2023 Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Finding the Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree School for You
With 322,592 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, nursing is the #3 most popular major in the United States.
Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. 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. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 167 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which bachelor's degree programs offered the best educational experiences for students. To come up with a school's ranking, we analyzed numerous factors related to post-graduation wages, the quality of education offered by the school, average accumulated student debt, and more.
View our full ranking methodology.
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2023 Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for nursing majors pursuing a bachelor's degree.
Top 25 Top Great Lakes Region Schools for a Bachelor's in Nursing
Our 2023 rankings named University of Wisconsin - Madison the best school in the Great Lakes Region for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. UW - Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at UW - Madison take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $23,855.
Read full report on Nursing at University of Wisconsin - Madison
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Chamberlain University - Michigan helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the small city of Troy, Chamberlain - Michigan is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Nursing majors at Chamberlain - Michigan take out an average of $37,103 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $256.
Read full report on Nursing at Chamberlain University - Michigan
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Ottawa University - Milwaukee helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Great Lakes Region . Ottawa University - Milwaukee is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Brookfield.
On average, nursing graduates from Ottawa University - Milwaukee take out $29,652 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Chamberlain University - Ohio is a great place for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the city of Columbus, Chamberlain - Ohio is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Nursing majors at Chamberlain - Ohio take out an average of $37,103 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $256.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex is a great place for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. UWM Flexible Option is a fairly small public school located in the city of Milwaukee.
While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at UWM Flexible Option accumulate an average of around $29,922 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $182, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Nursing at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex
Chamberlain University - Indiana came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Chamberlain - Indiana is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Indianapolis.
While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at Chamberlain - Indiana accumulate an average of around $37,103 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $256.
Chamberlain University - Illinois came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the large suburb of Addison, Chamberlain - Illinois is a private for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
Nursing majors at Chamberlain - Illinois take out an average of $37,103 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $256.
Read full report on Nursing at Chamberlain University - Illinois
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW - Eau Claire is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Eau Claire.
Nursing majors at UW - Eau Claire take out an average of $24,728 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
Read full report on Nursing at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Loyola University Chicago landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Loyola Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago.
After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from Loyola Chicago carry an average student debtload of $28,313. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $767, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Illinois Wesleyan University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the city of Bloomington, Illinois Wesleyan is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at Illinois Wesleyan accumulate an average of around $23,536 in student debt.
Purdue University Northwest ranked #11 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Purdue Northwest is a medium-sized public school located in the suburb of Hammond.
After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from Purdue Northwest carry an average student debtload of $27,233. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $152.
Saint Anthony College of Nursing landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs. SACN is a small private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Rockford.
On average, nursing graduates from SACN take out $27,286 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $281.
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in the city of Oshkosh, UW Oshkosh is a public college with a large student population.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at UW Oshkosh take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $26,175. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $177.
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #14 on the list. U-M is a very large public school located in the medium-sized city of Ann Arbor.
After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from U-M carry an average student debtload of $18,552. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $306.
Read full report on Nursing at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
With a ranking of #15, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the city of Green Bay, UW - Green Bay is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at UW - Green Bay take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $29,014.
Read full report on Nursing at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Marquette University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $511, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Saint Mary’s College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. St. Mary's College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame.
Ohio Northern University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. ONU is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ada.
After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from ONU carry an average student debtload of $26,721.
With a ranking of #19, Oak Point University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Oak Point is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Chicago.
On average, nursing graduates from Oak Point take out $30,893 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $342, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #20 on the list. UWM is a very large public school located in the large city of Milwaukee.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at UWM take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $29,922. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $182, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Nursing at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Ball State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Ball State is a very large public school located in the small city of Muncie.
Nursing majors at Ball State take out an average of $25,568 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $241, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #22, Case Western Reserve University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.
Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $272.
Read full report on Nursing at Case Western Reserve University
Herzing University - Brookfield landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Herzing University - Brookfield is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Brookfield.
After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from Herzing University - Brookfield carry an average student debtload of $42,677. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $204, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Nursing at Herzing University - Brookfield
McKendree University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the suburb of Lebanon, McKendree is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Nursing majors at McKendree take out an average of $26,127 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
Milwaukee School of Engineering landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs. MSOE is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee.
After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from MSOE carry an average student debtload of $39,895.
Read full report on Nursing at Milwaukee School of Engineering
Honorable Mentions
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Hope College | Holland, MI |
| 27 | University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point | Stevens Point, WI |
| 28 | Edgewood College | Madison, WI |
| 29 | Illinois State University | Normal, IL |
| 30 | Kettering College | Kettering, OH |
| 31 | Purdue University - Main Campus | West Lafayette, IN |
| 32 | Herzing University - Kenosha | Kenosha, WI |
| 33 | Carroll University | Waukesha, WI |
Best Nursing Colleges by State
Explore the best nursing colleges for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Michigan | 7,345 |
| Ohio | 13,973 |
| Illinois | 21,938 |
| Indiana | 7,922 |
| Wisconsin | 5,410 |
More Nursing Rankings in the Great Lakes Region
Rankings in Majors Related to Nursing
One of 30 majors within the area of study, nursing has other similar majors worth exploring.
Majors Similar to Nursing
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Health & Medical Administrative Services | 89,359 |
| Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services | 84,492 |
| Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants | 84,274 |
| Allied Health Professions | 82,308 |
| Public Health | 40,596 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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