Best colleges for Practical Nursing in Michigan
Ranked by graduate earnings
Gogebic Community College, Detroit Business Institute - Downriver and St Clair County Community College are the top Practical Nursing programs in Michigan by graduate earnings. Gogebic Community College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $62,799, College Scorecard. Kellogg Community College, Dorsey College and Washtenaw Community College award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Michigan: 137, 103 and 101 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 32 Michigan colleges offer Practical Nursing and award 1,465 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gogebic Community College Ironwood Public · Certificate | $62,799 | 35 | 36% | — | $14,000 |
| 2 | Detroit Business Institute - Downriver Detroit Private for-profit · Certificate | $52,535 | 54 | 100% | $21,533 | $23,450 |
| 3 | St Clair County Community College Port Huron Public · Certificate | $50,656 | 29 | 34% | — | $15,931 |
| 4 | Ross Medical Education Center - Brighton Brighton Private for-profit · Certificate | $44,383 | 50 | 65% | $20,892 | $15,575 |
| 5 | Dorsey College Madison Heights Private for-profit · Certificate | $41,283 | 103 | 54% | $25,186 | $19,941 |
| 6 | Abcott Institute Southfield Private for-profit · Certificate | $21,658 | 43 | 93% | $21,007 | $11,542 |
| 7 | Schoolcraft Community College District Livonia Public · Certificate | $75,104 | 35 | 18% | — | $21,575 |
| 8 | Muskegon Community College Muskegon Public · Certificate | $60,995 | 72 | 28% | — | $15,601 |
| 9 | Delta College University Center Public · Certificate | $54,108 | 30 | 27% | — | $14,038 |
| 10 | Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids Public · Certificate | $45,946 | 52 | 21% | — | $13,413 |
Colleges awarding the most Practical Nursing degrees in Michigan
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kellogg Community College Battle Creek Public | 137 | Not reported |
| 2 | Dorsey College Madison Heights Private for-profit | 103 | $41,283* |
| 3 | Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor Public | 101 | Not reported |
| 4 | Ross College - Grand Rapids North Grand Rapids Private for-profit | 91 | Not reported |
| 5 | Dorsey College - Roseville Roseville Private for-profit | 89 | $41,283* |
| 6 | Dorsey College - Saginaw Saginaw Private for-profit | 70 | $41,283* |
| 7 | Detroit Business Institute - Downriver Detroit Private for-profit | 54 | $52,535 |
| 8 | Ross Medical Education Center - Brighton Brighton Private for-profit | 50 | $44,383* |
| 9 | Abcott Institute Southfield Private for-profit | 43 | $21,658 |
| 10 | Ross Medical Education Center - Midland Midland Private for-profit | 41 | $44,383* |
ShowHide the other 22 Michigan colleges offering Practical Nursing
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).
Top skills
What Nursing Assistants earn in Michigan
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Practical Nursing programs in Michigan.
Which Michigan colleges award the most Practical Nursing degrees?+
Kellogg Community College (137 graduates a year), Dorsey College (103 graduates a year) and Washtenaw Community College (101 graduates a year) award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Michigan, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 32 Michigan colleges offer Practical Nursing.
What is the best college for Practical Nursing in Michigan?+
By graduate earnings, Gogebic Community College leads among Practical Nursing programs in Michigan, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $62,799, College Scorecard. Detroit Business Institute - Downriver and St Clair County Community College follow. By degrees awarded, Kellogg Community College is the largest, with 137 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Practical Nursing program in Michigan has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Gogebic Community College tops the list at $62,799. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Nursing Assistants earn in Michigan?+
The average annual wage for Nursing Assistants in Michigan is $41,490 (median $39,570), across about 43,290 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Practical Nursing program?+
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Nursing Assistants?+
The national job outlook is about +2.3% growth with around 204,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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