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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Registered Nursing in the Great Lakes Region

137 Ranked Colleges
12,614 Degrees Awarded
$7,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 an Associate in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 259,493 registered nursing students received their degree, making the major the 3rd most popular in the country.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 44,871 registered nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 12,614 registered nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,508 and $17,812 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 137 colleges that offered a degree 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the registered nursing program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 an Associate in the Great Lakes Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region associate degree registered nursing students.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Registered Nursing in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Madison Area Technical College

Madison, Wisconsin
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 137 schools in the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Madison Area Technical College landed the #1 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 178 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Madison College also made our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $9,904 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students per year to attend Madison Area Technical College.

Full Madison College Registered Nursing Report

#2

Joliet Junior College

Joliet, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

Out of the 137 schools in the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Joliet Junior College landed the #2 spot on the list. Joliet, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s registered nursing degrees to 157 students in 2019-2020.

Joliet Junior College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Joliet Junior College is $4,693 for great lakes region associate degree registered nursing students.

Full Joliet Junior College Registered Nursing Report

#3

Chippewa Valley Technical College

Eau Claire, Wisconsin
#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Chippewa Valley Technical College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region. CVTC is a public institution located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 181 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CVTC also took the #8 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,773 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students per year to attend CVTC.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at CVTC

#4

Schoolcraft College

Livonia, Michigan
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Schoolcraft College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region. Located in Livonia, Michigan, this medium-sized public school awarded 168 degrees to qualified associates’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

Schoolcraft College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Schoolcraft College is $7,578 for great lakes region associate degree registered nursing students.

Full Schoolcraft College Registered Nursing Report

#5

Rasmussen University - Illinois

Rockford, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rasmussen University - Illinois. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region. Rasmussen University - Illinois is located in Rockford, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 321 associates’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

Rasmussen University - Illinois did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Rasmussen University - Illinois is $18,744 for great lakes region associate degree registered nursing students.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Rasmussen University - Illinois

#6

Gateway Technical College

Kenosha, Wisconsin
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Gateway Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Gateway Technical College is a public institution located in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 140 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Gateway Technical College, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $9,252 for great lakes region associate degree registered nursing students per year to attend Gateway Technical College.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Gateway Technical College

#7

Western Technical College

La Crosse, Wisconsin
#18 in overall quality

Western Technical College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, this small public school awarded 106 degrees to qualified associates’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

Western Technical College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Western Technical College is $10,081 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Western Technical College Registered Nursing Report

#8

Elgin Community College

Elgin, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Elgin Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Elgin Community College is a public institution located in Elgin, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 99 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ECC, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Elgin Community College is $4,185 for great lakes region associate degree registered nursing students.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Elgin Community College

#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Central Ohio Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Central Ohio Technical College is located in Newark, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 215 associates’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

COTC also made our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #15. The yearly cost to attend COTC is $9,612 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students.

Full COTC Registered Nursing Report

#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 219 degrees to qualified associates’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NWTC, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,340 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students per year to attend Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.

Full Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Registered Nursing Report

#22 in overall quality

Cuyahoga Community College District did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. Cleveland, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s registered nursing degrees to 255 students in 2019-2020.

Cuyahoga Community College District also made our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #22. It costs about $5,415 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students per year to attend Cuyahoga Community College District.

Full Cuyahoga Community College District Registered Nursing Report

#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s registered nursing degrees to 112 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree registered nursing students list, Cincinnati State has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is $5,469 for great lakes region associate degree registered nursing students.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Cincinnati State

#13

Owens Community College

Perrysburg, Ohio
#23 in overall quality

Owens Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #13. This medium-sized school is located in Perrysburg, Ohio, and it awarded 244 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Owens State Community College also took the #23 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Owens Community College is $8,323 for great lakes region associate degree registered nursing students.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Owens Community College

#14

Northcentral Technical College

Wausau, Wisconsin

Northcentral Technical College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. North Central Technical College is a public institution located in Wausau, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 97 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,131 for great lakes region associate degree registered nursing students per year to attend Northcentral Technical College.

Full Northcentral Technical College Registered Nursing Report

#15

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, Indiana
#21 in overall quality

Ivy Tech Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it awarded 1,348 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree registered nursing students list, Ivy Tech Community College has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ivy Tech Community College is $6,919 for great lakes region associate degree registered nursing students.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Ivy Tech Community College

#16

Oakton Community College

Des Plaines, Illinois
#9 in overall quality

Oakton Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Des Plaines, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 88 degrees to qualified associates’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree registered nursing students list, Oakton Community College has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Oakton Community College is $6,141 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Oakton Community College

#17

Milwaukee Area Technical College

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Top 20% in overall quality

Milwaukee Area Technical College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s registered nursing degrees to 104 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, MATC is also in the top of our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for MATC is $9,076 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students.

Full Milwaukee Area Technical College Registered Nursing Report

Top 25% in overall quality

Lorain County Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #18. Elyria, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s registered nursing degrees to 192 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,204 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students per year to attend Lorain County Community College.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at LCCC

#19

Waubonsee Community College

Sugar Grove, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, Waubonsee Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Waubonsee is a public institution located in Sugar Grove, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 88 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Waubonsee did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Waubonsee is $5,130 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Waubonsee Community College

#20

Moraine Valley Community College

Palos Hills, Illinois
Top 25% in overall quality

Moraine Valley Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Palos Hills, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 89 diplomas to qualified associates’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Moraine Valley Community College is $2,422 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Moraine Valley Community College

#20

Henry Ford College

Dearborn, Michigan
Top 20% in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, Henry Ford College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Dearborn, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s registered nursing degrees to 202 students in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, Henry Ford College also did well on our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Henry Ford College is $3,182 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students.

Full Henry Ford College Registered Nursing Report

#6 in overall quality

City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #22. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s registered nursing degrees to 154 students in 2019-2020.

Malcolm X College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Malcolm X College is $3,689 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students.

Full City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College Registered Nursing Report

#23

Oakland Community College

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Oakland Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 124 degrees to qualified associates’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $2,825 for great lakes region associate degree registered nursing students per year to attend Oakland Community College.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Oakland Community College

Sinclair Community College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Dayton, Ohio, and it awarded 137 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Sinclair Community College is $4,208 for great lakes region associate degree registered nursing students.

Full Sinclair Community College Registered Nursing Report

#25

Fox Valley Technical College

Appleton, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #25, Fox Valley Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region list. Fox Valley Technical College is a fairly large school located in Appleton, Wisconsin that handed out 62 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Fox Valley Technical College is $11,127 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students.

Full Fox Valley Technical College 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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