Nursing 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.
College Factual analyzed 318 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best nursing schools.
Best Schools for Nursing in the Great Lakes Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
No school ranked higher than University Of Michigan Ann Arbor this year for nursing. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. About 315 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $91,969 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Purdue University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in nursing, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 223 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $91,063 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,455 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from Purdue University Main Campus
Rosalind Franklin University Of Medicine And Science is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in nursing, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of North Chicago, Rosalind Franklin University Of Medicine And Science is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 55 nursing degrees were awarded at Rosalind Franklin University Of Medicine And Science in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Rosalind Franklin University Of Medicine And Science earn around $223,679 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a degree in nursing from Rosalind Franklin University Of Medicine And Science
University Of Wisconsin Madison is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in nursing, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 271 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $92,233 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Read more about the nursing program at University Of Wisconsin Madison
Loyola University Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in nursing, ranking #5. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 304 nursing degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $111,912 early in their careers. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from Loyola University Chicago
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #6 position for nursing this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 582 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $87,290 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from University Of Illinois At Chicago
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #7 spot for nursing this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 627 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $90,970 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,240 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
Case Western Reserve University came in at #8 for nursing this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 234 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $112,484 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,580.
See the full nursing program report for Case Western Reserve University
Illinois State University earned the #9 position for nursing 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. About 379 nursing degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $90,432 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,075 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for Illinois State University
Benedictine University earned the #10 position for nursing this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Lisle. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. Benedictine University awarded about 68 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $90,860 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,188 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from Benedictine University
Michigan State University placed #11 among the best nursing schools. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. About 81% of students finish within six years. About 276 nursing degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $89,879. Typical student debt for the program is $28,500.
More information about a degree in nursing from Michigan State University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 439 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent data year. Nursing 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 program report for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Marquette University landed the #13 spot for nursing this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Marquette University awarded about 391 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Marquette University earn a median of $86,752 early in their careers. Marquette University graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans.
See the full nursing program report for Marquette University
Lewis University came in at #14 for nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 269 nursing degrees were awarded at Lewis University in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Lewis University earn a median of $90,066 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the nursing program at Lewis University
Lawrence Technological University came in at #15 for nursing this year. Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Southfield. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Lawrence Technological University awarded about 10 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $74,924 in their early career. Lawrence Technological University graduates carry a median of $27,799 in student loans.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #16 position for nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. About 74% of students finish within six years. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 1,038 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $109,491 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,920 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
College Of Lake County landed the #17 spot for nursing this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Grayslake. There were roughly 80 nursing students who graduated with this degree at College Of Lake County in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $72,472 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,005.
More information about a degree in nursing from College Of Lake County
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois placed #18 among the best nursing schools. Located in the suburb of Addison, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois is a very large private for-profit university. About 42% of students finish within six years. About 12,128 nursing degrees were awarded at Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois in the most recent year. Nursing graduates of Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois earn a median of $109,135 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $39,146 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in nursing from Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best nursing schools. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Ohio University Main Campus awarded about 1,215 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $80,108 early in their careers. Ohio University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,778 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from Ohio University Main Campus
Joliet Junior College came in at #20 for nursing this year. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. There were roughly 117 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Joliet Junior College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from Joliet Junior College earn around $71,988 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,617.
More information about a degree in nursing from Joliet Junior College
Gateway Technical College landed the #21 spot for nursing this year. Gateway Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Kenosha. There were roughly 135 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Gateway Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $68,134 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
See the full nursing program report for Gateway Technical College
University Of Southern Indiana landed the #22 spot for nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public institution. University Of Southern Indiana graduates 48% of students within six years. There were roughly 203 nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern Indiana in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing degree from University Of Southern Indiana earn around $91,255 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,089.
See the full nursing program report for University Of Southern Indiana
Moraine Park Technical College came in at #23 for nursing this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Fond du Lac. There were roughly 93 nursing students who graduated with this degree at Moraine Park Technical College in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of Moraine Park Technical College earn a median of $66,776 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,025 to complete this degree.
Get the full nursing details for Moraine Park Technical College
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earned the #24 position for nursing this year. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire graduates 65% of students within six years. About 186 nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing program make about $87,284 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in nursing from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire
University Of Toledo landed the #25 spot for nursing this year. This large public university is located in the city of Toledo. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. University Of Toledo awarded about 230 nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing graduates of University Of Toledo earn a median of $76,736 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,400.
See the full nursing program report for University Of Toledo
Rest of the Top 50 Nursing Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s nursing ranking:
This ranking is produced 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 · 318 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).
