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2023 Best Value Colleges for Nursing in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

272 Ranked Colleges
57,106 Degrees Awarded
$6,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 322,592 nursing students received their degree, making the major the 3rd most popular in the country. In 2019-2020, nursing graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $70,916 and had an average of $25,426 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 57,106 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $67,647 and $27,241 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 272 colleges that offer a degree in nursing. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent nursing programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the nursing program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Nursing in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

1
Henry Ford College crest
Henry Ford College
Dearborn, Michigan

Out of the 272 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Henry Ford College landed the #1 spot on the list. Henry Ford College is a fairly large public school situated in Dearborn, Michigan. It awarded 201 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $3,194 for great lakes region nursing students with aid per year to attend Henry Ford College.

Full Henry Ford College Nursing Report

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school awarded 738 diplomas to qualified ’s nursing students in 2020-2021.

IUPUI also took the #15 spot in our “Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $12,416 for great lakes region nursing students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Nursing Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Cuyahoga Community College District. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. This fairly large school is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and it awarded 327 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $4,909 for great lakes region nursing students with aid per year to attend Cuyahoga Community College District.

Read full report on Nursing at Cuyahoga Community College District

4
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s nursing degrees to 227 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region nursing students with aid list, Purdue has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Purdue University - Main Campus is $13,377 for great lakes region nursing students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus Nursing Report

5
Oakland Community College crest
Oakland Community College
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Out of the 272 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Oakland Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. Oakland Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. It awarded 120 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Oakland Community College is $3,665 for Great Lakes Region Nursing students with aid.

Full Oakland Community College Nursing Report

6

City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College is a medium-sized public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 141 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Malcolm X College is $3,274 for great lakes region nursing students with aid.

Read more about Nursing at City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College

7
Oakton Community College crest
Oakton Community College
Des Plaines, Illinois

Oakton Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Oakton Community College is a public institution located in Des Plaines, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 55 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Oakton Community College is $6,423 for Great Lakes Region Nursing students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at Oakton Community College

8
ECC crest
Elgin Community College
Elgin, Illinois

Elgin Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. ECC is a public institution located in Elgin, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 91 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Elgin Community College is $3,828 for great lakes region nursing students with aid.

Read more about Nursing at ECC

9
MVCC crest
Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Hills, Illinois

Moraine Valley Community College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Moraine Valley Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Palos Hills, Illinois. It awarded 75 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $1,901 for great lakes region nursing students with aid per year to attend Moraine Valley Community College.

Read more about Nursing at MVCC

10
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, Indiana

With a ranking of #10, Ivy Tech Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s nursing degrees to 1,366 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Ivy Tech Community College is $7,669 for Great Lakes Region Nursing students with aid.

Full Ivy Tech Community College Nursing Report

11

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Cincinnati State is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 59 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Cincinnati State is $5,532 for Great Lakes Region Nursing students with aid.

Read full report on Nursing at Cincinnati State

11
Waubonsee crest
Waubonsee Community College
Sugar Grove, Illinois

Waubonsee Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. Waubonsee is a public institution located in Sugar Grove, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 113 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Waubonsee Community College is $5,104 for Great Lakes Region Nursing students with aid.

Read more about Nursing at Waubonsee

13
Gateway Technical College crest
Gateway Technical College
Kenosha, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #13, Gateway Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Gateway Technical College is a medium-sized school located in Kenosha, Wisconsin that handed out 114 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Gateway Technical College excels when it comes to nursing quality. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Gateway Technical College is $8,487 for great lakes region nursing students with aid.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Gateway Technical College Nursing Report

14
Washtenaw Community College crest
Washtenaw Community College
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Washtenaw Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s nursing degrees to 121 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Washtenaw Community College is $3,624 for great lakes region nursing students with aid.

Read full report on Nursing at Washtenaw Community College

15
LCC crest
Lansing Community College
Lansing, Michigan

Lansing Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. LCC is located in Lansing, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 198 ’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $5,212 for Great Lakes Region Nursing students with aid per year to attend Lansing Community College.

Read full report on Nursing at LCC

16
College of Lake County crest
College of Lake County
Grayslake, Illinois

College of Lake County landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Grayslake, Illinois, and it awarded 66 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $4,989 for Great Lakes Region Nursing students with aid per year to attend College of Lake County.

Full College of Lake County Nursing Report

17

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #17. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 291 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

U-M also took the #2 spot in our “Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $14,878 for great lakes region nursing students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Nursing at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

18

Madison Area Technical College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. Madison College is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 181 ’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

On top of its placing in this ranking, Madison College also did well on our “Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $10,053 for great lakes region nursing students with aid per year to attend Madison College.

Read more about Nursing at Madison College

19

Sinclair Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Dayton, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s nursing degrees to 142 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $4,959 for great lakes region nursing students with aid per year to attend Sinclair Community College.

Full Sinclair Community College Nursing Report

20
Joliet Junior College crest
Joliet Junior College
Joliet, Illinois

Joliet Junior College landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Joliet Junior College is located in Joliet, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 97 ’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Joliet Junior College is $5,609 for Great Lakes Region Nursing students with aid.

Read full report on Nursing at Joliet Junior College

21
Delta College crest
Delta College
University Center, Michigan

Delta College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #21. Located in University Center, Michigan, this medium-sized public school awarded 141 diplomas to qualified ’s nursing students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Delta College is $4,268 for Great Lakes Region Nursing students with aid.

Full Delta College Nursing Report

22
Harper College crest
William Rainey Harper College
Palatine, Illinois

With a ranking of #22, William Rainey Harper College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Palatine, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 121 diplomas to qualified ’s nursing students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Harper College is $7,184 for Great Lakes Region Nursing students with aid.

Read more about Nursing at Harper College

23

Lorain County Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. LCCC is located in Elyria, Ohio and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 146 ’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $2,884 for great lakes region nursing students with aid per year to attend Lorain County Community College.

Read more about Nursing at Lorain County Community College

24

Purdue University Northwest landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Hammond, Indiana, and it awarded 633 ’s nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Purdue Northwest is also in the top of our “Best Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend Purdue University Northwest is $11,384 for Great Lakes Region Nursing students with aid.

Full Purdue Northwest Nursing Report

25

Lewis and Clark Community College landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Godfrey, Illinois, this small public school awarded 77 diplomas to qualified ’s nursing students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $6,972 for Great Lakes Region Nursing students with aid per year to attend Lewis and Clark Community College.

Read more about Nursing at Lewis and Clark Community College

Rest of the Best 41 in Best Value Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

Not only did these schools make the top 41 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
28
Carl Sandburg College crest
Carl Sandburg College
Galesburg, Illinois
29
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan
30
31
LLCC crest
Lincoln Land Community College
Springfield, Illinois
32
Lake Land College crest
Lake Land College
Mattoon, Illinois
33
Triton College crest
Triton College
River Grove, Illinois
34
Schoolcraft College crest
Schoolcraft College
Livonia, Michigan
35
36
37
Morton College crest
Morton College
Cicero, Illinois
38
39
Kaskaskia College crest
Kaskaskia College
Centralia, Illinois
40
41

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