Compare tuition, NCLEX outcomes, and program formats for BSN programs near Southfield — ranked and reviewed for 2026.
A two-year ADN can get you into a hospital unit quickly, but metro Detroit’s large health systems, including Corewell Health, Henry Ford Health, and the Detroit Medical Center, now heavily favor BSN-prepared candidates for new positions. Southfield residents, located at the junction of I-696 and the Lodge Freeway, can reach more than a dozen accredited BSN programs within a half-hour drive.
The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro employs roughly 62,000 RNs, and Michigan’s Bureau of Labor Market Information projects about 3,500 annual openings in the region through 2030, thanks to both growth and retirements.
The steady shift toward BSN-prepared staff means your program choice directly shapes your placement opportunities and earning trajectory.
Our ranking of the best nursing schools near Southfield considers institutional outcomes, affordability, and the relevance of program formats for metro Detroit students. The list includes both large research universities and private colleges with strong clinical partnerships in the area. Whether you need a traditional BSN, an accelerated second-degree path, or a direct-entry MSN, these programs offer solid footing for a Michigan nursing career.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Wayne State University | Detroit, MI | $13,000/yr | Career changers focused on urban health | |
Wayne State University delivers a rigorous BSN in Detroit, with multiple entry paths tailored to first-year, transfer, second-degree, and veteran students. The program is nationally ranked and consistently posts licensure exam pass rates above state and national averages, preparing graduates to lead in urban healthcare settings. Its net price around $12,800 and median graduate debt near $21,250 make it an affordable route to a high-demand career.
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| #2 | University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit, MI | $15,000/yr | Early clinical exposure in Jesuit tradition | |
University of Detroit Mercy, a Jesuit institution, provides a BSN grounded in liberal arts and ethical decision-making, with clinical rotations beginning sophomore year. The program reports a 96% NCLEX pass rate and near-universal job placement after graduation. For career changers holding a bachelor’s in another field, a 20-month Direct Entry MSN pathway offers an accelerated route to RN licensure and advanced preparation.
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| #3 | University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | $18,000 – $61,000/yr | Research university with global health options | |
The University of Michigan School of Nursing is a research-intensive BSN program that integrates over 1,000 clinical hours with a low student-to-faculty ratio and opportunities for global health study. Graduates benefit from the university’s powerful alumni network and strong median earnings ($83,648 at 10 years), while relatively low net price ($13,138) and median debt ($19,500) keep the degree affordable. Its Ann Arbor campus is within commuting distance for many Southfield residents.
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| #4 | Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI | $16,000 – $44,000/yr | ||
Michigan State University’s traditional BSN, delivered in East Lansing with additional nursing sites in Detroit, admits students into a full-time six-semester professional sequence after prerequisites. A 90% first-time NCLEX pass rate and a graduating class of over 120 students reflect strong preparation and scale. The program also offers a Nurse Scholar pathway for high-achieving high school seniors.
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| #5 | Michigan Technological University | Houghton, MI | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | ||
Michigan Technological University blends a technological university approach with nursing, offering over 1,000 clinical hours and a 100% job placement rate for graduates. The program’s small class sizes, no waiting list, and advanced simulation technology create a straightforward path to a BSN, although the Houghton campus is a significant drive from metro Detroit.
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| #6 | Spring Arbor University | Spring Arbor, MI | $19,000/yr | ||
Spring Arbor University delivers a Christ-centered BSN that integrates spiritual and physical health assessments, requiring 87 nursing credits. About one-quarter of campus nursing students are athletes, highlighting the program’s flexibility, though its main campus in Spring Arbor is over an hour from Southfield.
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| #7 | Alpena Community College | Alpena, MI | ~$3,000/yr (est.) | ||
Alpena Community College offers an associate degree nursing program with a four-semester curriculum and a net price of just $3,320, making it one of the most affordable options in Michigan. However, its campus in Alpena sits in the northern Lower Peninsula, far from the Detroit metro area.
