2027 Best Nursing Practice Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Nursing Practice degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 32 schools to find the best for nursing practice students.
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Best Schools for Nursing Practice in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall nursing practice education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Nursing Practice
University Of Wisconsin Madison is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in nursing practice. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 40 nursing practice degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Nursing Practice graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $92,233 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Read more about the nursing practice program at University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best nursing practice schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 94 nursing practice students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $87,290. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
Read more about the nursing practice program at University Of Illinois At Chicago
Students looking for a strong nursing practice program will find one at Ohio State University Main Campus, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 44 nursing practice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing practice program make about $90,970 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,240 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing practice from Ohio State University Main Campus
Students looking for a strong nursing practice program will find one at Case Western Reserve University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. There were roughly 20 nursing practice students who graduated with this degree at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing practice program make about $112,484 in their early career. Case Western Reserve University graduates carry a median of $26,580 in student loans.
See the full nursing practice program report for Case Western Reserve University
Illinois State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in nursing practice, landing the #5 spot this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 nursing practice students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing practice program make about $90,432 in their early career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $23,075 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing practice program at Illinois State University
Michigan State University placed #6 among the best nursing practice schools. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. About 63 nursing practice degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $89,879. Typical student debt for the program is $28,500.
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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best nursing practice schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 86 nursing practice students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent data year. Nursing Practice graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $118,455 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,043 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing practice program report for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Marquette University came in at #8 for nursing practice this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Milwaukee. About 83% of students finish within six years. Marquette University awarded about 21 nursing practice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing practice program make about $86,752 in their early career. Marquette University graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #9 position for nursing practice this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 nursing practice students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing practice degree from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn around $109,491 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,920 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing practice program at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois earned the #10 position for nursing practice this year. Set in the suburb of Addison, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois is a very large private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois awarded about 587 nursing practice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing practice degree from Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois earn around $109,135 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $39,146 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing practice program report for Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best nursing practice schools. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 nursing practice students who graduated with this degree at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Nursing Practice graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $80,108 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,778 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing practice from Ohio University Main Campus
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire came in at #12 for nursing practice this year. Located in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public university. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire graduates 65% of students within six years. About 22 nursing practice degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing practice degree from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn around $87,284 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
See the full nursing practice program report for University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire
Bradley University earned the #13 position for nursing practice this year. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 27 nursing practice degrees were awarded at Bradley University in the most recent year. Nursing Practice graduates of Bradley University earn a median of $95,389 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing practice from Bradley University
Northern Illinois University came in at #14 for nursing practice this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. About 10 nursing practice degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing practice degree from Northern Illinois University earn around $91,491 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing practice program at Northern Illinois University
Rush University came in at #15 for nursing practice this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. There were roughly 211 nursing practice students who graduated with this degree at Rush University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing practice degree from Rush University earn around $100,700 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $31,206 to complete this degree.
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Wayne State University placed #16 among the best nursing practice schools. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Wayne State University awarded about 13 nursing practice degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing Practice graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $103,835 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $30,165.
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Franklin University landed the #17 spot for nursing practice this year. Franklin University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbus. About 3% of students finish within six years. About 10 nursing practice degrees were awarded at Franklin University in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing practice degree from Franklin University earn around $57,471 in the first couple years of their career. Franklin University graduates carry a median of $35,890 in student loans.
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Saint Francis Medical Center College Of Nursing placed #18 among the best nursing practice schools. Located in the city of Peoria, Saint Francis Medical Center College Of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit university. About 34 nursing practice degrees were awarded at Saint Francis Medical Center College Of Nursing in the most recent year. Nursing Practice graduates of Saint Francis Medical Center College Of Nursing earn a median of $91,413 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
See the full nursing practice program report for Saint Francis Medical Center College Of Nursing
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh placed #19 among the best nursing practice schools. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 41 nursing practice degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh generally make around $91,263. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing practice from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global came in at #20 for nursing practice this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Marion. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global awarded about 12 nursing practice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing practice degree from Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earn around $90,378 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree.
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Depaul University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best nursing practice schools. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 31 nursing practice degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $140,906. Students borrow a median of $25,340 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing practice program report for Depaul University
Oakland University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best nursing practice schools. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. Oakland University awarded about 31 nursing practice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $91,727. Students borrow a median of $29,430 to complete this degree.
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Concordia University Wisconsin came in at #23 for nursing practice this year. Set in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. Concordia University Wisconsin awarded about 11 nursing practice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Concordia University Wisconsin generally make around $87,324. Concordia University Wisconsin graduates carry a median of $28,750 in student loans.
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Saint Anthony College Of Nursing ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best nursing practice schools. Set in the city of Rockford, Saint Anthony College Of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit institution. Saint Anthony College Of Nursing awarded about 10 nursing practice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing practice degree from Saint Anthony College Of Nursing earn around $71,970 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing practice from Saint Anthony College Of Nursing
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee landed the #25 spot for nursing practice this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee awarded about 38 nursing practice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing practice program make about $86,743 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full nursing practice program report for University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Rest of the Top 32 Nursing Practice Schools
These schools also placed among the best for nursing practice this year:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 32 schools evaluated.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
