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2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region

34 Ranked Colleges
2,938 Degrees Awarded
$18,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 a Master’s 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,938 registered nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 34 colleges that offered a degree in registered nursing. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great registered nursing programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the registered nursing program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Registered Nursing Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region

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

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Registered Nursing in the Great Lakes Region

#4 in overall quality

Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Chamberlain University - Illinois landed the #1 spot on the list. Chamberlain University - Illinois is a large school located in Addison, Illinois that handed out 1,229 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree registered nursing students list, Chamberlain - Illinois has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chamberlain - Illinois are $14,090, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Chamberlain University - Illinois

#2

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Illinois State University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Illinois State is a large school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 29 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State are $11,069.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Illinois State

#3

Marquette University

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Marquette University landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 220 degrees to qualified masters’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

Marquette not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Marquette are $21,690.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Marquette

#4

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of St Francis. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. University of Saint Francis is a small school located in Joliet, Illinois that handed out 60 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Saint Francis, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Saint Francis are $13,839.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at University of Saint Francis

#18 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. St. Francis Medical Center College of Nursing is a small school located in Peoria, Illinois that handed out 41 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Francis Medical Center College of Nursing, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing are $8,730, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at St. Francis Medical Center College of Nursing

#6

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana
#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Purdue University Northwest did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Purdue Northwest is a medium-sized school located in Hammond, Indiana that handed out 38 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue Northwest not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue Northwest are $11,633.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Purdue Northwest

#7

McKendree University

Lebanon, Illinois

McKendree University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. McKendree University is located in Lebanon, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 masters’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at McKendree University are $9,324, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full McKendree University Registered Nursing Report

#15 in overall quality

University of Akron Main Campus ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Akron, Ohio that handed out 50 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree registered nursing students list, University of Akron Main Campus has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Akron Main Campus are $15,217, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at University of Akron Main Campus

#3 in overall quality

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 28 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree registered nursing students list, UC has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC are $26,644.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus

#14 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Flint landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Flint, Michigan, and it awarded 62 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UM Flint, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Flint are $18,202, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Michigan - Flint Registered Nursing Report

#11

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, Indiana
#19 in overall quality

Indiana State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Indiana State University is a fairly large school located in Terre Haute, Indiana that handed out 69 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Indiana State also took the #19 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana State are $15,346, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Indiana State

#12

Saint Anthony College of Nursing

Rockford, Illinois
#25 in overall quality

Saint Anthony College of Nursing ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. SACN is a small school located in Rockford, Illinois that handed out 3 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SACN, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SACN are $18,857, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Saint Anthony College of Nursing Registered Nursing Report

#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Kent State University at Kent did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Kent State University at Kent is a large school located in Kent, Ohio that handed out 173 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree registered nursing students list, Kent State has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State are $21,952, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Kent State Registered Nursing Report

#14

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#5 in overall quality

Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Purdue is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 25 masters’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University - Main Campus are $28,794.

Full Purdue Registered Nursing Report

#15

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, DePaul University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 206 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

DePaul also made our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at DePaul are $19,760, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full DePaul Registered Nursing Report

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is a public institution located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Oshkosh are $18,744, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at UW Oshkosh

#17

Edgewood College

Madison, Wisconsin
#23 in overall quality

Edgewood College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Edgewood College is a small school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 6 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Edgewood, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Edgewood are $18,576, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Edgewood

#18

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#11 in overall quality

Ball State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large school is located in Muncie, Indiana, and it awarded 74 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Ball State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State University are $26,204.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Ball State

#19

Davenport University

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Davenport University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #19. This medium-sized school is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 4 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Davenport University are $16,636, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Davenport University

#20

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#16 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s registered nursing degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.

UWM also made our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #16. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Registered Nursing at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

#21

Indiana University - Kokomo

Kokomo, Indiana

Indiana University - Kokomo came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. IU Kokomo is a public institution located in Kokomo, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Kokomo are $18,275.

Full Indiana University - Kokomo Registered Nursing Report

Indiana University - Northwest landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Gary, Indiana, this small public school awarded 12 degrees to qualified masters’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Northwest are $18,275, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full IU Northwest Registered Nursing Report

#23

Indiana University - East

Richmond, Indiana

Indiana University - East ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Richmond, Indiana, this small public school handed out 17 diplomas to qualified masters’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IU East are $18,275.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at IU East

#24

Indiana University - Southeast

New Albany, Indiana

Indiana University - Southeast landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Indiana University - Southeast is located in New Albany, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Southeast are $18,275, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Indiana University - Southeast Registered Nursing Report

#20 in overall quality

Wright State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Dayton, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 69 diplomas to qualified masters’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

Wright State University - Main Campus also made our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #20. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wright State University - Main Campus are $24,286, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Wright State University - Main Campus

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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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