2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Nursing 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 Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 305 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones offered the best value programs for nursing students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
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2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Check out the nursing programs at these schools if you want to get the best value for your educational dollar.
Top 25 Best Great Lakes Region Schools for Affordable Quality in Nursing
Our 2023 rankings named Graham Hospital School of Nursing the best value school in the Great Lakes Region for nursing students. Located in the distant town of Canton, Graham Hospital School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Graham Hospital School of Nursing are $7,206 per year.
Read full report on Nursing at Graham Hospital School of Nursing
The excellent programs at Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing 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 distant town of Sandusky, Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing are $6,992 a year. While working on their degree, nursing majors at Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing accumulate an average of around $30,000 in student debt.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Wayne County Community College District is a great value for nursing students. Located in the city of Detroit, WCCCD is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WCCCD are $3,998 per year. While working on their degree, nursing majors at WCCCD accumulate an average of around $18,389 in student debt.
Read full report on Nursing at Wayne County Community College District
The excellent programs at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the large city of Milwaukee, UWM Flexible Option is a public school with a fairly small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UWM Flexible Option are $6,750 per year. On average, nursing graduates from UWM Flexible Option take out $27,902 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $182.
Full Nursing at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex Report
Out of the 305 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Madison Area Technical College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Madison College is a large public school located in the large city of Madison.
Madison College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,769 in tuition and fees each year. On average, nursing graduates from Madison College take out $26,156 in student loans while working on their degree.
Madison College also took the #5 spot in our Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region rankings.
Read full report on Nursing at Madison Area Technical College
With a ranking of #6, Washington State Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students. Located in the rural area of Marietta, WSCC is a public college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at WSCC are $4,032 a year. After completing their degree, nursing graduates from WSCC carry an average student debtload of $23,664.
Oakland Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #7 on the list. Oakland Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Bloomfield Hills.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Oakland Community College are $5,200 a year. While working on their degree, nursing majors at Oakland Community College accumulate an average of around $18,438 in student debt.
Trinity Health System School of Nursing did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the small city of Steubenville, Trinity Health System School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Trinity Health System School of Nursing are $13,386 per year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Trinity Health System School of Nursing take out is $20,824.
Read full report on Nursing at Trinity Health System School of Nursing
Northcentral Technical College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the city of Wausau, North Central Technical College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at North Central Technical College are $5,415 a year. While working on their degree, nursing majors at North Central Technical College accumulate an average of around $14,000 in student debt.
Chippewa Valley Technical College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. CVTC is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Eau Claire.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at CVTC are $6,683 a year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at CVTC take out is $24,000.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, CVTC also is in the top 15% of our Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the rural area of Fennimore, Southwest Tech is a public school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southwest Tech are $6,683 per year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Southwest Tech take out is $18,125.
Read full report on Nursing at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
With a ranking of #12, Schoolcraft College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students. Schoolcraft College is a moderately-sized public school located in the small city of Livonia.
Schoolcraft College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,574 in tuition and fees each year. Nursing majors at Schoolcraft College take out an average of $22,039 in student loans while working on their egree.
Western Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #13 on the list. Western Technical College is a small public school located in the city of La Crosse.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Western Technical College are $6,687 a year. After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Western Technical College carry an average student debtload of $20,095.
Gateway Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #14 on the list. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Gateway Technical College are $6,803 per year. While working on their degree, nursing majors at Gateway Technical College accumulate an average of around $16,970 in student debt.
Blackhawk Technical College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the suburb of Janesville, BTC is a public school with a small student population.
BTC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,683 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, nursing graduates from BTC carry an average student debtload of $22,416.
In addition to its great value ranking, BTC is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Located in the midsize city of Green Bay, NWTC is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NWTC are $6,849 per year. On average, nursing graduates from NWTC take out $20,769 in student loans while working on their degree.
Moraine Park Technical College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the city of Fond du Lac, Moraine Park Technical College is a public college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Moraine Park Technical College are $6,683 a year. While working on their degree, nursing majors at Moraine Park Technical College accumulate an average of around $17,817 in student debt.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Moraine Park Technical College also is in the top 10% of our Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
Read full report on Nursing at Moraine Park Technical College
Delta College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Delta College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of University Center.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Delta College are $7,100 per year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Delta College take out is $18,342.
Fox Valley Technical College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the suburb of Appleton, FVTC is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at FVTC are $6,861 a year. On average, nursing graduates from FVTC take out $19,224 in student loans while working on their degree.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, FVTC also is in the top 10% of our Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
With a ranking of #20, Waukesha County Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students. WCTC is a moderately-sized public school located in the large suburb of Pewaukee.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at WCTC are $6,603 a year. Nursing majors at WCTC take out an average of $20,590 in student loans while working on their egree.
James A Rhodes State College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Rhodes State College is a small public school located in the small suburb of Lima.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Rhodes State College are $8,721 a year. On average, nursing graduates from Rhodes State College take out $21,833 in student loans while working on their degree.
In addition to its great value ranking, Rhodes State College is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the large city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a public school with a very large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Ivy Tech Community College are $8,927 a year. While working on their degree, nursing majors at Ivy Tech Community College accumulate an average of around $17,979 in student debt.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Ivy Tech Community College also did well on our Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Located in the rural area of Shell Lake, WITC is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WITC are $6,960 per year. Nursing majors at WITC take out an average of $16,713 in student loans while working on their egree.
Read full report on Nursing at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
Henry Ford College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Located in the midsize city of Dearborn, Henry Ford College is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Henry Ford College are $7,192 per year. On average, nursing graduates from Henry Ford College take out $25,250 in student loans while working on their degree.
Mid-State Technical College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Mid-State is a small public school located in the rural area of Wisconsin Rapids.
Mid-State undergraduate students pay an average of $6,351 in tuition and fees each year. On average, nursing graduates from Mid-State take out $16,917 in student loans while working on their degree.
Rest of the Top Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region
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 Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 47 | Ohio University - Chillicothe Campus | Chillicothe, OH |
| 48 | Lakeland Community College | Kirtland, OH |
| 48 | Sinclair Community College | Dayton, OH |
| 50 | Black Hawk College | Moline, IL |
| 51 | Rasmussen University - Illinois | Rockford, IL |
| 52 | Kalamazoo Valley Community College | Kalamazoo, MI |
| 53 | Cuyahoga Community College District | Cleveland, OH |
| 54 | Stark State College | North Canton, OH |
| 55 | Southwestern Michigan College | Dowagiac, MI |
| 55 | Monroe County Community College | Monroe, MI |
| 57 | Kirtland Community College | Roscommon, MI |
| 57 | Gogebic Community College | Ironwood, MI |
| 59 | Waubonsee Community College | Sugar Grove, IL |
| 60 | Elgin Community College | Elgin, IL |
| 60 | John Wood Community College | Quincy, IL |
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 |
More Nursing Rankings in the Great Lakes Region
Majors Related to Nursing
Nursing is one of 30 different types of healthcare programs to choose from.
Nursing Focus Areas
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.
- 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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