by our College Data Analytics TeamCollege Factual looked at 135 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 12,775 associate degrees in nursing during the 2021-2022 academic year.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
The nursing associate degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality nursing program can vary widely even among the top schools. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:
The overall quality of a associate degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving their associate degree from the school. After all, your associate degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing an associate degree in nursing. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
Rasmussen University - Illinois is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting an associate degree in nursing. Rasmussen University - Illinois is a small private for-profit university located in the medium-sized city of Rockford.
Nursing associate degree recipients from Rasmussen University - Illinois earn a boost of around $2,308 above the typical earnings of nursing graduates.
More information about a associate in nursing from Rasmussen University - Illinois
Gateway Technical College is a wonderful decision for students pursuing an associate degree in nursing. Located in the small city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Those nursing students who get their associate degree from Gateway Technical College make $2,323 more than the standard nursing graduate.
More information about a associate in nursing from Gateway Technical College
It is hard to beat Madison Area Technical College if you wish to pursue an associate degree in nursing. Located in the large city of Madison, Madison College is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Associate students who receive their degree from the nursing program make around $66,446 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a associate in nursing from Madison Area Technical College
Ivy Tech Community College is a wonderful decision for students interested in an associate degree in nursing. Located in the large city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.
After graduation, nursing associate recipients usually make an average of $65,738 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a associate in nursing from Ivy Tech Community College
Located in the small city of Eau Claire, CVTC is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Associate graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program make an average of $64,532 in their early career salary.
More information about a associate in nursing from Chippewa Valley Technical College
Rasmussen University - Wisconsin is a small private for-profit university located in the city of Green Bay.
Nursing associate degree recipients from Rasmussen University - Wisconsin receive an earnings boost of about $2,308 above the typical income of nursing majors.
More information about a associate in nursing from Rasmussen University - Wisconsin
Located in the small city of La Crosse, Western Technical College is a public college with a small student population.
Associate graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program make about $64,274 in their early career salary.
More information about a associate in nursing from Western Technical College
Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Soon after graduation, nursing associate recipients usually earn an average of $66,332 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a associate in nursing from Purdue University Global
MATC is a fairly large public college located in the city of Milwaukee.
Nursing associate degree recipients from Milwaukee Area Technical College get an earnings boost of about $3,334 over the typical earnings of nursing graduates.
More information about a associate in nursing from Milwaukee Area Technical College
Located in the suburb of Akron, Herzing Akron is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly small student population.
Nursing associate degree recipients from Herzing University - Akron earn a boost of approximately $7,531 over the typical earnings of nursing majors.
More information about a associate in nursing from Herzing University - Akron
Located in the large suburb of Wauwatosa, Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Associate recipients from the nursing degree program at Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa make $3,172 more than the typical college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.
More information about a associate in nursing from Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa
NWTC is a large public college located in the medium-sized city of Green Bay.
After graduation, nursing associate recipients typically make an average of $61,633 in their early careers.
More information about a associate in nursing from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Located in the large city of Toledo, Mercy College is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Associate recipients from the nursing major at Mercy College of Ohio earn $3,674 more than the average college graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.
More information about a associate in nursing from Mercy College of Ohio
Cuyahoga Community College District is a large public college located in the city of Cleveland.
Students who graduate with their associate from the nursing program report average early career income of $62,630.
More information about a associate in nursing from Cuyahoga Community College District
Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a public college with a large student population.
Nursing associate degree recipients from Sinclair Community College receive an earnings boost of around $3,592 above the average income of nursing majors.
More information about a associate in nursing from Sinclair Community College
Located in the medium-sized city of Dearborn, Henry Ford College is a public college with a large student population.
Those nursing students who get their associate degree from Henry Ford College receive $5,457 more than the typical nursing graduate.
More information about a associate in nursing from Henry Ford College
WITC is a small public college located in the town of Rice Lake.
Students who graduate with their associate from the nursing program report average early career earnings of $64,281.
More information about a associate in nursing from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
LCC is a medium-sized public college located in the city of Lansing.
Nursing associate degree recipients from Lansing Community College earn a boost of about $3,282 above the typical earnings of nursing majors.
More information about a associate in nursing from Lansing Community College
University of St. Francis Fort Wayne is a small private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Fort Wayne.
Students who graduate with their associate from the nursing program report average early career earnings of $64,983.
More information about a associate in nursing from University of Saint Francis - Fort Wayne
BTC is a small public college located in the small suburb of Janesville.
Nursing associate degree recipients from Blackhawk Technical College get an earnings boost of around $3,681 above the average earnings of nursing graduates.
More information about a associate in nursing from Blackhawk Technical CollegeThese are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | University of Rio Grande | Rio Grande, OH |
| 27 | College of Lake County | Grayslake, IL |
| 21 | Cincinnati State Technical and Community College | Cincinnati, OH |
| 22 | Good Samaritan College of Nursing & Health Science | Cincinnati, OH |
| 23 | Fox Valley Technical College | Appleton, WI |
| 24 | Central Ohio Technical College | Newark, OH |
| 25 | Northcentral Technical College | Wausau, WI |
Explore the best nursing colleges for a specific state in the Great Lakes Region .
One of 34 majors within the Health Professions area of study, Nursing has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | 12,643 |
| Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 71 |
| Adult Health Nurse/Nursing | 61 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Allied Health Professions | 3,957 |
| Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services | 2,527 |
| Health & Medical Administrative Services | 1,829 |
| Dental Support Services | 1,049 |
| Mental & Social Health Services | 787 |
| Health Sciences & Services | 511 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science | 424 |
| Other Health Professions | 99 |
| Health/Medical Prep Programs | 60 |
| Ophthalmic & Optometric Support Services | 45 |
