2025 Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

Ranked #3 in popularity, registered nursing is one of the most sought-after associate degree programs in the nation. This makes choosing the right school a hard decision.

For its 2025 ranking, College Factual looked at 134 schools in the Great Lakes Region to determine which ones were the best for registered nursing students pursuing a associate degree. Combined, these schools handed out 12,331 associate degrees in registered nursing to qualified students.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology

• Best Associate Degree Schools List

Choosing a Great Registered Nursing School for Your Associate Degree

Your choice of registered nursing for getting your associate degree school matters. Important measures of a quality registered nursing program can vary widely even among the top schools. When choosing a school we recommend considering some of the following factors:

Quality Overall Is Important

The overall quality of a associate degree school is important to ensure a quality 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.

Other Factors We Consider

In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:

• Major Focus - How much a school focuses on registered nursing students vs. other majors.
• Major Demand - How many other registered nursing students want to attend this school to pursue a associate degree.
• Educational Resources - The amount of money and other resources allocated to students while they are pursuing their degree. These resources include such things as number of students per instructor and education expenditures per student.
• Accreditation - Whether a school is regionally accredited and/or accredited by a recognized registered nursing related body.

Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for registered nursing students working on their associate degree.

More Ways to Rank Registered Nursing Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list to help you make the college decision.

Best Schools for Associate Students to Study Registered Nursing in the Great Lakes Region

Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for registered nursing students seeking a an associate degree. Only those schools that rank in the top 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

25 Top Great Lakes Region Schools for an Associate in Registered Nursing

1

Rasmussen University - Illinois
Rockford, IL

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

770 Annual Graduates

Rasmussen University - Illinois is a wonderful choice for students pursuing an associate degree in registered nursing. Rasmussen University - Illinois is a small private for-profit university located in the medium-sized city of Rockford.More information about a associate in registered nursing from Rasmussen University - Illinois

2

Gateway Technical College
Kenosha, WI

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

154 Annual Graduates

Gateway Technical College is one of the best schools in the United States for getting an associate degree in registered nursing. Located in the city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a public college with a large student population.More information about a associate in registered nursing from Gateway Technical College

3

Madison Area Technical College
Madison, WI

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

145 Annual Graduates

Madison Area Technical College is one of the best schools in the country for getting an associate degree in registered nursing. Located in the large city of Madison, Madison College is a public college with a fairly large student population.More information about a associate in registered nursing from Madison Area Technical College

4

Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

1,326 Annual Graduates

Ivy Tech Community College is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting an associate degree in registered nursing. Located in the large city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a public college with a very large student population.More information about a associate in registered nursing from Ivy Tech Community College

5

Chippewa Valley Technical College
Eau Claire, WI

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

165 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of Eau Claire, CVTC is a public college with a medium-sized student population.More information about a associate in registered nursing from Chippewa Valley Technical College

6

Rasmussen University - Wisconsin
Green Bay, WI

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

72 Annual Graduates

Rasmussen University - Wisconsin is a small private for-profit university located in the midsize city of Green Bay.More information about a associate in registered nursing from Rasmussen University - Wisconsin

7

Western Technical College
La Crosse, WI

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

87 Annual Graduates

Located in the small city of La Crosse, Western Technical College is a public college with a small student population.More information about a associate in registered nursing from Western Technical College

8

Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, IN

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

67 Annual Graduates

Located in the small city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a associate in registered nursing from Purdue University Global

9

Milwaukee Area Technical College
Milwaukee, WI

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

79 Annual Graduates

MATC is a large public college located in the large city of Milwaukee.More information about a associate in registered nursing from Milwaukee Area Technical College

10

Herzing University - Akron
Akron, OH

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

64 Annual Graduates

Located in the suburb of Akron, Herzing Akron is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly small student population.More information about a associate in registered nursing from Herzing University - Akron

11

Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa
Wauwatosa, WI

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

176 Annual Graduates

Located in the suburb of Wauwatosa, Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.More information about a associate in registered nursing from Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa

12

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Green Bay, WI

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

155 Annual Graduates

NWTC is a fairly large public college located in the midsize city of Green Bay.More information about a associate in registered nursing from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

13

Mercy College of Ohio
Toledo, OH

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

137 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of Toledo, Mercy College is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.More information about a associate in registered nursing from Mercy College of Ohio

