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Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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2023 Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

151 Colleges
$57,601 Avg Salary
$21,889 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing Associate 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.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 151 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which associate degree programs were the most popular for nursing students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Nursing program at each school on the list.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for nursing majors pursuing a associate degree.

#1

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN

Our analysis found Ivy Tech Community College to be the most popular school for nursing students who want to pursue a associate degree in the Great Lakes Region . Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the large city of Indianapolis.

About 89% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 11% are male.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Ivy Tech Community College carry an average student debt load of $20,860.

Read More…

Out of the 151 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Rasmussen University - Illinois landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the midsize city of Rockford, Rasmussen University - Illinois is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Of the 450 students majoring in nursing at Rasmussen University - Illinois, 8% are male and 92% are female.

Nursing majors at Rasmussen University - Illinois take out an average of $32,326 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $175.

Full Nursing at Rasmussen University - Illinois Report

Out of the 151 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Cuyahoga Community College District landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a public school with a large student population.

Of the 327 students majoring in nursing at Cuyahoga Community College District, 16% are male and 84% are female.

Nursing majors at Cuyahoga Community College District take out an average of $21,617 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Full Nursing at Cuyahoga Community College District Report

#4

Hondros College of Nursing

Westerville, OH

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hondros College of Nursing. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the large suburb of Westerville, Hondros College of Nursing is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Of the 309 students majoring in nursing at Hondros College of Nursing, 7% are male and 93% are female.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Hondros College of Nursing accumulate an average of around $40,873 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $125.

Read full report on Nursing at Hondros College of Nursing

The in-demand associate degree programs at Galen College of Nursing - Cincinnati helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in the Great Lakes Region . Galen College of Nursing - Cincinnati is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Cincinnati.

About 91% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 9% are male.

On average, nursing graduates from Galen College of Nursing - Cincinnati take out $35,636 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $111.

Read More…

#6

Owens Community College

Perrysburg, OH

With a ranking of #6, Owens Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the suburb of Perrysburg, Owens State Community College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

Women make up 86% of the nursing majors at the school.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Owens State Community College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $30,639.

Full Nursing at Owens Community College Report

#7

Henry Ford College

Dearborn, MI

Henry Ford College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Henry Ford College is a large public school located in the city of Dearborn.

Women make up 78% of the nursing majors at the school.

Nursing majors at Henry Ford College take out an average of $27,674 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

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With a ranking of #8, Lansing Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the city of Lansing, LCC is a public school with a fairly large student population.

About 76% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 24% are male.

On average, nursing graduates from LCC take out $28,140 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Full Nursing at Lansing Community College Report

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. NWTC is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay.

Women make up 93% of the nursing majors at the school.

On average, nursing graduates from NWTC take out $21,872 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

Central Ohio Technical College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. COTC is a small public school located in the small suburb of Newark.

About 83% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 17% are male.

On average, nursing graduates from COTC take out $25,409 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Full Nursing at Central Ohio Technical College Report

With a ranking of #11, Madison Area Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the city of Madison, Madison College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

About 90% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 10% are male.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Madison College accumulate an average of around $26,980 in student debt.

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With a ranking of #12, Chippewa Valley Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the city of Eau Claire, CVTC is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Of the 168 students majoring in nursing at CVTC, 8% are male and 92% are female.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from CVTC carry an average student debt load of $24,781.

Read More…

#13

Schoolcraft College

Livonia, MI

Schoolcraft College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in the small city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

About 87% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 13% are male.

On average, nursing graduates from Schoolcraft College take out $24,773 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read More…

With a ranking of #14, Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the large suburb of Wauwatosa, Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

About 93% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 7% are male.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa accumulate an average of around $34,394 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $171, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Nursing at Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa

Columbus State Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Of the 156 students majoring in nursing at Columbus State, 13% are male and 87% are female.

Read More…

#16

Clark State Community College

Springfield, OH

Clark State Community College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. Located in the small city of Springfield, Clark State Community College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Women make up 84% of the nursing majors at the school.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Clark State Community College carry an average student debt load of $28,566.

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Lorain County Community College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. Located in the small city of Elyria, LCCC is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

Of the 146 students majoring in nursing at LCCC, 11% are male and 89% are female.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at LCCC take out while working on their Associate Degree is $25,698.

Full Nursing at Lorain County Community College Report

With a ranking of #18, City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the large city of Chicago, Malcolm X College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

Of the 141 students majoring in nursing at Malcolm X College, 18% are male and 82% are female.

On average, nursing graduates from Malcolm X College take out $18,740 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College

#18

Delta College

University Center, MI

Delta College ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

Of the 141 students majoring in nursing at Delta College, 12% are male and 88% are female.

On average, nursing graduates from Delta College take out $21,140 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read More…

Sinclair Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Sinclair Community College is a large public school located in the city of Dayton.

Women make up 88% of the nursing majors at the school.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Sinclair Community College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $24,962.

Full Nursing at Sinclair Community College Report

#21

Mercy College of Ohio

Toledo, OH

With a ranking of #21, Mercy College of Ohio did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the city of Toledo, Mercy College is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Of the 133 students majoring in nursing at Mercy College, 10% are male and 90% are female.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Mercy College carry an average student debt load of $35,681. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $149, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Nursing at Mercy College of Ohio Report

Milwaukee Area Technical College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. MATC is a large public school located in the city of Milwaukee.

About 88% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 12% are male.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at MATC accumulate an average of around $27,388 in student debt.

Read More…

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
23 Macomb Community College Warren, MI
23 William Rainey Harper College Palatine, IL
23 Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor, MI
26 Oakland Community College Bloomfield Hills, MI
27 University of Rio Grande Rio Grande, OH
28 Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WI
28 Lakeland Community College Kirtland, OH
30 Waubonsee Community College Sugar Grove, IL
30 Rasmussen University - Wisconsin Green Bay, 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

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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