Best Nursing Schools in Michigan: Top Online & Campus Programs for 2023

The University of Michigan School of Nursing offers programming that produces highly skilled nurses at every level of practice. The main course of study for this nursing program in Michigan includes classroom-based instruction and over 1,000 hours of hands-on-clinical training, resulting in NCLEX- and licensure-ready BSNs. Students can select a concentration in global health or occupational health and benefit from ten different specialties in areas like gerontology, pediatrics, midwifery, and primary care. Each program holds state approval and accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

The school offers advanced courses of study in addition to its BSN program. Designed for experienced nurses looking to further their skills, these offerings include an MSN (with online options) and two doctoral programs. All University of Michigan students receive supervised practicum experiences through clinical placements at 600 healthcare facilities across the state. The school also extends financial aid opportunities to qualified students.

Michigan State University is one of the premier institutions of higher learning in Michigan, so it’s no surprise that its College of Nursing provides a plethora of nursing programs options to prospective students. At the undergraduate level, there are three BSN pathways available: the traditional BSN, the accelerated second degree BSN and the BSN for registered nurses, with this latter program delivering course instruction through largely web-based means.

For students interested in graduate study, Michigan State University offers: an MSN program with four concentrations, a DNP program with five concentrations, and a PhD in nursing program for aspiring nurse scientists. Regardless of which degree program an individual enrolls in, they’ll graduate from a Commission on College Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited program and be eligible to receive scholarships that are exclusively for Michigan State University College of Nursing students.

Madonna University offers traditional, in-person nursing instruction and several online nursing programs. The online options include an accelerated BSN for career-changers, a RN-to-BSN program, an MSN in nursing leadership, and a doctor of nursing practice (DNP). Each program uses a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning to deliver core coursework.

Students interested in campus-based learning can pursue a traditional BSN or an MSN with a concentration in gerontology or family nurse practitioner. The traditional BSN also accepts students with active practical nursing credentials, ensuring a swift pathway to licensure that recognizes their previous experience. The school offers several postgraduate nursing certificates using online and in-person learning formats. Madonna University further supports students through a nursing students association, financial aid opportunities, and a nursing honor society.

Northwestern Michigan College offers an online nursing option designed for full-time students that leads to an ADN. It admits new students annually and delivers all nursing courses and academic classes using online formats for optimal flexibility and convenience. These courses cover the same content areas as in-person offerings and are to be completed in a specified sequence. In their final term, students choose an elective that supports their interests and broadens their experience.

In-person requirements for this program include proctored exams, lab experiences, and all clinical courses and supervised placements. Northwestern Michigan College maintains articulation agreements with several institutions in the region, meaning that courses taken at one will count toward degree completion at the other. It also holds state approval and accreditation with the ACEN. Recent courses include advanced pharmacology, nursing fundamentals, acute care, mental health nursing, and care across the lifespan. Graduates are fully prepared to complete the NCLEX-RN exam and obtain state-level licensure.

Central Michigan University offers an online RN-to-BSN completion program. Designed for incoming undergraduate students, the program requires 120 credits and includes general education coursework, core nursing instruction, specialized study, and electives. Transfer students can bring in up to 90 credits earned at a regionally accredited institution, significantly reducing their time in school. As a result, many students graduate in 12 months or less. Like other programs, Central Michigan’s course of study delivers coursework online and requires in-person attendance for all clinical training and supervised fieldwork.

Core courses in the program look at issues in cultural diversity, nursing leadership in healthcare delivery, health assessment, and research methods (including a required statistics class). Students choose from electives in subjects like nursing finance, informatics, and case management. Applicants to this program need an active, unencumbered Michigan RN license. Those preparing for the NCLEX-RN exam can receive provisional admission in some cases.

Grand Valley State University’s online nursing programs in Michigan include an RN-to-BSN bridge pathway, an MSN, and a DNP. Each program uses hybrid formats to deliver material. For the RN-to-BSN bridge program, students access academic course content using interactive tools in a virtual learning environment. They can then move to hands-on, clinical requirements much faster and, as a result, many finish their studies in just over a year.

The graduate programs use similar hybrid formats and prepare working professionals for advanced practice. Regardless of degree level, all students receive a dedicated advisor to provide help throughout the course of study. Housed within Grand Valley State’s Kirkhof College of Nursing, these programs maintain CCNE accreditation and state approval. They also award over 35 scholarships to new and returning nursing students.