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2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

35 Ranked Colleges
2,938 Degrees Awarded
$23,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

With 259,493 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, registered nursing is the 3rd most popular major in the United States.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 44,871 registered nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,938 registered nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 35 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in registered nursing. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent registered nursing programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the registered nursing program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree registered nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Registered Nursing (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 35 schools in the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, and it awarded 25 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue also took the #5 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University - Main Campus are $28,794, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Purdue Registered Nursing Report

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 251 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State also made our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are $37,141, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Ohio State

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Northwest. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Gary, Indiana, and it awarded 12 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Northwest are $18,275, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at IU Northwest

#4

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Michigan State is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 51 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan State also took the #7 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Michigan State Registered Nursing Report

#5

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana
#21 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Purdue University Northwest. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Hammond, Indiana, this medium-sized public school handed out 38 diplomas to qualified masters’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Purdue Northwest, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue Northwest are $11,633.

Full Purdue University Northwest Registered Nursing Report

#14 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Flint landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Michigan - Flint is a medium-sized school located in Flint, Michigan that handed out 62 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

UM Flint also made our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #14. Average graduate tuition and fees at UM Flint are $18,202, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at UM Flint

Indiana University - Kokomo landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Kokomo, Indiana, this small public school awarded 23 diplomas to qualified masters’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IU Kokomo are $18,275.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Indiana University - Kokomo

#8

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#11 in overall quality

Ball State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Muncie, Indiana, this large public school handed out 74 degrees to qualified masters’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

Ball State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State University are $26,204.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Ball State

#9

Indiana University - East

Richmond, Indiana

Indiana University - East came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Richmond, Indiana, and it awarded 17 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IU East are $18,275.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at IU East

#10

Indiana University - Southeast

New Albany, Indiana

Indiana University - Southeast ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indiana University - Southeast is located in New Albany, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Southeast are $18,275, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Indiana University - Southeast Registered Nursing Report

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and it awarded 10 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Oshkosh are $18,744, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Registered Nursing at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

#12

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan

Grand Valley State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. GVSU is a large public school situated in Allendale, Michigan. It awarded 2 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree registered nursing students whose families make $0-$30k list, GVSU has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Grand Valley State University are $17,448.

Full Grand Valley State University Registered Nursing Report

#1 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Case Western Reserve University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Case Western is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 40 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Case Western not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Case Western are $47,958, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Case Western

#14

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, Indiana
#19 in overall quality

Indiana State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Terre Haute, Indiana, this fairly large public school handed out 69 degrees to qualified masters’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

Indiana State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana State University are $15,346.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Indiana State University

#15

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

University of St Francis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. University of St Francis is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Joliet, Illinois. It awarded 60 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Saint Francis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Saint Francis are $13,839, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Saint Francis Registered Nursing Report

#16

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

Illinois State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 29 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State are $11,069.

Full Illinois State Registered Nursing Report

#3 in overall quality

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s registered nursing degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.

UC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus are $26,644, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Registered Nursing at UC

#18

Franklin University

Columbus, Ohio

Franklin University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s registered nursing degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Franklin University are $16,080.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Franklin University

#19

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 29 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

UWM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UWM are $25,295.

Read more about Registered Nursing at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, Wright State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wright State University - Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Dayton, Ohio that handed out 69 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Wright State University - Main Campus also took the #20 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Wright State University - Main Campus are $24,286.

Full Wright State University - Main Campus Registered Nursing Report

#21

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan
#22 in overall quality

Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. WMU is a fairly large school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan that handed out 6 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

WMU also made our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #22. Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Michigan University are $31,355, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full WMU Registered Nursing Report

#22

Marquette University

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#2 in overall quality

Marquette University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 220 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Marquette not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Marquette are $21,690.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Marquette

#23

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan
#24 in overall quality

Eastern Michigan University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 22 degrees to qualified masters’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

Eastern Michigan also made our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. Average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern Michigan University are $26,552, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Eastern Michigan University Registered Nursing Report

#8 in overall quality

Kent State University at Kent did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. This large school is located in Kent, Ohio, and it awarded 173 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Kent State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State are $21,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Kent State Registered Nursing Report

#25

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
#17 in overall quality

Elmhurst University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. This small school is located in Elmhurst, Illinois, and it awarded 47 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Elmhurst also made our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #17. Average graduate tuition and fees at Elmhurst University are $32,300, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Elmhurst Registered Nursing Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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