14

Cuyahoga Community College District
Cleveland, OH

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

131 Annual Graduates

Cuyahoga Community College District is a fairly large public college located in the large city of Cleveland.More information about a associate in registered nursing from Cuyahoga Community College District

15

Sinclair Community College
Dayton, OH

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

97 Annual Graduates

Located in the midsize city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.More information about a associate in registered nursing from Sinclair Community College

16

Henry Ford College
Dearborn, MI

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

156 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford College is a public college with a fairly large student population.More information about a associate in registered nursing from Henry Ford College

17

Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
Rice Lake, WI

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

67 Annual Graduates

WITC is a small public college located in the town of Rice Lake.More information about a associate in registered nursing from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College

18

Lansing Community College
Lansing, MI

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

164 Annual Graduates

LCC is a medium-sized public college located in the midsize city of Lansing.More information about a associate in registered nursing from Lansing Community College

19

University of Saint Francis - Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

57 Annual Graduates

University of St. Francis Fort Wayne is a small private not-for-profit university located in the city of Fort Wayne.More information about a associate in registered nursing from University of Saint Francis - Fort Wayne

20

Blackhawk Technical College
Janesville, WI

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

56 Annual Graduates

BTC is a small public college located in the small suburb of Janesville.More information about a associate in registered nursing from Blackhawk Technical College

21

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
Cincinnati, OH

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

123 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State is a public college with a medium-sized student population.More information about a associate in registered nursing from Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

22

Good Samaritan College of Nursing & Health Science
Cincinnati, OH

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

86 Annual Graduates

Located in the large city of Cincinnati, Good Samaritan College of Nursing & Health Science is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.More information about a associate in registered nursing from Good Samaritan College of Nursing & Health Science

23

Fox Valley Technical College
Appleton, WI

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

90 Annual Graduates

FVTC is a fairly large public college located in the medium-sized suburb of Appleton.More information about a associate in registered nursing from Fox Valley Technical College

24

Central Ohio Technical College
Newark, OH

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

181 Annual Graduates

Located in the suburb of Newark, COTC is a public college with a small student population.More information about a associate in registered nursing from Central Ohio Technical College

25

Northcentral Technical College
Wausau, WI

Associate Degree Highest Degree Type

70 Annual Graduates

North Central Technical College is a medium-sized public college located in the city of Wausau.More information about a associate in registered nursing from Northcentral Technical College

Rest of the Top Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

26

University of Rio Grande
Rio Grande, OH

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional great schools for Registered Nursing students in the Great Lakes Region that almost earned our Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank	College	Location
27	College of Lake County	Grayslake, IL
28	Owens Community College	Perrysburg, OH
29	Lincoln Land Community College	Springfield, IL
30	Elgin Community College	Elgin, IL
31	Schoolcraft College	Livonia, MI
32	Moraine Park Technical College	Fond du Lac, WI
33	William Rainey Harper College	Palatine, IL
34	Clark State Community College	Springfield, OH
35	Bryant & Stratton College - Parma	Parma, OH
36	Illinois Central College	East Peoria, IL
37	North Central State College	Mansfield, OH
38	Vincennes University	Vincennes, IN
39	Marion Technical College	Marion, OH
40	Delta College	University Center, MI
41	City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College	Chicago, IL
42	Lorain County Community College	Elyria, OH
43	College of DuPage	Glen Ellyn, IL
44	Grand Rapids Community College	Grand Rapids, MI

Best Registered Nursing Colleges by State

Explore the best registered nursing schools for a specific state in the Great Lakes Region .

State	Colleges	Degrees Awarded
Ohio	450	4,009
Michigan	410	2,284
Illinois	267	2,975
Wisconsin	224	1,768
Indiana	221	1,648

View All Rankings >

Registered Nursing Related Rankings by Major

One of 23 majors within the Nursing area of study, Registered Nursing has other similar majors worth exploring.

Most Popular Majors Related to Registered Nursing

Related Major	Annual Graduates
Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	72
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing	68

Notes and References

• The bars on the spread charts above show the distribution of the schools on this list +/- one standard deviation from the mean.
• 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 the rest 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).
• Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle. More about our data sources and methodologies.