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Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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2023 Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region

152 Colleges
$35,646 Avg Salary
$16,915 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants School for You

Out of all the majors we analyze each year, practical nursing and nursing assistants was ranked #21 in the country. In fact 84,274 degrees and certificates were handed out in 2020-2021.

There are so many healthcare programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Healthcare Degree Search has created the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 152 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones offered the best programs for healthcare students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for practical nursing majors pursuing a .

Top 15% Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools

#1

Verve College

Oak Brook, IL

Our 2023 rankings named Verve College the best school in the Great Lakes Region for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the suburb of Oak Brook, Verve College is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Verve College accumulate an average of around $15,151 in student debt.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Verve College Report

#2

Ohio Institute of Allied Health

Huber Heights, OH

Out of the 152 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Ohio Institute of Allied Health landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the suburb of Huber Heights, Ohio Institute of Allied Health is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Ohio Institute of Allied Health Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Detroit Business Institute-Downriver. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. DBI Downriver is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Riverview.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at DBI Downriver accumulate an average of around $25,756 in student debt.

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#4

Ambria College of Nursing

Hoffman Estates, IL

Out of the 152 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Ambria College of Nursing landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the city of Hoffman Estates, Ambria College of Nursing is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Practical Nursing majors at Ambria College of Nursing take out an average of $11,878 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Ambria College of Nursing

The excellent programs at Capital Area School of Practical Nursing helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best practical nursing and nursing assistants schools in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the midsize city of Springfield, CASPN is a public school with a small student population.

On average, practical nursing graduates from CASPN take out $11,898 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Capital Area School of Practical Nursing Report

With a ranking of #6, Madison Area Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Madison College is a large public school located in the city of Madison.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Madison College take out is $15,173.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Madison Area Technical College

#7

MDT College of Health Sciences

Highland Heights, OH

MDT College of Health Sciences landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the large city of Highland Heights, ATS Institute of Technology is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at ATS Institute of Technology take out is $26,917.

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Career Center of Southern Illinois ranked #8 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Beck School of Practical Nursing is a small public school located in the rural area of Red Bud.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Beck School of Practical Nursing carry an average student debtload of $16,568.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Career Center of Southern Illinois Report

Moraine Park Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the small city of Fond du Lac, Moraine Park Technical College is a public college with a small student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Moraine Park Technical College accumulate an average of around $6,975 in student debt.

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Central School of Practical Nursing came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Central School of Practical Nursing is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Independence.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Central School of Practical Nursing take out $16,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Central School of Practical Nursing

Miami Valley Career Technology Center ranked #11 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the suburb of Englewood, Miami Valley CTC is a public school with a fairly small student population.

Practical Nursing majors at Miami Valley CTC take out an average of $20,282 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Miami Valley Career Technology Center

#12

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN

Ivy Tech Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the large city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a public college with a very large student population.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Ivy Tech Community College take out $14,751 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Ivy Tech Community College Report

With a ranking of #13, Fox Valley Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the midsize suburb of Appleton, FVTC is a public college with a large student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at FVTC accumulate an average of around $14,176 in student debt.

Read More…

#14

Oakton Community College

Des Plaines, IL

Oakton Community College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Oakton Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the small city of Des Plaines.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Oakton Community College

#15

Blackhawk Technical College

Janesville, WI

Blackhawk Technical College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the small suburb of Janesville, BTC is a public school with a small student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from BTC carry an average student debtload of $6,604.

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#16

Northern Career Institute

Eastlake, OH

Northern Career Institute came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Northern Career Institute is a fairly small public school located in the large suburb of Eastlake.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Northern Career Institute take out is $18,644.

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Herzing University - Brookfield ranked #17 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the suburb of Brookfield, Herzing University - Brookfield is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Practical Nursing majors at Herzing University - Brookfield take out an average of $19,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Herzing University - Brookfield

Chippewa Valley Technical College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. CVTC is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Eau Claire.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at CVTC take out is $14,435.

Read More…

#19

College of Lake County

Grayslake, IL

College of Lake County ranked #19 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. College of Lake County is a large public school located in the suburb of Grayslake.

Practical Nursing majors at College of Lake County take out an average of $12,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

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William Rainey Harper College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #20 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Practical Nursing majors at Harper College take out an average of $9,400 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at William Rainey Harper College

Tri-Rivers Career Center came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the distant town of Marion, Tri-Rivers Career Center is a public college with a small student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Tri-Rivers Career Center carry an average student debtload of $14,500.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Tri-Rivers Career Center Report

With a ranking of #22, Herzing University - Kenosha did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Herzing University - Kenosha is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Kenosha.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Herzing University - Kenosha carry an average student debtload of $19,000.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Herzing University - Kenosha

Additional Noteworthy Schools

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 & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
23 Kellogg Community College Battle Creek, MI
24 Apollo Career Center Lima, OH
25 Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WI
26 Athena Career Academy Toledo, OH
27 Ohio Medical Career College Dayton, OH
28 Sandusky Career Center Sandusky, OH
29 Wayne County Schools Career Center Smithville, OH
30 Upper Valley Career Center Piqua, OH

Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Colleges by State

Explore the best practical nursing and nursing assistants schools for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.

State Degrees Awarded
Illinois 0
Ohio 0
Michigan 0

One of 30 majors within the healthcare area of study, practical nursing and nursing assistants has other similar majors worth exploring.

Practical Nursing Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training 44,900
Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide 34,557
Other Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants 4,817

Related Major Annual Graduates
Nursing 322,592
Health & Medical Administrative Services 89,359
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 84,492
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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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