2023 Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region
With all the nursing programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Nursing Degree Search has created the Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 67 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which basic certificate programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school us, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Madison Area Technical College the best school in the Great Lakes Region for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
Students from Wisconsin who attend Madison College full time pay an average of $4,600 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,769.
One thing to take note of is that Madison College does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 77% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Moraine Park Technical College is a great place for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Moraine Park Technical College is $4,568. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,683.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Moraine Park Technical College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 12% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Fox Valley Technical College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at FVTC is $4,746. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,861.
Online courses are available at FVTC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 42% took at least some of their classes online.
Out of the 67 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Ivy Tech Community College landed the # 4 spot on the list.
Students from Indiana who attend Ivy Tech Community College full time pay an average of $4,637 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,927.
Online courses are available at Ivy Tech Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 81% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Oakton Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $10,446 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Oakton Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,462.
Oakton Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 91% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Chippewa Valley Technical College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate nursing programs.
Full-time students from Wisconsin pay an average of $4,568 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend CVTC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,683.
Some students may be able to take online classes at CVTC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 60% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Blackhawk Technical College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
Students from Wisconsin who attend BTC full time pay an average of $4,568 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,683.
Some students may be able to take online classes at BTC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 60% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
William Rainey Harper College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #8 on the list.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $9,870 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Harper College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $11,682.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Harper College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 86% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
College of Lake County ranked #9 on this year’s Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at College of Lake County is $9,632. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $12,824.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at College of Lake County. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 91% took at least some of their classes online.
Gateway Technical College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate nursing programs.
In-state students pay an average of $4,688 in tuition and fees if they attend Gateway Technical College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,803.
One thing to take note of is that Gateway Technical College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 48% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #11, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at NWTC is $4,734. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,849.
NWTC does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 51% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Waukesha County Technical College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Full-time students from Wisconsin pay an average of $4,488 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend WCTC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,603.
Some students may be able to take online classes at WCTC. During the 2019-2020 year, about 17% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #13, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
Students from Ohio who attend Ohio State full time pay an average of $11,936 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $35,019.
Online courses are available at Ohio State, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 99% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Kaskaskia College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Kaskaskia College is $7,530. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $12,330.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Kaskaskia College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 54% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #15 on the list.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at OHIO Athens. During the 2019-2020 year, about 92% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
Online courses are available at Malcolm X College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 97% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College
With a ranking of #17, Western Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Western Technical College is $4,572. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,687.
Western Technical College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 88% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #18, Northcentral Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
In-state students pay an average of $3,723 in tuition and fees if they attend North Central Technical College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,415.
Some students may be able to take online classes at North Central Technical College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 54% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #19, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
Students from Wisconsin who attend Southwest Tech full time pay an average of $4,571 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,683.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Southwest Tech. During the 2019-2020 year, about 33% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #20, Lincoln Land Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at LLCC is $6,840. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,068.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since LLCC does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 81% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #21, Black Hawk College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
One thing to take note of is that BHC does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 71% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Joliet Junior College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate nursing programs.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $12,570 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Joliet Junior College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $13,410.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Joliet Junior College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 96% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
South Suburban College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Students from Illinois who attend SSC full time pay an average of $11,033 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,683.
SSC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 79% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Illinois Valley Community College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
In-state students pay an average of $12,952 in tuition and fees if they attend IVCC full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $13,942.
Online courses are available at IVCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 73% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #25, Morton College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $9,476 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Morton College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,524.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Morton College does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 94% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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