Best Nursing Schools in Michigan (2026): Rankings and Reviews

Michigan has more than 20 colleges producing BSN graduates, led by two Big Ten universities and a strong group of regional and private colleges. This guide ranks them using official federal data and reviews the top five.

Imagine you are deciding between the University of Michigan, Michigan State and a smaller private college in Holland or Grand Rapids. Each offers a different experience, cost and class size. The data below shows how they compare.

How we ranked these schools

We used the latest official data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard. We included colleges in Michigan that award a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), and ranked those producing at least 20 BSN graduates a year by their graduation rate. We also show how much their nursing graduates earn and what tuition costs. Graduation rates are for each college as a whole, not nursing students alone.

Michigan nursing schools ranked (2026)

Rank	College	City	Type	Graduation rate	BSN graduates a year	BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year)	In-state tuition
1	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	Ann Arbor	Public	93%	181	$82,804	$18,346
2	Michigan State University	East Lansing	Public	81%	182	$80,040	$17,256
3	Hope College	Holland	Private nonprofit	79%	45	$79,241	$43,960
4	Calvin University	Grand Rapids	Private nonprofit	75%	66	$76,617	$40,500
5	University of Detroit Mercy	Detroit	Private nonprofit	70%	139	$81,652	$33,604
6	Grand Valley State University	Allendale	Public	66%	249	$77,487	$15,872
7	Spring Arbor University	Spring Arbor	Private nonprofit	63%	28	$80,233	$35,530
8	Wayne State University	Detroit	Public	59%	181	$81,683	$15,862
9	Western Michigan University	Kalamazoo	Public	58%	97	$78,518	$15,954
10	Oakland University	Rochester Hills	Public	58%	438	$80,678	$16,176
11	Madonna University	Livonia	Private nonprofit	56%	134	$80,574	$29,580
12	Davenport University	Grand Rapids	Private nonprofit	55%	154	$75,152	$25,562
13	Northern Michigan University	Marquette	Public	53%	95	$74,253	$15,012
14	Lake Superior State University	Sault Ste Marie	Public	50%	41	$71,137	$15,506
15	Saginaw Valley State University	University Center	Public	49%	159	$81,713	$13,680
16	Siena Heights University	Adrian	Private nonprofit	49%	37	$80,097	$31,814
17	Concordia University Ann Arbor	Ann Arbor	Private nonprofit	48%	30	$78,358	$36,260
18	Eastern Michigan University	Ypsilanti	Public	46%	305	$81,487	$17,004
19	Ferris State University	Big Rapids	Public	46%	93	$79,620	$15,736
20	University of Michigan-Flint	Flint	Public	42%	230	$83,289	$15,354
21	Baker College	Owosso	Private nonprofit	41%	170	$77,927	$13,200

Also offering a BSN in Michigan (not ranked: either a comparable graduation rate isn’t reported, often because they mainly enrol transfer, upper-division or adult students, or they’re for-profit career colleges whose college-wide rates aren’t comparable with universities):

College	City	Type	Graduation rate	BSN graduates a year	BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year)	In-state tuition
Chamberlain University-Michigan	Troy	Private for-profit	n/a	239	$89,974	$21,655
Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield	Southfield	Private for-profit	n/a	21	$85,460	$25,667

Top Michigan nursing schools reviewed

1. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

The University of Michigan School of Nursing in Ann Arbor is one of the top-ranked nursing schools in the US, linked to Michigan Medicine, and tops our list.

• Graduation rate: 93%, number 1 in Michigan on our list
• Programme size: about 181 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $82,804 one year after graduating
• Cost: $18,346 in-state tuition ($63,962 out of state)
• Acceptance rate: 16% (selective)

2. Michigan State University

Michigan State University’s College of Nursing in East Lansing offers a large public BSN with clinical sites across the state.

• Graduation rate: 81%, number 2 in Michigan on our list
• Programme size: about 182 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $80,040 one year after graduating
• Cost: $17,256 in-state tuition ($44,640 out of state)
• Acceptance rate: 85%

3. Hope College

Hope College in Holland is a selective private liberal arts college offering a small nursing programme in partnership with local health systems.

• Graduation rate: 79%, number 3 in Michigan on our list
• Programme size: about 45 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, a smaller programme with a more personal feel
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $79,241 one year after graduating
• Cost: $43,960 tuition a year before financial aid
• Acceptance rate: 79%

4. Calvin University

Calvin University in Grand Rapids is a Christian university with a well-regarded nursing programme close to Corewell Health and other hospitals.

• Graduation rate: 75%, number 4 in Michigan on our list
• Programme size: about 66 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $76,617 one year after graduating
• Cost: $40,500 tuition a year before financial aid
• Acceptance rate: 71%

5. University of Detroit Mercy

The University of Detroit Mercy is a Jesuit and Mercy university with one of the longest-established nursing programmes in Detroit.

• Graduation rate: 70%, number 5 in Michigan on our list
• Programme size: about 139 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $81,652 one year after graduating
• Cost: $33,604 tuition a year before financial aid
• Acceptance rate: 75%

Grand Valley State University, Wayne State University, Oakland University and Western Michigan University also train large numbers of Michigan nurses at public tuition.

Ways to become a registered nurse in Michigan

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): a four-year degree, the route covered in this guide, preferred by many hospitals and required for most leadership and advanced roles.
• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN): a two-year programme, often at community colleges, leading to the same NCLEX-RN exam. Many nurses later complete an RN-to-BSN degree, often online and part-time while working.
• Accelerated BSN (ABSN): for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another subject, usually 12 to 18 months of intensive study.
• Direct-entry master’s (MSN): offered by some universities for graduates of other fields.

Whichever route you choose, you must graduate from an approved programme and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to be licensed by the Michigan Board of Nursing.

Frequently asked questions

How many colleges in Michigan offer a BSN?

Based on the latest College Scorecard data, 23 colleges in Michigan produce at least 20 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, together awarding around 3,314 BSN degrees annually. Some smaller programmes are not included.

Which Michigan nursing school has the highest graduation rate?

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor has the highest college-wide graduation rate on our list, at 93%.

Which is the largest nursing programme in Michigan?

Oakland University produces the most bachelor’s nursing graduates in the state, about 438 a year.

How much do new BSN graduates earn in Michigan?

Across the colleges listed, the median first-year earnings of bachelor’s nursing graduates range from $71,137 to $89,974, with a typical (median) figure of about $80,097. Earnings depend on where graduates work, their shift patterns and whether they were already working as nurses.

How much does a public nursing degree cost in Michigan?

In-state tuition at the public universities on our list ranges from $13,680 to $18,346 a year, before fees, housing and financial aid.

But is a ranking enough to choose a school?

No ranking can tell you everything. Before you apply, also check:

• NCLEX pass rates: the Michigan Board of Nursing publishes first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for approved programmes. Look for consistently high rates over several years.
• Accreditation: make sure the BSN is accredited by CCNE or ACEN.
• Getting into the nursing major: many universities admit students as “pre-nursing” first. Ask what share progress into the nursing programme.
• Clinical placements: where students train and how placements are arranged.
• Total cost: use each college’s net price calculator to see your likely cost after financial aid.

Related: US nursing schools with the highest graduation rates · How to get into nursing school

Sources: US Department of Education College Scorecard (accessed November 2026), Michigan Board of Nursing, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Figures change every year; always confirm with the college.