by our College Data Analytics TeamFor its 2024 ranking, College Factual looked at 158 schools in the Great Lakes Region to determine which ones were the best for nursing students pursuing a bachelor's degree. Combined, these schools handed out 30,648 bachelor's degrees in nursing to qualified students.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
Your choice of nursing for getting your bachelor's degree school matters. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:
The overall quality of a bachelor's degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To take this into account we consider a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a combination of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
Average early-career salary of those graduating with their bachelor's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. After all, your bachelor's degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor's degree.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we've developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing a bachelor's 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.
It's hard to beat Case Western Reserve University if you want to pursue a bachelor's degree in nursing. Located in the large city of Cleveland, Case Western is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.
Soon after graduating, nursing bachelor's recipients usually earn an average of $60,278 in their early careers.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Case Western Reserve University
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is one of the best schools in the country for getting a bachelor's degree in nursing. Located in the medium-sized city of Ann Arbor, U-M is a public university with a very large student population.
Those nursing students who get their bachelor's degree from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor receive $3,277 more than the typical nursing student.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Loyola University Chicago is a great option for students pursuing a bachelor's degree in nursing. Loyola Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Chicago.
Those nursing students who get their bachelor's degree from Loyola University Chicago receive $4,840 more than the average nursing grad.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Loyola University Chicago
University of Wisconsin - Madison is a wonderful choice for individuals pursuing a bachelor's degree in nursing. UW - Madison is a very large public university located in the large city of Madison.
Bachelor's recipients from the nursing degree program at University of Wisconsin - Madison make $4,650 more than the standard college grad in this field when they enter the workforce.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from University of Wisconsin - Madison
Located in the distant town of Athens, OHIO Athens is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the nursing program report average early career earnings of $62,995.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Ohio University - Athens Campus
Located in the small city of West Lafayette, Purdue is a public university with a fairly large student population.
After graduation, nursing bachelor's recipients usually make an average of $57,612 in their early careers.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Purdue University - Main Campus
Marquette is a large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Milwaukee.
Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the nursing program state that they receive average early career earnings of $63,138.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Marquette University
Located in the large city of Columbus, Ohio State is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the nursing program make about $61,744 in their early career salary.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Ohio State University - Main Campus
Located in the large city of Cincinnati, UC is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the nursing program report average early career income of $60,467.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from University of Cincinnati - Main Campus
IUPUI is a fairly large public university located in the city of Indianapolis.
Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program make an average of $56,967 for their early career.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
Located in the large suburb of Oak Brook, Oak Point is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly small student population.
Nursing bachelor's degree recipients from Oak Point University get an earnings boost of about $2,839 over the typical income of nursing graduates.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Oak Point University
Located in the suburb of Addison, Chamberlain - Illinois is a private for-profit university with a fairly large student population.
Nursing bachelor's degree recipients from Chamberlain University - Illinois receive an earnings boost of approximately $9,612 over the typical earnings of nursing graduates.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Chamberlain University - Illinois
Mount Carmel College of Nursing is a fairly small private not-for-profit college located in the large city of Columbus.
Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program earn around $60,223 in the first couple years of working.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Mount Carmel College of Nursing
Located in the large suburb of Kent, Kent State is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Soon after graduation, nursing bachelor's recipients generally make an average of $57,586 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Kent State University at Kent
Located in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population.
Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the nursing program report average early career wages of $58,980.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Xavier University
Located in the city of Chicago, UIC is a public university with a very large student population.
Nursing bachelor's degree recipients from University of Illinois at Chicago receive an earnings boost of about $3,750 above the typical income of nursing majors.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from University of Illinois at Chicago
Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland is a public university with a large student population.
After graduation, nursing bachelor's recipients typically earn about $61,925 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Oakland University
Michigan State is a very large public university located in the small city of East Lansing.
Soon after graduating, nursing bachelor's recipients generally make about $62,282 in their early careers.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Michigan State University
University of Toledo is a large public university located in the large city of Toledo.
After graduation, nursing bachelor's recipients typically earn about $57,781 in their early careers.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from University of Toledo
Bradley is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the city of Peoria.
After graduating, nursing bachelor's recipients usually make around $62,749 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Bradley University
Located in the city of Detroit, Detroit Mercy is a private not-for-profit university with a moderately-sized student population.
After graduating, nursing bachelor's recipients typically earn an average of $60,926 in their early careers.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from University of Detroit Mercy
Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State is a public university with a fairly large student population.
After graduation, nursing bachelor's recipients usually earn around $63,013 in their early careers.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Wayne State University
Bellin College is a small private not-for-profit college located in the rural area of Green Bay.
Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program make around $58,063 in the first couple years of working.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Bellin 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 Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global | Marion, IN |
| 27 | Saint Anthony College of Nursing | Rockford, IL |
| 28 | University of St Francis | Joliet, IL |
| 29 | Cedarville University | Cedarville, OH |
| 30 | University of Southern Indiana | Evansville, IN |
| 31 | Otterbein University | Westerville, OH |
| 24 | Madonna University | Livonia, MI |
| 25 | Illinois State University | Normal, IL |
Explore the best nursing schools for a specific state in the Great Lakes Region .
Nursing is one of 34 different types of Health Professions programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | 29,382 |
| Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 950 |
| Nursing Practice | 240 |
| Nursing Administration | 70 |
| Nursing Science | 6 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Health & Medical Administrative Services | 2,977 |
| Public Health | 2,348 |
| Health Sciences & Services | 1,814 |
| Communication Sciences | 1,716 |
| Allied Health Professions | 1,496 |
| Other Health Professions | 1,154 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science | 1,102 |
| Health/Medical Prep Programs | 1,080 |
| Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions | 980 |
| Dietetics & Clinical Nutrition Services | 889 |