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| #8 | Andrews University | Berrien Springs, MI | $10,000 – $15,000/yr | ||
Andrews University’s pre-licensure BSN is a four-year campus program in Berrien Springs requiring a 3.0 GPA and the ATI TEAS exam. With a net price around $12,550 and median graduate debt of $26,000, it offers a strong return for students willing to relocate to southwest Michigan.
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| #9 | Calvin University | Grand Rapids, MI | $23,000/yr (net price) | ||
Calvin University, located in Grand Rapids, combines a Christian faith perspective with rigorous BSN coursework, culminating in clinicals at top regional hospitals. The program consistently produces high NCLEX pass rates and emphasizes service and community engagement.
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| #10 | Hope College | Holland, MI | $27,000/yr (net price) | ||
Hope College offers a selective BSN program admitting about 45 students each year, built on a liberal arts foundation with over 500 clinical hours. Its Holland campus may appeal to students seeking a small-college environment in western Michigan.
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Nursing schools are evaluated today less by prestige and more by measurable student outcomes. This ranking emphasizes data points that directly affect your education and career launch, so you can compare programs with confidence.
We consider four core dimensions: net price after financial aid, institution-wide graduation rates, availability of program formats (on-campus, hybrid, or online BSN tracks), and post-graduation outcomes like employment and earnings. Net price is an average across all undergraduates who receive aid: your own cost may differ based on your financial situation. Similarly, graduation rates reflect the entire institution, not just nursing majors, but they signal the overall support environment you will step into.
NCLEX pass rates and clinical placement quality are essential, but we cover those separately because they rely on external reporting from licensing boards and partner hospitals. Detailed NCLEX data and clinical partnership maps appear in their own sections, letting you weigh academic value alongside hands-on training readiness.
NCLEX pass rates are the single most reliable public outcome metric for nursing programs, and Southfield-area students should consult official state reports rather than relying solely on self-reported program websites.
The Michigan Board of Nursing publishes annual nursing education program reports that break down NCLEX-RN pass rates by school and year. The most recent available report covers the 2024 testing cycle and includes information for BSN programs within 50 miles of Southfield. You can download these reports directly from the Michigan Board of Nursing's NCLEX Score Summary 2024 or request a copy by contacting their office. The data typically includes the number of first-time test takers, the number who passed, and the resulting pass rate percentage. This is the authoritative source for licensing exam performance in the state.
Based on the 2024 Michigan Board of Nursing report, several BSN programs within commuting distance of Southfield had published outcomes. These include Wayne State University, University of Detroit Mercy, Oakland University, Madonna University, Eastern Michigan University, and Chamberlain College of Nursing-Troy. Each of these schools had candidates and a recorded pass rate for that year, allowing direct comparison. Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield, however, does not appear in that 2024 report, and its NCLEX pass rate is not publicly available through state data sources.1 Prospective students interested in this program should contact the college directly or check its website under accreditation or outcomes sections to request the latest figures.
For broader context, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) publishes national and state-level NCLEX pass rate averages. These averages give you a baseline to evaluate how individual programs stack up. While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not track pass rates itself, its occupational outlook pages confirm the licensure requirements for registered nurses in Michigan, reinforcing the importance of NCLEX success for employment eligibility. Always verify that any pass rate information you receive, whether from a school's marketing materials or an online forum, matches the official licensing board data.
Nursing students in BSN programs near Southfield gain experience across the region's largest health systems. Wayne State University students primarily rotate through the Detroit Medical Center (DMC) and Henry Ford Health, with additional placements at Corewell Health (formerly Beaumont) and Ascension St. John. Oakland University sends students to Corewell Health Royal Oak and Troy as primary sites, plus rotations at Henry Ford Health, Ascension, and DMC. Madonna University concentrates clinical rotations at Corewell Health Farmington Hills and Dearborn, supplemented by Henry Ford Health, DMC, and Ascension. University of Detroit Mercy students train at Henry Ford Health, DMC, and Ascension St. John, with secondary sites at Corewell Health Royal Oak and Farmington Hills. Arizona College of Nursing Southfield typically connects students with Corewell Health and Henry Ford Health for clinical hours.1
The depth and location of clinical rotations depend on each school's established agreements and student demand. Programs with multiple primary partnerships, like Wayne State and Oakland, offer broader exposure to diverse hospital cultures and patient populations. Schools with more concentrated affiliations may provide deeper relationships but fewer settings. Students should investigate whether their program guarantees placements in preferred units or facilities, as competition for limited clinical spots can affect scheduling and specialization opportunities.
