Michigan Nursing Schools And Programs

Michigan has more than 75 state-approved ADN and BSN programs, which is a lot to sort through. This guide narrows it to the schools worth knowing, walks through Michigan licensure, and lays out what nurses earn here. Every program below is accredited.

The Best Nursing Schools in Michigan

The right program depends on your background, goals, and format preference. Use NCLEX-RN pass rates, cost, and location as your first filters.

One of the top-ranked public universities in the country, the University of Michigan began educating nurses in 1891. The school offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. The BSN is a campus-based, lock-step program: you finish one level before moving to the next. The MSN and DNP run on-campus, online, and hybrid.

• Program: BSN; MSN; DNP
• Campus: Ann Arbor
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $1,056 per credit for Michigan residents; $2,654 per credit for out-of-state students
• Admission Requirements: High school transcript, application and fee, prerequisite coursework, one academic teacher evaluation, SAT/ACT scores optional for BSN
• Minimum Time Commitment: Depends on degree type
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2021/2022): 97% first-time pass rate
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $63,552 for bachelor's graduates, according to College Scorecard

Founded by the Presbyterian Church in 1886, Alma College enrolls about 1,340 students. Its four-year BSN pairs a cross-disciplinary science and humanities foundation with practicums, lab work, and clinical placements, plus a study-abroad option for juniors working in clinics in Costa Rica, Peru, or Ecuador.

• Program: BSN
• Campus: Alma
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $47,160 per year
• Admission Requirements: High school diploma, official transcripts, minimum 2.75 GPA; essay; interview
• Minimum Time Commitment: 4 years
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes

Three miles from the state capital, Michigan State University offers undergraduate, MSN, DNP, and Ph.D. nursing degrees. The undergraduate program has three BSN pathways: a traditional BSN for first-time students, an accelerated BSN for second-degree students, and an online RN-to-BSN.

• Program: BSN; MSN; DNP; Ph.D.
• Campus: East Lansing
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $506 per credit for Michigan residents; $1,392 for out-of-state students
• Admission Requirements: Application, two references, a resume, an essay; associate degree in nursing with a 2.75 GPA; all nursing prerequisites; RN license for RN-to-BSN
• Minimum Time Commitment: Depends on degree type
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2021/2022): 92% first-time pass rate
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $61,634 for bachelor's graduates, according to College Scorecard

Andrews University reflects its Seventh-day Adventist foundation of Christian service and holistic health. Its DNP, with family nurse practitioner and nurse educator tracks, lets students move directly from a BSN into doctoral study. Undergraduates choose a 124-credit prelicensure BSN or a fully online RN-to-BSN.

• Program: BSN; DNP
• Campus: Berrien Springs
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
• Tuition: $15,732 per semester
• Admission Requirements: Associate degree in nursing, official transcripts, minimum 2.5 GPA, prerequisite coursework for BSN
• Minimum Time Commitment: Depends on degree type
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2021/2022): 78% first-time pass rate
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $52,107 for bachelor's graduates, according to College Scorecard

Chartered in 1960, Grand Valley State University enrolls thousands in health-related programs. Its MSN and DNP offer specializations in informatics, clinical nurse leader, leadership, and palliative and hospice care. Undergraduate options include a traditional BSN focused on evidence-based practice, an accelerated second-degree BSN, and an online RN-to-BSN, with clinical rotations across medical-surgical, mental health, obstetrics, pediatrics, long-term care, and community health.

• Program: BSN; MSN; DNP
• Campus: Allendale
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $7,314 per semester for Michigan residents; $10,410 for out-of-state students
• Admission Requirements: Minimum 3.0 GPA, prerequisite coursework, an application for BSN
• Minimum Time Commitment: Depends on degree type
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $57,535 for bachelor's graduates, according to College Scorecard

Spring Arbor University, founded as a seminary in 1873, is now an ecumenical Christian institution. Its nursing programs run through a Christian-philosophy lens. Options include a traditional BSN, an online RN-to-BSN, an MSN with an RN-to-MSN track, and an online DNP. The distance formats let RNs study while working full time.

• Program: BSN; MSN; DNP
• Campus: Spring Arbor
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $598 per credit
• Admission Requirements: Application and fees, minimum GPA, 2-3 professional or academic references, official transcripts, prerequisite coursework for BSN
• Minimum Time Commitment: Depends on degree type
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2021/2022): 88% first-time pass rate
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $72,790 for bachelor's graduates, according to College Scorecard

On the southern shore of Lake Superior, Northern Michigan University prepares nurses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Bachelor's options include a traditional BSN, LPN-to-BSN, and online RN-to-BSN. The graduate program offers an MSN with a family nurse practitioner track and a DNP with post-baccalaureate and post-master's tracks.

