2023 Best Nursing 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.
The Best Nursing 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 254 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones offered the best programs for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found University of Wisconsin - Madison to be the best school for nursing students in the Great Lakes Region .
Degree recipients from UW - Madison accumulate an average of $20,865 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $336. During the early years of their career, UW - Madison graduates make an average of $50,802 annually.
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 Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Degree recipients from Ottawa University - Milwaukee accumulate an average of $31,813 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Ottawa University - Milwaukee graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $50,885 during the early year of their career.
The excellent programs at Madison Area Technical College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Great Lakes Region .
On average, students take out $19,738 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Madison College graduates make an average of $40,202 annually.
The excellent programs at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Great Lakes Region .
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,221 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $224. During the early years of their career, UWM Flexible Option graduates make an average of $48,102 annually.
Out of the 254 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Rasmussen University - Illinois landed the # 5 spot on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $30,604 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $127, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Rasmussen University - Illinois graduates make an average of $41,940 annually.
Moraine Park Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #6 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,592 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Moraine Park Technical College graduates make an average of $37,031 annually.
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #7 on the list.
Degree recipients from UW - Eau Claire accumulate an average of $21,871 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $121 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UW - Eau Claire, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,330 during the early years of their career.
Illinois Wesleyan University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Degree recipients from Illinois Wesleyan accumulate an average of $23,212 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $401, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Illinois Wesleyan graduates make an average of $43,102 annually.
With a ranking of #9, Case Western Reserve University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,022 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $458.After graduating from Case Western, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $62,001 during the early years of their career.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #10 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Degree recipients from Loyola Chicago accumulate an average of $22,930 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $652 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Loyola Chicago graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $47,459 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #11, Purdue University Northwest did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
On average, students take out $27,454 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $152, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Purdue Northwest, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,610 during the early years of their career.
Ivy Tech Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,847 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Ivy Tech Community College graduates make an average of $35,780 annually.
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
Degree recipients from FVTC accumulate an average of $14,511 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, FVTC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,943 during the early year of their career.
Oakton Community College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,638 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Oakton Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,340 during the early year of their career.
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay ranked #15 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Degree recipients from UW - Green Bay accumulate an average of $24,204 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $101, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UW - Green Bay graduates make an average of $36,510 annually.
With a ranking of #16, Marquette University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
Degree recipients from Marquette accumulate an average of $21,711 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $485 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Marquette, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $52,581 during the early years of their career.
Saint Mary’s College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
On average, students take out $23,729 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from St. Mary’s College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,893 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #18, Chippewa Valley Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
Degree recipients from CVTC accumulate an average of $17,333 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, CVTC graduates make an average of $40,325 annually.
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ranked #19 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,682 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $419, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, U-M graduates make an average of $58,051 annually.
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
Degree recipients from UW Oshkosh accumulate an average of $23,848 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $161. During the early years of their career, UW Oshkosh graduates make an average of $43,232 annually.
Blackhawk Technical College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
On average, students take out $14,654 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, BTC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,255 during the early year of their career.
College of Lake County landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
Degree recipients from College of Lake County accumulate an average of $15,341 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, College of Lake County graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $53,083 during the early year of their career.
Ohio Northern University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
Degree recipients from ONU accumulate an average of $25,027 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $277 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, ONU graduates make an average of $54,915 annually.
William Rainey Harper College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
On average, students take out $15,850 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Harper College graduates make an average of $43,420 annually.
With a ranking of #25, University of St Francis did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
On average, students take out $28,383 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $332, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, University of Saint Francis graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $60,805 during the early year of their career.
Rest of the Top 15% Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the top 39 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
View Best Nursing Schools Nationwide >
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our best nursing schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | Concordia University, Chicago | River Forest, IL |
| 41 | Ball State University | Muncie, IN |
| 42 | University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI |
| 43 | Viterbo University | La Crosse, WI |
| 44 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | Green Bay, WI |
| 45 | Lewis University | Romeoville, IL |
| 46 | Siena Heights University | Adrian, MI |
| 47 | Ohio State University - Main Campus | Columbus, OH |
| 48 | Calvin University | Grand Rapids, MI |
| 49 | Concordia University, Wisconsin | Mequon, WI |
| 50 | Muskingum University | New Concord, OH |
| 51 | Herzing University - Madison | Madison, WI |
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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