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Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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2023 Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

28 Schools Ranked

There are so many nursing programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamps that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

The Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor's Degree 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. Our analysis looked at 28 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which online doctor's degree programs were the most popular for nursing students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with online programs.

Learn more about these popular schools with online programs:

565 Total Awards
$14,090 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Chamberlain University - Illinois to be the most popular school for nursing students who want to pursue a doctor’s degree in the Great Lakes Region . This large private for-profit school is located in Addison, Illinois, and it awarded 565 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 93% of those degree recipients were women.

Since the graduate programs at Chamberlain - Illinois are primarily online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.

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#2

Purdue University Global

Indianapolis, Indiana
59 Total Awards
$9,530 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent doctor’s degree programs at Purdue University Global helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in the Great Lakes Region . Purdue University Global is a large public school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 59 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 97% were women.

Purdue University Global is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each graduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Full Purdue University Global Report

#3

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
44 Total Awards
$17,400 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you attend Bradley University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Bradley University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Peoria, Illinois that handed out 44 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 89% were women.

Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 95% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Bradley University

33 Total Awards
$12,681 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 28 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Flint landed the # 4 spot on the list. UM Flint is a medium-sized public school situated in Flint, Michigan. It awarded 33 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 91% were women.

Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 63% took at least some of their classes online.

Full University of Michigan - Flint Report

#5

Lourdes University

Sylvania, Ohio
16 Total Awards
$15,250 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 28 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Lourdes University landed the # 5 spot on the list. Lourdes is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sylvania, Ohio. It awarded 16 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 81% of those degree recipients were women.

In 2019-2020 about 61% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Lourdes University Report

#6

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, Indiana
12 Total Awards
$8,056 Average Tuition & Fees

Indiana State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Terre Haute, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctor’s degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.

Around 100% of those degree recipients were women.

Around 71% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

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#7

McKendree University

Lebanon, Illinois
11 Total Awards

McKendree University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a doctor’s degree. It came in at #7 on the list. McKendree is located in Lebanon, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 doctor’s degrees to qualified students.

Of those students who received their degree, 91% were women.

To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 68% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full McKendree University Report

#8

Saint Mary's College

Notre Dame, Indiana
9 Total Awards

Saint Mary’s College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a doctor’s degree. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in Notre Dame, Indiana, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 9 diplomas to qualifed doctor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Around 89% of those degree recipients were women.

St. Mary’s College is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each graduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Full Saint Mary’s College Report

#9

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
6 Total Awards
$13,839 Average Tuition & Fees

University of St Francis ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Saint Francis is located in Joliet, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 doctor’s degrees to qualified students.

Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.

In 2019-2020 about 89% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#9

Lewis University

Romeoville, Illinois
6 Total Awards
$14,960 Average Tuition & Fees

Lewis University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree nursing programs. Lewis is a private not-for-profit institution located in Romeoville, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 6 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.

To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 85% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Lewis University

#11

Otterbein University

Westerville, Ohio
5 Total Awards
$14,392 Average Tuition & Fees

Otterbein University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree nursing programs. Otterbein University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Westerville, Ohio that handed out 5 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.

During the 2019-2020 year, about 55% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Full Otterbein University Report

5 Total Awards
$8,740 Average Tuition & Fees

Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree nursing programs. Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing is a very small private not-for-profit school located in Peoria, Illinois that handed out 5 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.

During the 2019-2020 year, about 98% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#13

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana
4 Total Awards
$10,384 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Southern Indiana ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. USI is a public institution located in Evansville, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 4 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 100% of those degree recipients were women.

Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 96% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#13

Oak Point University

Chicago, Illinois
4 Total Awards
$15,349 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #13, Oak Point University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree. Oak Point is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a very small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 doctor’s degrees to qualified students.

Of those students who received their degree, 75% were women.

Around 71% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Oak Point University

#13

University of Indianapolis

Indianapolis, Indiana
4 Total Awards
$40,560 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Indianapolis came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctor’s degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.

Around 100% of those degree recipients were women.

In 2019-2020 about 87% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#16

Rush University

Chicago, Illinois
199 Total Awards

With a ranking of #16, Rush University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree. Rush University is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 199 doctor’s degrees to qualified students.

Of those students who received their degree, 88% were women.

Around 74% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#17

North Park University

Chicago, Illinois
2 Total Awards
$14,184 Average Tuition & Fees

North Park University landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree nursing programs. North Park is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 100% of those degree recipients were women.

To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 92% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on North Park University

#17

Andrews University

Berrien Springs, Michigan
2 Total Awards
$29,630 Average Tuition & Fees

Andrews University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a doctor’s degree. It came in at #17 on the list. Andrews is located in Berrien Springs, Michigan and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 doctor’s degrees to qualified students.

Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.

To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 36% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full Andrews University Report

#17

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan
2 Total Awards

Ferris State University ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Ferris is located in Big Rapids, Michigan and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 doctor’s degrees to qualified students.

Around 100% of those degree recipients were women.

Around 67% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full Ferris State University Report

#20

Edgewood College

Madison, Wisconsin
1 Total Awards

Edgewood College ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 doctor’s degree awards in 2020-2021.

Around 100% of those degree recipients were women.

To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 58% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full Edgewood College Report

#20

Northern Michigan University

Marquette, Michigan
1 Total Awards
$10,612 Average Tuition & Fees

Northern Michigan University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Northern Michigan University is located in Marquette, Michigan and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 doctor’s degrees to qualified students.

Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.

To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 79% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full Northern Michigan University Report

#20

Walsh University

North Canton, Ohio
1 Total Awards
$13,510 Average Tuition & Fees

Walsh University landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree nursing programs. Located in North Canton, Ohio, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 doctor’s degree awards in 2020-2021.

Around 100% of those degree recipients were women.

In 2019-2020 about 61% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Walsh University Report

#23

Rasmussen University - Wisconsin

Green Bay, Wisconsin
$5,615 Average Tuition & Fees

Rasmussen University - Wisconsin landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree nursing programs.

Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Rasmussen University - Wisconsin. Every graduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Read full report on Rasmussen University - Wisconsin

$19,861 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #23, Mount Carmel College of Nursing did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree.

To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 70% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#23

Concordia University, Wisconsin

Mequon, Wisconsin
$11,760 Average Tuition & Fees

Concordia University, Wisconsin landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree nursing programs.

To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 67% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full Concordia University, Wisconsin Report

View Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools Nationwide >

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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