Top Nursing Schools in Michigan
| Rank | School Name | Score | Tuition | Student/Teacher ratio | Program count | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Shore Community College | 98.00 | $$$$$ | 13:1 | 1 | 20% |
| 2 | Glen Oaks Community College | 96.25 | $$$$$ | 13:1 | 1 | 26% |
| 3 | Alpena Community College | 94.00 | $$$$$ | 13:1 | 1 | 35% |
| 4 | Washtenaw Community College | 94.00 | $$$$$ | 19:1 | 1 | 17% |
| 5 | Lansing Community College | 93.00 | $$$$$ | 13:1 | 1 | 11% |
| 6 | Gogebic Community College | 92.50 | $$$$$ | 15:1 | 1 | 34% |
| 7 | Montcalm Community College | 92.00 | $$$$$ | 16:1 | 1 | 16% |
| 8 | Kellogg Community College | 91.00 | $$$$$ | 16:1 | 1 | 14% |
| 9 | Kirtland Community College | 90.75 | $$$$$ | 18:1 | 1 | 17% |
| 10 | Delta College | 90.50 | $$$$$ | 17:1 | 1 | 12% |
| 11 | St Clair County Community College | 90.50 | $$$$$ | 18:1 | 1 | 18% |
| 12 | Monroe County Community College | 90.00 | $$$$$ | 19:1 | 1 | 14% |
| 13 | Southwestern Michigan College | 90.00 | $$$$$ | 17:1 | 1 | 20% |
| 14 | Bay College | 90.00 | $$$$$ | 15:1 | 1 | 16% |
| 15 | Grand Rapids Community College | 89.50 | $$$$$ | 20:1 | 1 | 13% |
| 16 | North Central Michigan College | 88.75 | $$$$$ | 16:1 | 1 | 8% |
| 17 | Kalamazoo Valley Community College | 88.25 | $$$$$ | 22:1 | 1 | 10% |
| 18 | Wayne County Community College District | 88.25 | $$$$$ | 24:1 | 1 | 10% |
| 19 | Muskegon Community College | 88.00 | $$$$$ | 20:1 | 1 | 18% |
| 20 | Schoolcraft College | 87.75 | $$$$$ | 25:1 | 1 | 17% |
| 21 | Oakland Community College | 87.50 | $$$$$ | 25:1 | 1 | 8% |
| 22 | Macomb Community College | 87.50 | $$$$$ | 28:1 | 1 | 12% |
| 23 | Henry Ford Community College | 87.25 | $$$$$ | 24:1 | 1 | 6% |
| 24 | Mid Michigan Community College | 86.50 | $$$$$ | 21:1 | 1 | 12% |
| 25 | Mott Community College | 86.25 | $$$$$ | 19:1 | 1 | 10% |
| Rank | School Name | Score | Tuition | Student/Teacher ratio | Program count | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | 91.50 | $$$$$ | 12:1 | 5 | 91% |
| 2 | Madonna University | 90.00 | $$$$$ | 11:1 | 1 | 50% |
| 3 | Andrews University | 89.00 | $$$$$ | 9:1 | 8 | 59% |
| 4 | Michigan State University | 87.25 | $$$$$ | 17:1 | 8 | 79% |
| 5 | University of Detroit Mercy | 87.00 | $$$$$ | 13:1 | 2 | 54% |
| 6 | Grand Valley State University | 86.50 | $$$$$ | 17:1 | 12 | 65% |
| 7 | University of Michigan-Flint | 86.25 | $$$$$ | 15:1 | 6 | 34% |
| 8 | Spring Arbor University | 86.25 | $$$$$ | 12:1 | 14 | 54% |
| 9 | Northern Michigan University | 86.00 | $$$$$ | 21:1 | 6 | 48% |
| 10 | Hope College | 86.00 | $$$$$ | 12:1 | 17 | 80% |
| 11 | Saginaw Valley State University | 85.75 | $$$$$ | 18:1 | 8 | 40% |
| 12 | Wayne State University | 85.50 | $$$$$ | 15:1 | 2 | 34% |
| 13 | Siena Heights University | 85.50 | $$$$$ | 11:1 | 17 | 51% |
| 14 | Aquinas College | 85.50 | $$$$$ | 13:1 | 8 | 52% |
| 15 | Lake Michigan College | 85.25 | $$$$$ | 15:1 | 17 | 15% |
| 16 | Oakland University | 85.25 | $$$$$ | 21:1 | 4 | 46% |
| 17 | Western Michigan University | 85.25 | $$$$$ | 18:1 | 14 | 54% |
| 18 | Calvin College | 85.25 | $$$$$ | 12:1 | 17 | 74% |
| 19 | Rochester College | 84.75 | $$$$$ | 11:1 | 17 | 45% |
| 20 | Lake Superior State University | 84.50 | $$$$$ | 16:1 | 17 | 46% |
| 21 | Ferris State University | 84.50 | $$$$$ | 16:1 | 12 | 43% |
| 22 | Northwestern Michigan College | 84.00 | $$$$$ | 18:1 | 17 | 19% |
| 23 | Finlandia University | 83.75 | $$$$$ | 9:1 | 17 | 36% |
| 24 | Eastern Michigan University | 83.25 | $$$$$ | 18:1 | 14 | 37% |
| 25 | Baker College of Cadillac | 82.50 | $$$$$ | 18:1 | 17 | 13% |
| 26 | Baker College Center for Graduate Studies | 82.50 | $$$$$ | 13:1 | 17 | 20% |
| 27 | Davenport University | 82.25 | $$$$$ | 14:1 | 17 | 40% |
| 28 | Baker College of Owosso | 80.75 | $$$$$ | 27:1 | 17 | 15% |
| 29 | Baker College of Muskegon | 80.50 | $$$$$ | 33:1 | 17 | 15% |
| 30 | Baker College of Auburn Hills | 80.25 | $$$$$ | 22:1 | 17 | 11% |
| 31 | Baker College of Clinton Township | 80.00 | $$$$$ | 25:1 | 17 | 12% |
| 32 | Baker College of Flint | 79.50 | $$$$$ | 24:1 | 17 | 9% |
| 33 | Baker College of Allen Park | 78.75 | $$$$$ | 35:1 | 17 | 10% |
Approved Nursing Schools in Michigan
The Michigan Board of Nursing approves both undergraduate and graduate nursing programs in the state. Use the search tool below to explore community colleges, private technical schools and universities in Michigan with accredited nursing programs.
