2023 Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Finding the Best Nursing Bachelor's 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.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Healthcare Degree Search has created the Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 167 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which bachelor's degree programs offered the best educational experiences 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 Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Check out the nursing bachelor's degree programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.
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. Located in the city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public college with a fairly large student population.
On average, nursing graduates from UW - Madison take out $23,855 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Chamberlain University - Michigan. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Chamberlain - Michigan is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Troy.
While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at Chamberlain - Michigan accumulate an average of around $37,103 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $256.
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Out of the 167 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Ottawa University - Milwaukee landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the large suburb of Brookfield, Ottawa University - Milwaukee is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Nursing majors at Ottawa University - Milwaukee take out an average of $29,652 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
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The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Chamberlain University - Ohio helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Great Lakes Region . Chamberlain - Ohio is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Columbus.
While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at Chamberlain - Ohio accumulate an average of around $37,103 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $256.
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Out of the 167 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the large city of Milwaukee, UWM Flexible Option is a public college with a small student population.
After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from UWM Flexible Option carry an average student debtload of $29,922. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $182.
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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. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Chamberlain - Indiana is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from Chamberlain - Indiana carry an average student debtload of $37,103. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $256.
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Chamberlain University - Illinois landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Chamberlain - Illinois is a fairly large private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Addison.
While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at Chamberlain - Illinois accumulate an average of around $37,103 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $256.
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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. Located in the city of Eau Claire, UW - Eau Claire is a public school with a large student population.
While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at UW - Eau Claire accumulate an average of around $24,728 in student debt.
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With a ranking of #9, Loyola University Chicago did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the large city of Chicago, Loyola Chicago is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Loyola Chicago take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $28,313. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $767, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Illinois Wesleyan University 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 #10 on the list. Illinois Wesleyan is a small private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Bloomington.
After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from Illinois Wesleyan carry an average student debtload of $23,536.
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Purdue University Northwest 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 #11 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Hammond, Purdue Northwest is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Purdue Northwest take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $27,233. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $152.
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Saint Anthony College of Nursing landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Located in the city of Rockford, SACN is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
Nursing majors at SACN take out an average of $27,286 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $281, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs. UW Oshkosh is a large public school located in the small city of Oshkosh.
On average, nursing graduates from UW Oshkosh take out $26,175 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $177, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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With a ranking of #14, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the medium-sized city of Ann Arbor, U-M is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at U-M take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $18,552. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $306.
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University of Wisconsin - Green Bay landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs. UW - Green Bay is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Green Bay.
On average, nursing graduates from UW - Green Bay take out $29,014 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.
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Marquette University 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 #16 on the list. Marquette is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee.
Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $511.
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With a ranking of #17, Saint Mary’s College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, St. Mary's College is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
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Ohio Northern University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the town of Ada, ONU is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at ONU take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $26,721.
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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. Located in the large suburb of Chicago, Oak Point is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
Nursing majors at Oak Point take out an average of $30,893 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $342, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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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. Located in the city of Milwaukee, UWM is a public college with a fairly large student population.
On average, nursing graduates from UWM take out $29,922 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 $182.
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With a ranking of #21, Ball State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the small city of Muncie, Ball State is a public school with a fairly large student population.
While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at Ball State accumulate an average of around $25,568 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $241, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Case Western Reserve University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Case Western is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Cleveland.
For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $272.
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Herzing University - Brookfield came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the suburb of Brookfield, Herzing University - Brookfield is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Herzing University - Brookfield take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $42,677. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $204, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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McKendree University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. McKendree is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Lebanon.
While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at McKendree accumulate an average of around $26,127 in student debt.
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With a ranking of #25, Milwaukee School of Engineering did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the large city of Milwaukee, MSOE is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at MSOE take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $39,895.
Request InformationAdditional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great schools for Nursing students in the Great Lakes Region that almost earned our 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 |
|---|---|
| Illinois | 21,938 |
| Ohio | 13,973 |
| Michigan | 7,345 |
| Indiana | 7,922 |
| Wisconsin | 5,410 |
More Nursing Rankings in the Great Lakes Region
Nursing Related Rankings by Major
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 |
Most Popular Related Majors
| 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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