Find Healthcare Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

Find Schools Near

2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

139 Colleges
$57,601 Avg Salary
$21,889 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing Associate Degree School for You

In 2020-2021, 322,592 degrees and certificates were awarded to nursing students, making the major the most popular in the country.

Today's healthcare students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. 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.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Healthcare Degree Search has created its Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This report analyzed 139 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones offered the best associate degree programs for healthcare students. Factors related to overall quality of the school, post-graduation earnings, average student debt, and more accumulated were considered when coming up with this list.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

Check out the nursing associate degree programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.

Top 15% Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools

Our 2023 rankings named Ohio Medical Career College the best school in the Great Lakes Region for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the city of Dayton, Ohio Medical Career College is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Read More…

#2

Ambria College of Nursing

Hoffman Estates, IL

Out of the 139 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Ambria College of Nursing landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the city of Hoffman Estates, Ambria College of Nursing is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Ambria College of Nursing carry an average student debtload of $32,601.

Read full report on Nursing at Ambria College of Nursing

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rasmussen University - Illinois. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Rasmussen University - Illinois is a small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Rockford.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Rasmussen University - Illinois accumulate an average of around $32,326 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $175.

Read full report on Nursing at Rasmussen University - Illinois

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Madison Area Technical College is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree. Madison College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Madison.

On average, nursing graduates from Madison College take out $26,980 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read More…

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Herzing University - Akron. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the large suburb of Akron, Herzing Akron is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

On average, nursing graduates from Herzing Akron take out $35,162 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $107.

Read More…

#6

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN

Ivy Tech Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a public college with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Ivy Tech Community College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $20,860.

Full Nursing at Ivy Tech Community College Report

James A Rhodes State College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Rhodes State College is a small public school located in the small suburb of Lima.

On average, nursing graduates from Rhodes State College take out $23,078 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Full Nursing at James A Rhodes State College Report

Rasmussen University - Wisconsin ranked #8 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Rasmussen University - Wisconsin is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Green Bay.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Rasmussen University - Wisconsin accumulate an average of around $32,326 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $175.

Full Nursing at Rasmussen University - Wisconsin Report

Galen College of Nursing - Cincinnati came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the suburb of Cincinnati, Galen College of Nursing - Cincinnati is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Nursing majors at Galen College of Nursing - Cincinnati take out an average of $35,636 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $111.

Full Nursing at Galen College of Nursing - Cincinnati Report

With a ranking of #10, Chippewa Valley Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. CVTC is a moderately-sized public school located in the small city of Eau Claire.

On average, nursing graduates from CVTC take out $24,781 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Chippewa Valley Technical College

#11

Schoolcraft College

Livonia, MI

Schoolcraft College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Schoolcraft College is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Livonia.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Schoolcraft College carry an average student debtload of $24,773.

Read More…

#12

Mercy College of Ohio

Toledo, OH

Mercy College of Ohio came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Mercy College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Toledo.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Mercy College carry an average student debtload of $35,681. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $149, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Nursing at Mercy College of Ohio

#13

Oakton Community College

Des Plaines, IL

Oakton Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Oakton Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Des Plaines.

Nursing majors at Oakton Community College take out an average of $11,885 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Full Nursing at Oakton Community College Report

William Rainey Harper College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the large suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a public school with a large student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Harper College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $19,644.

Read More…

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the rural area of Fennimore, Southwest Tech is a public school with a small student population.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Southwest Tech accumulate an average of around $20,050 in student debt.

Read More…

Ohio University - Southern Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #16 on the list. OHIO Southern is a small public school located in the suburb of Ironton.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from OHIO Southern carry an average student debtload of $26,334.

Full Nursing at Ohio University - Southern Campus Report

Ohio University - Zanesville Campus landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Located in the town of Zanesville, OHIO Zanesville is a public school with a small student population.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at OHIO Zanesville accumulate an average of around $26,334 in student debt.

Read More…

With a ranking of #18, Felbry College School of Nursing did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the large city of Columbus, Felbry College School of Nursing is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Full Nursing at Felbry College School of Nursing Report

#19

Delta College

University Center, MI

Delta College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Delta College is a medium-sized public school located in the rural area of University Center.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Delta College accumulate an average of around $21,140 in student debt.

Read full report on Nursing at Delta College

Lansing Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #20 on the list. LCC is a fairly large public school located in the city of Lansing.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at LCC accumulate an average of around $28,140 in student debt.

Full Nursing at Lansing Community College Report

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 Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
21 Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WI
22 Parkland College Champaign, IL
23 Hondros College of Nursing Westerville, OH
24 Western Technical College La Crosse, WI
25 Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay, WI
26 University of Saint Francis - Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, IN
27 Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WI

Best Nursing Colleges by State

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

State Degrees Awarded
Illinois 21,938
Ohio 13,973
Michigan 7,345
Indiana 7,922
Wisconsin 5,410

Nursing is one of 30 different types of healthcare programs to choose from.

Nursing Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 266,651
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 16,104
Nursing Administration 9,838
Nursing Practice 7,992
Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 5,092
Nursing Science 4,600
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 2,287
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing 2,021
Nurse Anesthetist 1,936
Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing 1,883
Critical Care Nursing 773
Geriatric Nurse/Nursing 563
School Nursing 553
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery 509
Clinical Nurse Leader 444
Clinical Nurse Specialist 419
Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing 331
Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing 181
Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing 57
Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing 53
Palliative Care Nursing 14
Forensic Nursing 14

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.

Featured Schools

Find Healthcare Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited healthcare schools across the U.S.