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Best Value Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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2023 Best Value Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

167 Colleges
$14,644 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$64,238 Avg Salary

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.

2023 Best Value Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Value Nursing Bachelor's Degree Colleges.

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 small public school located in the large city of Milwaukee.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UWM Flexible Option are $6,750 a 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.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, UWM Flexible Option is ranked #3 for overall quality for nursing in the Great Lakes Region .

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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 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 Ottawa University - Milwaukee are $12,616 a year. Nursing majors at Ottawa University - Milwaukee take out an average of $29,652 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Ottawa University - Milwaukee is ranked #2 for overall quality for nursing in the Great Lakes Region .

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#3

Franklin University

Columbus, OH

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Franklin University is a great value for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the city of Columbus, Franklin University is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.

Franklin University undergraduate students pay an average of $9,577 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from Franklin University carry an average student debtload of $38,028.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. IWU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Marion.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at IWU are $9,239 a 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 moderately-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.

On top of its placing in our value ranking, Purdue Northwest also did well on our Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.

Full Nursing at Purdue University Northwest Report

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 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 #6 on the list. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, SIUE is a public school with a large student population.

SIUE undergraduate students pay an average of $11,496 in tuition and fees each 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.

Full Nursing at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Report

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Located in the city of Oshkosh, UW Oshkosh is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW Oshkosh are $15,306 per 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.

Full Nursing at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Report

Herzing University - Brookfield ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Herzing University - Brookfield is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Brookfield.

Herzing University - Brookfield undergraduate students pay an average of $14,200 in tuition and fees each 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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#9

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, MI

Central Michigan University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Located in the distant town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan is a public school 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.

Full Nursing at Central Michigan University Report

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW - Eau Claire is a large public school located in the small city of Eau Claire.

UW - Eau Claire undergraduate students pay an average of $17,149 in tuition and fees each 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 also made our Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list, coming in at #4.

Read full report on Nursing at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

#11

Kettering College

Kettering, OH

With a ranking of #11, Kettering College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the city of Kettering, Kettering College is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Kettering College are $14,232 a year. Nursing majors at Kettering College take out an average of $38,183 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Kettering College

With a ranking of #12, Herzing University - Kenosha did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the suburb of Kenosha, Herzing University - Kenosha is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Herzing University - Kenosha undergraduate students pay an average of $14,200 in tuition and fees each 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.

Read full report on Nursing at Herzing University - Kenosha

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Located in the city of Green Bay, UW - Green Bay is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

UW - Green Bay undergraduate students pay an average of $16,091 in tuition and fees each year. On average, nursing graduates from UW - Green Bay take out $29,014 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.

UW - Green Bay also claimed a spot on our Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.

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#14

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, OH

Youngstown State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Youngstown State University is a large public school located in the city of Youngstown.

Youngstown State University undergraduate students pay an average of $9,732 in tuition and fees each 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.

Read full report on Nursing at Youngstown State University

Chamberlain University - Ohio 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 #15 on the list. Located in the city of Columbus, Chamberlain - Ohio is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Chamberlain - Ohio are $19,820 per 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.

Full Nursing at Chamberlain University - Ohio Report

#16

Chamberlain University - Indiana

Indianapolis, IN

Chamberlain University - Indiana 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 #16 on the list. Chamberlain - Indiana is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Chamberlain - Indiana are $19,820 a 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 city of Troy, Chamberlain - Michigan 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 - Michigan are $20,492 a 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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#18

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, MI

Ferris State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Ferris are $13,188 per 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.

Full Nursing at Ferris State University Report

Good Samaritan College of Nursing & Health Science ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. 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.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Good Samaritan College of Nursing & Health Science are $15,470 a 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.

Read full report on Nursing at Good Samaritan College of Nursing & Health Science

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 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 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 #21 on the list. Herzing Akron is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Akron.

Herzing Akron undergraduate students pay an average of $14,200 in tuition and fees each 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.

Read full report on Nursing at Herzing University - Akron

University of Akron Main Campus ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large public school located in the city of Akron.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at University of Akron Main Campus are $11,880 a 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.

Full Nursing at University of Akron Main Campus Report

With a ranking of #23, Chamberlain University - Illinois did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the large suburb of Addison, Chamberlain - Illinois is a private for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Chamberlain - Illinois are $20,250 per 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.

Full Nursing at Chamberlain University - Illinois Report

With a ranking of #24, Western Illinois University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. WIU is a moderately-sized public school located in the remote 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.

Full Nursing at Western Illinois University Report

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point 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 #25 on the list. Located in the distant 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.

Read full report on Nursing at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

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 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

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.

  • 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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