Strong clinical partnerships often serve as informal hiring pipelines. Health systems like Henry Ford Health use centralized platforms such as ACEMAPP to recruit nursing students for externships and eventual full-time roles.2 Completing rotations at a facility lets students demonstrate their skills, learn the organization's workflows, and network with potential managers. Many graduates secure job offers from the same hospitals where they trained, making clinical site selection a strategic consideration for aspiring nurses in Southfield.
Arizona College of Nursing Southfield requires a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA for admission to its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program1, making it an accessible on-ramp for students with non-traditional academic backgrounds. Applicants must also take the HESI A2 entrance exam and achieve at least a 60% overall score.2
Unlike many BSN programs that demand completion of anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and statistics before starting, Arizona College integrates these sciences directly into its three-year curriculum.4 This structure can shorten the pre-nursing phase for students who have not yet taken those courses. However, students should note that the program is delivered entirely on-ground at the Southfield campus, with no hybrid or online didactic components.3
For students who bring prior college credits or an associate degree in nursing (ADN), credit transfer is evaluated on a course-by-course basis.4 Not all credits will transfer, so applicants should work closely with admissions to map their existing coursework to the BSN requirements. In the broader Detroit metro area, universities like Oakland University and Wayne State University offer dedicated RN-to-BSN tracks for licensed ADN nurses. Those pathways typically build on existing nursing expertise and can often be completed on a flexible schedule.
Arizona College does not offer an accelerated BSN track for career changers.4 Second-degree students hoping to transition into nursing quickly should investigate accelerated programs at other nearby institutions, many of which can be completed in 12 to 18 months for those who already hold a bachelor’s degree and have fulfilled science prerequisites. While Arizona College's BSN provides a straightforward entry for first-time nursing students, those with scheduling constraints may need to evaluate whether the on-ground, daytime format aligns with their availability.
Registered nurses in the Detroit metropolitan area earn competitive wages. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for RNs in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro area was $81,140 in 2024, with the top 10% earning over $111,200. While this figure is slightly below the Michigan statewide median of $85,670 and the national median of $86,070, it remains well above the regional living wage and reflects the high demand for skilled nursing professionals.
RN pay in metro Detroit can vary based on experience, specialization, and employer. At the 25th percentile, nurses earn around $72,470, while those at the 75th percentile make approximately $88,980. The mean annual wage of $78,790 suggests a solid earning floor that new graduates can typically exceed after gaining experience.
The long-term outlook for nursing jobs in Michigan remains positive. While the state's RN employment grew 1.8% between 2021 and 2023, national projections indicate that demand will persist. The BLS projects 5% growth for registered nursing nationwide from 2024 to 2034, translating to about 189,100 openings each year due to both expansion and retirements. With over 100,000 RNs already employed in Michigan, even modest growth creates thousands of opportunities annually, particularly in large healthcare hubs like Detroit.
Beyond occupation-wide wages, institutional earnings data offers insight into the potential return on a nursing degree. Although program-level earnings are not yet available, the median income of alumni from leading Michigan nursing schools is encouraging. For instance, University of Michigan graduates report a median income of $83,648 ten years after entry, closely aligning with the statewide median for all RNs. Michigan Technological University alumni see $78,198, while graduates from the University of Detroit Mercy earn $71,030, and those from Lawrence Technological University in Southfield earn $69,151. These figures, while not nursing-specific, suggest that BSN graduates from these institutions are well-positioned to meet or exceed the metro area's typical RN salary.
Prospective nursing students often have questions about program quality, costs, and logistics. Below we answer the most common inquiries about BSN programs near Southfield, Michigan, drawing on research and school-reported data.
Beyond the top-ranked programs, Southfield residents can access many other quality nursing schools across Michigan. The following directory lists additional BSN and ADN programs, with links to individual school pages for details on admissions, costs, and curricula.