• Program: BSN; MSN; DNP
• Campus: Marquette
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $491 per credit for Michigan residents; $720 for out-of-state residents
• Admission Requirements: Application, prerequisite coursework, minimum 2.75 GPA
• Minimum Time Commitment: Depends on degree type
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $56,776 for bachelor's graduates, according to College Scorecard

Macomb Community College runs a 67-credit associate of applied science in nursing that prepares students for RN licensure, covering health assessment, clinical nursing, and fundamentals. The Michigan Transfer Agreement makes it straightforward for AAS graduates to move credits into a BSN program.

• Program: AAS in nursing
• Campus: Warren, Michigan
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
• Tuition: $111 per credit for Macomb County residents; $265 for out-of-state students
• Admission Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent; official transcripts; minimum 2.0 GPA in prerequisites; ATI TEAS exam
• Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2021/2022): 93% first-time pass rate
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $56,993 for associate graduates, according to College Scorecard

Oakland Community College offers an affordable associate of applied science in nursing that prepares graduates for the NCLEX-RN and entry-level positions, with clinical experience at William Beaumont, Henry Ford Health, Ascension Health, and Detroit Medical Center. AAS graduates can transfer credits to four-year schools through articulation agreements, and the college also runs an LPN-to-ADN track.

• Program: AAS in nursing
• Campus: Bloomfield Hills
• Type: Public
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
• Tuition: $107 per credit for Oakland County residents; $205 for out-of-district students
• Admission Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent; official transcripts; HESI exam
• Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes
• School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate (2021/2022): 88% first-time pass rate
• Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $55,813 for associate graduates, according to College Scorecard

The University of Olivet, founded in 1844, provides aid, grants, or scholarships to all of its students. RNs can pursue an online RN-to-BSN in a flexible eight-week course format. A part-time partnership with Kellogg Community College lets students earn a BSN alongside their AAS while working full time in their final two years.

• Program: RN-to-BSN
• Campus: Olivet
• Type: Private
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• Tuition: $410 per credit
• Admission Requirements: Associate degree in nursing, valid RN license, minimum 2.0 GPA, one letter of recommendation
• Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
• On-Campus Requirements: Yes

How to Choose a Nursing Program in Michigan

Weigh tuition and costs, format (online, on-campus, or hybrid), curriculum, NCLEX-RN pass rate, and location. If you go online, confirm you can secure clinical placement in your own community first.

Why Become a Nurse in Michigan

Michigan employs more than 100,000 nurses across its hospitals and health systems, and demand keeps growing in line with national trends. Pay sits a bit below the national figure, but so does the cost of living, with a cost-of-living index around 91 against the national 100. You also get a range of settings, from college cities like Ann Arbor to rural areas with strong access to the outdoors.

Michigan has enacted the Nurse Licensure Compact but has not yet implemented it, so a multistate compact license is not currently usable for practice in the state. Until implementation finishes, nurses must hold a Michigan license.

Salary and Job Outlook for Nurses in Michigan

Michigan RNs earn an average of about $86,210 a year (BLS), below the national median of $93,600, though the lower cost of living offsets much of that gap. Nurse practitioners earn well above the RN figure.

Employment prospects are solid. In the 2020 Survey of Michigan Nurses, 68% of respondents said it was easy to find a position. Ann Arbor, home to the University of Michigan's academic medical center, holds the highest concentration of nursing jobs and the top pay in the state. Ranked highest to lowest, the top-paying Michigan metros for RNs are Ann Arbor, Flint, Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, Lansing-East Lansing, and Kalamazoo-Portage (BLS).

Steps to Becoming a Nurse in Michigan

Like other states, Michigan requires a nursing degree, a passing NCLEX-RN score, a background check, and an application to the state board of nursing. Michigan also requires that you answer moral-character questions and complete training on recognizing and responding to human trafficking.

RN Requirements

Graduate from an ADN or BSN program and pass the NCLEX-RN. Submit official transcripts to the Michigan State Board of Nursing, pass a background check, answer moral-character questions, complete the human-trafficking training, and pay a $208.10 fee.

APRN Requirements

You need a valid Michigan RN license plus an MSN or DNP, and you must pass national board certification. If you plan to prescribe controlled substances, obtain a Drug Enforcement Administration number. The board lists all requirements on its site.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing in Michigan

How long is nursing school in Michigan?

An ADN typically takes two years full time; a BSN takes four. If you already hold a degree in another field, you may qualify for an accelerated program.

What is the salary for new nurses in Michigan?

RN pay in Michigan spans roughly $55,000 to $90,000 (BLS), and new nurses tend to start near the lower end. Pay varies by location, specialty, and certifications, and many hospitals offer signing bonuses.

Are nurses in demand in Michigan?

Yes. Michigan's large hospital systems keep demand steady, and a sizable share of the current workforce is nearing retirement, according to a state survey.

What are the steps to become a nurse in Michigan?

Earn a two-year ADN or four-year BSN, pass the NCLEX-RN, clear a background check, complete the human-trafficking training, answer moral-character questions, and apply to the state board of nursing.