Requirements for MI Nursing Licenses
In order to earn a professional license in Michigan, nurses must adhere to the standards set forth by the Michigan Board of Nursing. This agency is responsible for regulating nursing school programs, investigating professional infractions, and revoking licenses when necessary.
Earning a License by Exam or Endorsement
Nurses seeking licensure to practice in Michigan need to do four things:
- Graduate from a nursing program approved by the Michigan Board of Nursing, either in or out of the state
- Fill out an application and send $54 to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, under which the nursing board falls
- Submit fingerprints and have a background check conducted
- Register for the NCLEX-RN with Pearson VUE, pay a $200 exam fee and pass the test within 90 days of receiving an authorization to test (ATT)
Those who already hold an RN license in another state, but move to and want to practice in Michigan must follow a slightly different set of steps:
- Verify their existing licensure
- Fill out an application and send $54 to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
- Submit fingerprints and have a background check conducted
License Renewal Requirements in Michigan
Initial RN licenses are only good for four months to one year, depending on when they are granted. During this initial licensure period, no continuing education is required. After that, licenses must be renewed every two years at a cost of $74. Over the course of those two years, RNs must complete 25 contact hours of continuing education, one hour of which must be in pain and pain symptom management.
Advanced Practice Specialty Licensure in MI
There are three types of advanced practice registered nurses in Michigan: nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists and nurse midwives. To practice as an APRN, nurses must:
- Be licensed as a Michigan RN
- Be nationally certified (for nurse midwives, certification must come from the American Midwifery Certification Board; for nurse anesthetists, it comes from the American Association of Nurse Anesthetist Council on Certification or the Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists)
- Fill out the Nurse Specialty Certification application and pay a check for either $52 (for RNs with licenses expiring in less then four months or more than 13) or $38 (for RNs with licenses expiring in between five and 12 months)
For more information about licensing, including details on nurses with special circumstances, visit the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.
Michigan Nursing Numbers: Now and Tomorrow
The number of available nursing jobs in the US is expected to increase 16 percent from 2014 to 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Half of that growth will be generated by just ten states, one of which is Michigan. The advanced practice nursing areas are also expected to expand in the state at a steady pace, growing by more than 11 percent in just a decade. To get in-depth data on what Michigan pays its sizable nursing workforce, check the figures below.
Top-Paying Areas for RNs in Michigan
| Area | Hourly Median Wage | Annual Median Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills MI Metropolitan Division | $33.81 | $70,330 |
| Ann Arbor | $33.31 | $69,280 |
| Detroit-Warren-Livonia | $33.29 | $69,240 |
| Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn MI Metropolitan Division | $32.70 | $68,010 |
| Bay City | $32.68 | $67,970 |
| Flint | $31.88 | $66,300 |
| Battle Creek | $30.95 | $64,370 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage | $30.90 | $64,260 |
| Jackson | $30.40 | $63,220 |
| Saginaw-Saginaw Township North | $30.00 | $62,400 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014
Michigan vs. National Numbers
- Michigan
- National
- Annual Salary (25th percentile)
- Annual Salary (median)
- Annual Salary (75th percentile)
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014 and Projections Central
Professional Resources for Michigan RNs
By its own count, MANA represents 2,300 nurse anesthetists and students. It runs both a scholarship fund to grow the profession and a political action committee to finance lawmakers’ campaigns.
The Michigan Association of School Nurses works to advance the school nursing profession and protect the health and well being of Michigan’s school children. Nursing students and recent graduates can use the association’s website to search for jobs, while school nursing veterans can network and get involved in MASN’s advocacy campaigns.
The Michigan Board of Nursing is the state’s licensing body for the profession. Its website is designed to convey everything students, recent graduates and practicing nurses need to know about the licensure process.
With five regional chapters, the Michigan Emergency Nurses Association has acted as the voice of emergency nurses in the state since 1985. Its national organization is the Emergency Nurses Association, which has nearly 40,000 members across the U.S.
The Michigan Nurses Association addresses the professional and political issues registered nurses face in the state. As a union, it protects workers’ rights and advocates the state legislature for pro-nursing policies.
The Michigan Nursing Students Association provides a strong professional community for those studying nursing. It offers multiple scholarships each year, which are awarded at its annual convention.