Best Nursing Schools in Michigan for 2023

Nursing Degrees & Schools / Best Schools Michigan

If you want to be close to the Great Lakes and immersed in lovely seasonal weather, Michigan is a perfect choice. Many of its cities are booming college towns, full of exciting opportunities and well-known alumni. Michigan is also a top choice for many nursing students seeking professional development, mostly due to these prestigious universities.  

With many nursing programs and choices, finding the right path for your career goals can involve some research. Michigan’s schools offer online courses, bridge programs, and accelerated learning to help you succeed. After graduating, you can even stay in Michigan to pursue a nursing career with their competitive salary ranges and benefits. 

In this blog, we’ll be going over the top nursing schools in Michigan, and all of the information you need to decide which is the right place for you to start your journey.

Michigan’s top nursing programs:

1. University of Michigan Ann Arbor
2. University of Michigan Flint
3. Michigan State University
4. Grand Valley State University
5. Western Michigan University
6. University of Detroit Mercy
7. Oakland University
8. Wayne State University
9. Eastern Michigan University

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1. University of Michigan Ann Arbor – Score 76.67

NCLEX Pass Rate: 98.06%

In-state tuition: $9,252.00

Out-of-State tuition: $29,440.00

The University of Michigan Ann Arbor is a nationally and regionally ranked college. Its School of Nursing is nationally ranked for its programs, which include online and hybrid degrees. They offer clinical learning centers, global outreach programs, and research opportunities. The graduation rate is 92%. 

The CCNE accredited programs for nursing students are:

• BSN
• MSN
• DNP
• PhD

2. University of Michigan Flint – Score 63.33

NCLEX Pass Rate: 98.06%

In-state tuition: $14,340.00

Out-of-State tuition: $28,686.00

The University of Michigan Flint was founded in 1956, and its nursing school is focused on providing comprehensive courses, from in-person to online, for healthcare careers. Some of their additional programs include international service learning, student organizations, and simulation labs and centers. The graduation rate is 50%. 

The CCNE accredited programs for nursing students are:

• BSN
• ABSN
• RN to BSN
• Graduate Certificates
• MSN
• MSN-DNP

3. Michigan State University – Score 62.22

NCLEX Pass Rate: 93.00%

In-state tuition: $15,436.00

Out-of-State tuition: $42,022.00

The MSU College of Nursing was founded in 1950 and has grown over the years to include learning and assessment centers, simulation labs, and research projects. They also offer special programs for study abroad, pre-nursing students, and accelerated learning. Their graduation rate is 81%. 

The CCNE accredited programs for nursing students are:

• Graduate Certificate
• BSN
• ABSN
• RN to BSN
• PhD
• Post Master DNP

4. Grand Valley State University – Score 63.33

NCLEX Pass Rate: 95.15%

Annual tuition: $13,952.00

GVSU’s Kirkhof College of Nursing has over 65 health-related programs, including clinical nutrition, professional nursing, and clinical pharmacology. The Kirkhof College of Nursing also offers nursing student organizations, scholarship opportunities, and virtual learning options.  84% of recent GVSU graduates are employed or pursuing advanced degrees. The overall graduation rate is 65%. 

The CCNE accredited programs for nursing students are:

• BSN
• Graduate Certificate
• DNP
• RN to BSN

5. Western Michigan University – Score 51.11

NCLEX Pass Rate: 91.50%

In-state tuition: $13,850.00

Out-of-State tuition: $17,312.50

Western Michigan University’s nursing school offers a pre-licensure track and registered nurse track, with clinical and research programs and high-tech classrooms and labs. 9 of 10 graduates are employed quickly and working in their desired field. Their Bronson School of Nursing offers a pre-licensure track and registered nurse track. The graduation rate is 59%. 

The CCNE accredited programs for nursing students are:

• BSN
• RN to BSN
• MSN

6. University of Detroit Mercy – Score 36.67

NCLEX Pass Rate: 91.50%

Annual tuition: $31,058

The University of Detroit Mercy is Michigan’s oldest and largest Catholic university. Their College of Nursing offers clinical, co-op, and internship experiences, as well as scholarship opportunities and accelerated learning degrees. This university offers in-person, online, and hybrid courses with full-time, part-time, and accelerated tracks for nursing degrees. Their graduation rate is 65%. 

