2023 Best Value Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
Finding the Best Nursing Bachelor's 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.
The Best Value Nursing Bachelor's Degree 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 167 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones offered the best value bachelor's degree programs for nursing students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
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 25 Best Great Lakes Region Schools for Affordable Quality for a Bachelor's in Nursing
Our 2023 rankings named University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex the best value school in the Great Lakes Region for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. UWM Flexible Option is a fairly small public school located in the large city of Milwaukee.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UWM Flexible Option are $6,750 per year. After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from UWM Flexible Option carry an average student debtload of $29,922. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $182.
UWM Flexible Option also made our Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list, coming in at #3.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Ottawa University - Milwaukee. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Ottawa University - Milwaukee is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Brookfield.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Ottawa University - Milwaukee are $12,616 per year. Nursing majors at Ottawa University - Milwaukee take out an average of $29,652 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
Ottawa University - Milwaukee not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #2 on our Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
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Out of the 167 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Franklin University landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the city of Columbus, Franklin University is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Franklin University are $9,577 per year. After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from Franklin University carry an average student debtload of $38,028.
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Out of the 167 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global landed the # 4 spot on the list. IWU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Marion.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at IWU are $9,239 per year. After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from IWU carry an average student debtload of $33,086. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $344.
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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Purdue University Northwest is a great value for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Purdue Northwest is a medium-sized public school located in the suburb of Hammond.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Purdue Northwest are $14,349 a year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Purdue Northwest take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $27,233. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $152.
Purdue Northwest also claimed a spot on our Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category.
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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, SIUE is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at SIUE are $11,496 a year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at SIUE take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $23,837. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $215.
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With a ranking of #6, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the small city of Oshkosh, UW Oshkosh is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW Oshkosh are $15,306 a year. On average, nursing graduates from UW Oshkosh take out $26,175 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $177, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
UW Oshkosh excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
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Herzing University - Brookfield 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. Herzing University - Brookfield is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Brookfield.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Herzing University - Brookfield are $14,200 a year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Herzing University - Brookfield take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $42,677. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $204, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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With a ranking of #9, Central Michigan University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the distant town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Central Michigan are $13,094 a year.
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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 #10 on the list. UW - Eau Claire is a large public school located in the small city of Eau Claire.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - Eau Claire are $17,149 per year. While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at UW - Eau Claire accumulate an average of around $24,728 in student debt.
UW - Eau Claire did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
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Kettering College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the small city of Kettering, Kettering College is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Kettering College are $14,232 per year. Nursing majors at Kettering College take out an average of $38,183 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
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Herzing University - Kenosha 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 #12 on the list. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Kenosha, Herzing University - Kenosha is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Herzing University - Kenosha are $14,200 a year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Herzing University - Kenosha take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $42,677. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $204, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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With a ranking of #13, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the medium-sized city of Green Bay, UW - Green Bay is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - Green Bay are $16,091 per year. On average, nursing graduates from UW - Green Bay take out $29,014 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW - Green Bay also is in the top 10% of our Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
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Youngstown State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Youngstown State University is a fairly large public school located in the city of Youngstown.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Youngstown State University are $9,732 a year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Youngstown State University take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $31,608. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $150.
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Chamberlain University - Ohio landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Located in the large city of Columbus, Chamberlain - Ohio is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Chamberlain - Ohio are $19,820 a year. While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at Chamberlain - Ohio accumulate an average of around $37,103 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $256.
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Chamberlain University - Indiana landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Chamberlain - Indiana is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis.
Chamberlain - Indiana undergraduate students pay an average of $19,820 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from Chamberlain - Indiana carry an average student debtload of $37,103. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $256.
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Chamberlain University - Michigan landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Located in the small city of Troy, Chamberlain - Michigan is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
Chamberlain - Michigan undergraduate students pay an average of $20,492 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at Chamberlain - Michigan accumulate an average of around $37,103 in student debt. 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 #18, Ferris State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the distant town of Big Rapids, Ferris is a public college with a large student population.
Ferris undergraduate students pay an average of $13,188 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at Ferris accumulate an average of around $30,958 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $132, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Good Samaritan College of Nursing & Health Science landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Good Samaritan College of Nursing & Health Science is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Good Samaritan College of Nursing & Health Science are $15,470 per year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Good Samaritan College of Nursing & Health Science take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $32,928.
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Rasmussen University - Wisconsin came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the midsize city of Green Bay, Rasmussen University - Wisconsin is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Rasmussen University - Wisconsin are $12,860 a year. Nursing majors at Rasmussen University - Wisconsin take out an average of $39,885 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $146, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Herzing University - Akron ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Herzing Akron is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Akron.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Herzing Akron are $14,200 per year. On average, nursing graduates from Herzing Akron take out $42,677 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $204, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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University of Akron Main Campus 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 #22 on the list. University of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the midsize city of Akron.
University of Akron Main Campus undergraduate students pay an average of $11,880 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from University of Akron Main Campus carry an average student debtload of $26,640. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $209.
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Chamberlain University - Illinois ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the suburb of Addison, Chamberlain - Illinois is a private for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Chamberlain - Illinois are $20,250 a year. While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at Chamberlain - Illinois accumulate an average of around $37,103 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $256.
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Western Illinois University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. WIU is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at WIU are $13,297 a year. On average, nursing graduates from WIU take out $26,071 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
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With a ranking of #25, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the town of Stevens Point, UW - Stevens Point is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
UW - Stevens Point undergraduate students pay an average of $17,035 in tuition and fees each year. Nursing majors at UW - Stevens Point take out an average of $24,130 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, UW - Stevens Point also did well on our Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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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 Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Herzing University - Madison | Madison, WI |
| 27 | Northern Illinois University | Dekalb, IL |
| 28 | Eastern Illinois University | Charleston, IL |
| 29 | Purdue University Global | Indianapolis, IN |
| 29 | The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences | Cincinnati, OH |
| 31 | Ohio Christian University | Circleville, OH |
| 32 | Eastern Michigan University | Ypsilanti, MI |
| 33 | Chicago State University | Chicago, IL |
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 |
More Nursing Rankings in the Great Lakes Region
Nursing Related Majors for Nursing
Nursing Concentrations
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.
- 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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