26,768.
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With a ranking of #11, Chamberlain University - Ohio did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Located in the large city of Columbus, Chamberlain - Ohio is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Chamberlain - Ohio carry an average student debtload of $38,460. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $256.
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With a ranking of #12, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. UWM Flexible Option is a small public school located in the city of Milwaukee.
On average, nursing graduates from UWM Flexible Option take out $27,902 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $182.
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Chamberlain University - Indiana came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Chamberlain - Indiana is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis.
Nursing majors at Chamberlain - Indiana take out an average of $38,460 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $256.
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Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science ranked #14 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. RFUMS is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of North Chicago.
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Chamberlain University - Illinois came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the suburb of Addison, Chamberlain - Illinois is a private for-profit school with a very large student population.
On average, nursing graduates from Chamberlain - Illinois take out $38,460 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $256.
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Ambria College of Nursing came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ambria College of Nursing is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Hoffman Estates.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Ambria College of Nursing carry an average student debtload of $34,750.
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Rasmussen University - Illinois did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Rockford, Rasmussen University - Illinois is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
On average, nursing graduates from Rasmussen University - Illinois take out $35,539 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $161.
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Collins Career Technical Center came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the rural area of Chesapeake, CollinsCTC is a public college with a fairly small student population.
On average, nursing graduates from CollinsCTC take out $24,180 in student loans while working on their degree.
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University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #19 on the list. UW - Eau Claire is a large public school located in the small city of Eau Claire.
Nursing majors at UW - Eau Claire take out an average of $25,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Sandusky Career Center came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Sandusky Career Center is a small public school located in the town of Sandusky.
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Rush University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #21 on the list. Located in the city of Chicago, Rush University is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
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With a ranking of #22, Illinois Wesleyan University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Located in the small city of Bloomington, Illinois Wesleyan is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Nursing majors at Illinois Wesleyan take out an average of $26,855 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Madison Area Technical College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the large city of Madison, Madison College is a public school with a fairly large student population.
On average, nursing graduates from Madison College take out $26,156 in student loans while working on their degree.
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With a ranking of #24, Saint Anthony College of Nursing did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. SACN is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Rockford.
On average, nursing graduates from SACN take out $25,000 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $281, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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With a ranking of #25, Case Western Reserve University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
Nursing majors at Case Western take out an average of $24,201 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $272.
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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 Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 46 | Illinois State University | Normal, IL |
| 47 | University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point | Stevens Point, WI |
| 48 | Chippewa Valley Technical College | Eau Claire, WI |
| 49 | Kettering College | Kettering, OH |
| 50 | Edgewood College | Madison, WI |
| 51 | Herzing University - Kenosha | Kenosha, WI |
| 52 | Athena Career Academy | Toledo, OH |
| 53 | Schoolcraft College | Livonia, MI |
| 54 | Carroll University | Waukesha, WI |
| 55 | Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI |
| 56 | Rasmussen University - Wisconsin | Green Bay, WI |
| 57 | Concordia University, Chicago | River Forest, IL |
| 58 | Ball State University | Muncie, IN |
| 59 | University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI |
| 60 | Mount Carmel College of Nursing | Columbus, OH |
| 61 | Viterbo University | La Crosse, 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 |
More Nursing Rankings in the Great Lakes Region
Rankings in Majors Related to Nursing
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 |
Most Popular Majors Related to Nursing
| 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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