2023 Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices
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. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamps that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Nursing Degree Search has developed this Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 120 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which associate degree programs offered the best value experiences for nursing students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. 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.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
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Top Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Wayne County Community College District to be the best value school for nursing students who want to pursue a associate degree in the Great Lakes Region . This fairly large public school is located in Detroit, Michigan, and it awarded 81 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WCCCD are $3,998 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,369 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that WCCCD does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 32% 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 Madison Area Technical College is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, the fairly large public school awarded 181 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Madison College are $6,769 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $21,947 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Madison College 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 2019-2020 about 77% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Madison College did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Washington State Community College is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. Located in Marietta, Ohio, the small public school awarded 42 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
WSCC undergraduate students pay an average of $4,032 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $18,611 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at WSCC. During the 2019-2020 year, about 50% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Oakland Community College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Oakland Community College is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 120 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Oakland Community College are $5,200 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $20,050 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Oakland Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 27% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Northcentral Technical College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. North Central Technical College is located in Wausau, Wisconsin and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 92 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at North Central Technical College are $5,415 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $14,435 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at North Central Technical College. In 2019-2020 about 54% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Chippewa Valley Technical College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree nursing programs. CVTC is a medium-sized public school situated in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It awarded 168 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CVTC are $6,683 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,208 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity 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.
In addition to its great value ranking, CVTC is in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Southwest Tech is a public institution located in Fennimore, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 54 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Southwest Tech undergraduate students pay an average of $6,683 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $14,718 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Southwest Tech 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. During the 2019-2020 year, about 33% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
In addition to its great value ranking, Southwest Tech is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Schoolcraft College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Schoolcraft College is a medium-sized public school situated in Livonia, Michigan. It awarded 167 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Schoolcraft College are $7,574 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $17,698 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Schoolcraft College. In 2019-2020 about 49% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Schoolcraft College also did well on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Western Technical College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. La Crosse, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 75 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Western Technical College are $6,687 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $18,870 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Western Technical College does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 88% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Western Technical College also claimed a spot on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Gateway Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the medium-sized public school awarded 114 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Gateway Technical College are $6,803 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,525 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Gateway Technical College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 48% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Gateway Technical College also is in the top 15% of our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
Blackhawk Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in Janesville, Wisconsin, the small public school awarded 57 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
BTC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,683 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,392 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at BTC. During the 2019-2020 year, about 60% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
BTC also claimed a spot on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and it awarded 195 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NWTC are $6,849 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $19,312 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at NWTC. In 2019-2020 about 51% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
NWTC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Moraine Park Technical College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree nursing programs. Moraine Park Technical College is a small public school situated in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. It awarded 84 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Moraine Park Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,683 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,836 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Moraine Park Technical College does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 12% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
In addition to its great value ranking, Moraine Park Technical College is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Fox Valley Technical College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree nursing programs. This fairly large public school is located in Appleton, Wisconsin, and it awarded 72 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
FVTC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,861 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,318 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at FVTC. In fact, around 42% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
In addition to its great value ranking, FVTC is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Delta College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Delta College is a medium-sized public school situated in University Center, Michigan. It awarded 141 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Delta College are $7,100 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $16,057 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Delta College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 89% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Delta College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Waukesha County Technical College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, the medium-sized public school awarded 84 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WCTC are $6,603 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $20,402 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at WCTC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 17% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
James A Rhodes State College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Lima, Ohio, the small public school awarded 104 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Rhodes State College are $8,721 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $16,411 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Rhodes State College 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. During the 2019-2020 year, about 42% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Rhodes State College did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Ivy Tech Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, the large public school handed out 1,366 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
Ivy Tech Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,927 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,984 in student loans.
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.
Ivy Tech Community College not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #4 on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in Shell Lake, Wisconsin, the small public school handed out 69 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
WITC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,960 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $14,285 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at WITC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 88% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #20, Henry Ford College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Dearborn, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 201 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Henry Ford College are $7,192 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $24,961 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Henry Ford College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 93% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Mid-State Technical College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, the small public school handed out 53 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Mid-State are $6,351 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $16,908 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Mid-State. In 2019-2020 about 52% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Washtenaw Community College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree nursing programs. This fairly large public school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 121 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Washtenaw Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,856 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $20,975 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Washtenaw Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 96% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Lakeshore Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #23 on the list. Cleveland, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 33 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at LTC are $6,056 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $12,752 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at LTC. During the 2019-2020 year, about 82% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Macomb Community College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree nursing programs. Macomb Community College is a public institution located in Warren, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 121 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Macomb Community College are $7,680 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $11,249 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at Macomb Community College, 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 63% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Milwaukee Area Technical College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree nursing programs. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the fairly large public school handed out 126 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
MATC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,908 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,921 in student loans.
Online courses are available at MATC, 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 84% 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
- 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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