The CCNE accredited programs for nursing students are:

• BSN
• CNL
• DNP
• ENP
• MSN
• FNP
• Nursing Education

7. Oakland University – Score 48.89

NCLEX Pass Rate: 90.30%

In-state tuition: $14,476.00

Out-of-State tuition: $23,730.00

Oakland University is a public institution and an R2 (High Research) Carnegie Doctoral Research University. Their school of nursing includes an environmentally-friendly Human Health Building that was constructed with renewable materials and reduces carbon emissions, energy consumption, and output with its water, heating, and cooling systems. Oakland offers beneficial scholarships and grants for nursing students. Their graduation rate is 56%. 

The CCNE accredited programs for nursing students are:

• BSN
• ABSN
• MSN
• PhD
• DNP
• FNP

8. Wayne State University – Score 48.89

NCLEX Pass Rate: 92.55%

In-state tuition: $14,464.00

Out-of-State tuition: $30,914.00

WSU is a 200-acre campus with a history in healthcare dating back to the Civil War. Their College of Nursing was founded in 1945 and now offers distance learning, honors degrees, and accelerated learning. They also have their own podcast for the nursing school, led by nursing professionals to help students on their career path. The graduation rate is 46%. 

The CCNE accredited programs for nursing students are:

• BSN
• MSN
• DNP
• PhD
• Graduate Certificate

9. Eastern Michigan University – Score 48.89

NCLEX Pass Rate: 88.86%

Annual tuition: $14,400.00

Eastern Michigan University is the second oldest public university in the state, founded in 1849. Their nursing school has simulation and virtual reality programs, which involves unique simulated products that implement alternative clinical experiences. They also offer a center for health disparities and nursing scholarship opportunities. 89% of Eastern’s graduates find employment post-college. Their graduation rate is 52%. 

The CCNE accredited programs for nursing students are:

• BSN
• RN to BSN
• DNP
• MSN
• Graduate Certificate

How to choose the right nursing program

With many nursing degree options to choose from, finding the right school for you and your needs is a big decision. You should take into consideration the university’s location, tuition costs, NCLEX exam and graduation rates, and the programs they can offer you.

Location

When choosing a school, make sure the location is ideal. Commute time to campus, or from campus to clinicals, is important to consider as a nursing student with a busy schedule. Perhaps look into what online courses can be completed for your degree, in order to save time each week.

Tuition

As a college student, saving money is essential. Double-check tuition costs, especially if you’re a Michigan resident looking to save yourself future debt with in-state tuition. See what scholarships are offered as a nursing student, and your eligibility for FAFSA loans. You may even be qualified for student loan forgiveness upon graduation, so see which programs can make your experience more affordable.

NCLEX pass rate

In order to become a licensed nurse, you have to pass the NCLEX. Checking a university’s pass rate for this exam will be helpful in determining how they set their students up for success. Do they offer the right material in their courses? What about additional preparation? This is a good measure of a school’s credibility and care, and a good pass rate can assist in your choice of school.

Programs offered

Part of your decision process on choosing a university includes looking at their programs. Be absolutely certain they have the courses you need for your degree, especially if you’re pursuing an advanced degree or transferring from another institution. Your credits will need to carry over, so by checking ahead of time for the programs offered, you’ll be saving yourself time in the long run.

Graduation rate 

A school’s graduation rate is important, since this will tell you the percentage of students who complete their degrees between 4-6 years. This is a helpful measure in a university’s track record and levels of success. When the graduation rate is high, usually their reputation is more solid.

Next steps

Finding the right nursing school for you requires consideration of the things that are most important to you. You should also factor in the financial costs and future job prospects within the state. If you’re interested in pursuing an education in Michigan, looking at the schools listed above is a helpful place to start.

After graduation, you’ll want to start thinking about your career. Incredible Health’s resources are meant to help grads kickstart their nursing careers, including the right licensing and certifications for Michigan. This is something you’ll need to know if you’re coming from out-of-state. 

If you want to know what you can do after graduation, check out Michigan’s free CEU courses. These will provide you with the right certifications and tools you need to succeed in nursing.

On the Incredible Health platform, you can also turn to other healthcare professionals for advice, helpful tips, and other answers about nursing in Michigan.

Once you start looking for a job, let us here at Incredible Health help. We can connect you with employers just waiting to hire you!

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Methodology

In order to determine the best nursing schools in a state, Incredible Health compared the top schools among five categories: graduation rate, tuition, NCLEX pass rate, accreditation, and the number of nursing programs offered.

Each metric was scored on a 100-point scale with 100 representing the highest total for that category. Then we compiled the individual scores to get an overall score.

We used data from: 

• University webpages
• (State) Board of Nursing
• U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing
• Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
• U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings