2023 Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region
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. 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.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Nursing Degree Search has created the Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 69 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which graduate certificate programs were the most popular for nursing students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named University of Cincinnati - Main Campus the most popular school in the Great Lakes Region for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. UC is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 656 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $49,631 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 71% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at UC. In fact, around 65% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means is a great place for nursing students working on their graduate certificate.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Illinois State University is a great place for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. Located in Normal, Illinois, the large public school handed out 246 graduate certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Around 73% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Illinois State. In fact, around 42% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
The excellent graduate certificate programs at Concordia University, Wisconsin helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in the Great Lakes Region . Concordia University, Wisconsin is located in Mequon, Wisconsin and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 77 graduate certificates to qualified students.
Around 79% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Concordia University, Wisconsin. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 72% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Out of the 69 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Herzing University - Madison landed the # 5 spot on the list. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out graduate certificates to 56 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $40,723 in student loans. Around 82% of those degree recipients were women.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Herzing University - Madison. Every graduate student at the school took at least one class online.
With a ranking of #6, Ursuline College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. Located in Pepper Pike, Ohio, the very small private not-for-profit school awarded 41 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2021-2022.
Graduate Certificate recipients from Ursuline College accumulate an average of $53,088 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 85% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Ursuline College does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 26% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ohio State is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 165 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 77% were women.
Ohio State does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 43% took at least some of their classes online.
Chamberlain University - Illinois came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Chamberlain - Illinois is a large private for-profit school situated in Addison, Illinois. It awarded 117 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $33,704 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 94% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, Chamberlain - Illinois is an excellent choice, since graduate classes are offered online.
Bradley University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #9 on the list. Peoria, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out graduate certificates to 30 students in 2021-2022.
Around 93% of those degree recipients were women.
Online graduate courses are available at Bradley, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 83% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
University of St Francis came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Saint Francis is located in Joliet, Illinois and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 66 graduate certificates to qualified students.
Around 79% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at University of Saint Francis. During the 2020-2021 year, about 85% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #11 on the list.
Read full report on NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia
Marquette University ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out graduate certificates to 36 students in 2021-2022.
Graduate Certificate recipients from Marquette accumulate an average of $81,111 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 78% were women.
Marquette does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 36% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
University of Southern Indiana came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. USI is a public institution located in Evansville, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 37 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 86% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at USI. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 96% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #14, University of Toledo did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. University of Toledo is a public institution located in Toledo, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 67 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 72% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at University of Toledo. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 43% took at least some of their classes online.
Case Western Reserve University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Case Western is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 87 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 76% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Case Western. In 2020-2021 about 27% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Marion, Indiana, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 138 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2021-2022.
Around 75% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at IWU. In 2020-2021 about 91% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #17, Alverno College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 50 graduate certificate awards in 2021-2022.
On average, graduate certificate students take out $26,002 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 90% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Alverno does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 67% took at least some of their classes online.
University of Michigan - Flint ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UM Flint is located in Flint, Michigan and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 12 graduate certificates to qualified students.
Of those students who received their degree, 75% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at UM Flint. In fact, around 90% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #19, Rush University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. Rush University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 30 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Around 90% of those degree recipients were women.
Online graduate courses are available at Rush University, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2020-2021 year, about 65% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Lewis University ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Lewis University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Romeoville, Illinois that handed out 35 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 80% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Lewis. During the 2020-2021 year, about 79% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Wright State University - Main Campus ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Dayton, Ohio, the medium-sized public school awarded 137 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,019 in student loans. Around 66% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that Wright State University - Main Campus does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In fact, around 47% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #22, Kent State University at Kent did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. This large public school is located in Kent, Ohio, and it awarded 89 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $33,131 in student loans. Around 79% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Kent State does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 70% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large public school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 304 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Graduate Certificate recipients from Purdue accumulate an average of $25,086 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 62% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Purdue. In fact, around 42% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate nursing programs. OHIO Athens is located in Athens, Ohio and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 230 graduate certificates to qualified students.
Of those students who received their degree, 53% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at OHIO Athens. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 65% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #25 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out graduate certificates to 390 students in 2021-2022.
Graduate Certificate recipients from Loyola Chicago accumulate an average of $45,173 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Loyola Chicago. In 2020-2021 about 77% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
View Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate 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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