Best colleges for Registered Nursing in Michigan
Ranked by graduate earnings
Chamberlain University - Michigan, University of Michigan-Flint and Spring Arbor University are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Michigan by graduate earnings. Chamberlain University - Michigan leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $83,188, College Scorecard. Oakland University, University of Michigan-Flint and University of Michigan-Ann Arbor award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Michigan: 525, 444 and 315 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 59 Michigan colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 6,577 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, 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 | Chamberlain University - Michigan Troy Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $83,188 | 139 | 100% | $26,870 | $39,146 |
| 2 | University of Michigan-Flint Flint Public · Bachelor's degree | $80,029 | 444 | 40% | — | $39,231 |
| 3 | Spring Arbor University Spring Arbor Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $77,680 | 271 | 64% | $19,806 | $29,748 |
| 4 | Siena Heights University Adrian Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $77,581 | 36 | 39% | $17,015 | $27,000 |
| 5 | Saginaw Valley State University University Center Public · Bachelor's degree | $76,244 | 180 | 48% | — | $28,000 |
| 6 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,760 | 271 | 46% | — | $28,500 |
| 7 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,458 | 315 | 93% | — | $19,000 |
| 8 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,149 | 83 | 58% | — | $28,850 |
| 9 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,081 | 276 | 81% | — | $28,500 |
| 10 | University of Detroit Mercy Detroit Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,063 | 218 | 67% | $16,109 | $29,000 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mott Community College Flint Public · Associate degree | $73,034 | 91 | 32% | — | $34,334 |
| 2 | Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor Public · Associate degree | $70,145 | 122 | 33% | — | $25,412 |
| 3 | St Clair County Community College Port Huron Public · Associate degree | $69,590 | 116 | 34% | — | $21,009 |
| 4 | Monroe County Community College Monroe Public · Associate degree | $69,336 | 63 | 34% | — | $19,850 |
| 5 | Montcalm Community College Sidney Public · Associate degree | $68,396 | 44 | 31% | — | $25,757 |
| 6 | Kirtland Community College Grayling Public · Associate degree | $67,468 | 38 | 34% | — | $23,500 |
| 7 | Glen Oaks Community College Centreville Public · Associate degree | $64,466 | 33 | 43% | — | $13,764 |
| 8 | Southwestern Michigan College Dowagiac Public · Associate degree | $64,034 | 29 | 38% | — | $22,254 |
| 9 | Gogebic Community College Ironwood Public · Associate degree | $62,485 | 34 | 36% | — | $16,500 |
| 10 | Bay de Noc Community College Escanaba Public · Associate degree | $57,430 | 27 | 30% | — | $23,250 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in Michigan
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, 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 | Oakland University Rochester Hills Public | 525 | $74,917 |
| 2 | University of Michigan-Flint Flint Public | 444 | $80,029 |
| 3 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Public | 315 | $75,458 |
| 4 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public | 290 | $71,181 |
| 5 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public | 276 | $75,081 |
| 6 | Wayne State University Detroit Public | 275 | $74,793 |
| 7 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public | 271 | $75,760 |
| 8 | Spring Arbor University Spring Arbor Private not-for-profit | 271 | $77,680 |
| 9 | University of Detroit Mercy Detroit Private not-for-profit | 218 | $75,063 |
| 10 | Saginaw Valley State University University Center Public | 180 | $76,244 |
ShowHide the other 49 Michigan colleges offering Registered Nursing
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in Michigan
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Michigan.
Which Michigan colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
Oakland University (525 graduates a year), University of Michigan-Flint (444 graduates a year) and University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (315 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Michigan, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 59 Michigan colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in Michigan?+
By graduate earnings, Chamberlain University - Michigan leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Michigan, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $83,188, College Scorecard. University of Michigan-Flint and Spring Arbor University follow. By degrees awarded, Oakland University is the largest, with 525 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in Michigan has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Chamberlain University - Michigan tops the list at $83,188. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in Michigan?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Michigan is $94,300 (median $94,300), across about 104,950 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree 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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