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Most Popular Online Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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2023 Most Popular Online Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region

70 Colleges
$67,647 Avg Salary
$27,241 Avg Student Debt

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.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Most Popular Online Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 70 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which online programs were the most popular for nursing students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with online programs.

Check out the online nursing programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the Great Lakes Region .

Our 2023 rankings named Chamberlain University - Illinois the most popular online school in the Great Lakes Region for nursing students. Located in the large suburb of Addison, Chamberlain - Illinois is a private for-profit college 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.

Full Nursing at Chamberlain University - Illinois Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Purdue University Northwest. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Online Nursing 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 is $25,000. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $152.

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#3

Purdue University Global

Indianapolis, IN

The excellent online programs at Purdue University Global helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the small city of Indianapolis, Purdue University Global is a public college with a very large student population.

On average, nursing graduates from Purdue University Global take out $39,595 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $157, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Nursing at Purdue University Global

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Loyola University Chicago is a great place for nursing students pursuing an online degree. Loyola Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Chicago.

Nursing majors at Loyola Chicago take out an average of $26,000 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $767, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Nursing at Loyola University Chicago

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Michigan - Flint. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Online Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the small city of Flint, UM Flint is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from UM Flint carry an average student debtload of $40,680.

Read full report on Nursing at University of Michigan - Flint

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the city of Oshkosh, UW Oshkosh is a public college with a large student population.

On average, nursing graduates from UW Oshkosh take out $26,000 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $177, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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#7

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH

With a ranking of #7, Cleveland State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Located in the large city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Cleveland State University take out is $29,152. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $209.

Full Nursing at Cleveland State University Report

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #8 on the list. UWM is a fairly large public school located in the city of Milwaukee.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from UWM carry an average student debtload of $27,902. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $182.

Read full report on Nursing at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Online Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. 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.

Read full report on Nursing at University of Wisconsin - Madison

#10

Davenport University

Grand Rapids, MI

Davenport University ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Online Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the large suburb of Grand Rapids, Davenport University is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Davenport University carry an average student debtload of $44,065. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $192.

Full Nursing at Davenport University Report

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional great schools for online Nursing students in the Great Lakes Region that almost earned our Most Popular Online Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
11 University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI
12 University of Southern Indiana Evansville, IN
13 University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Green Bay, WI
14 Northern Michigan University Marquette, MI

Explore the most popular online 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 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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