Nursing in Michigan
Michigan has 89 nursing schools running 111 board-approved programs, and the median RN program’s first-time NCLEX pass rate was 86.5%. Registered nurses here earn a median of $94,300; nurse practitioners, $131,450. Michigan is not a compact state. Every figure below names its source and the period it covers.
Nursing Schools in Michigan
98 of Michigan’s 111 programs have a published 2025 first-time pass rate. RN programs averaged 85.2% — 1.3 points below the 86.5% national average. Practical nursing programs averaged 87.3%.
| Degree | Programs | Median pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Associate (ADN) | 36 | 89.6% (32 rated) |
| Bachelor’s (BSN) | 40 | 83.5% (38 rated) |
Both degrees lead to the same RN license. ADN vs BSN, compared nationally →
Highest first-time pass rates (2025)
In-state RN programs. Ties go to the program with more nursing graduates. A single year’s rate swings widely for small programs; check the trend before you choose.
- Grand Rapids Community CollegeGrand Rapids · Registered Nurse Programs - Associate Degree100%
- Bay de Noc Community CollegeEscanaba · Registered Nurse Programs - Associate Degree100%
- University of Detroit-Mercy- Grand RapidsGrand Rapids · Registered Nurse Programs - Baccalaureate Degree100%
- Muskegon Community CollegeMuskegon · Registered Nurse Programs - Associate Degree98.7%
- Baker College – Royal OakRoyal Oak · Registered Nurse Programs - Baccalaureate Degree97.9%
What Nurses Earn in Michigan
Federal wage survey data (BLS OEWS, May 2025) — employer-reported, not job-board estimates. The RN median in Michigan is $3,250 below the $97,550 national median; the NP median is $850 below the $132,300 national NP median.
| Michigan | Registered nurse | Nurse practitioner |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $94,300 | $131,450 |
| Median hourly | $45.34 | $63.20 |
| Starting range (10th pct.) | $77,260 | $101,640 |
| Top earners (90th pct.) | $116,710 | $165,870 |
| Employed in state | 104,950 | 8,290 |
Licensing in Michigan
Michigan is not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact. A Michigan license covers Michigan only, and a nurse licensed in another state needs a separate Michigan license to practice here (licensure by endorsement).
Either way the license starts the same: graduate from a board-approved program and pass the NCLEX. Fees, processing times, and continuing-education rules are set by the Michigan board of nursing and change — confirm them with the board directly. The board documents these pass rates came from: Approved list dated July 1, 2026; pass rates = CY2025 (Jan 1-Dec 31, 2025), Pearson VUE report dated 02-Jan-2026.
Sources
- First-time NCLEX pass rates by programEach state board of nursing — the exact board documents are linked on every state page · Data: 2025 first-time test takers · Checked
- Program cost, completion, and graduate earningsU.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Checked
- Registered nurse wages and employment (SOC 29-1141)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · Data: May 2025 · Checked
- Nurse practitioner wages and employment (SOC 29-1171)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · Data: May 2025 · Checked
- Nurse Licensure Compact member states and implementation datesNational Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) · Checked
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing schools are in Michigan?
Michigan has 89 nursing schools running 111 board-approved programs — 77 RN programs and 34 practical nursing programs (state board of nursing list, 2025 pass-rate year).
What is the NCLEX pass rate in Michigan?
The median Michigan RN program's first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate was 86.5%, and the average across programs was 85.2% — 1.3 points below the 86.5% national average (2025 first-time test takers, from the state board of nursing).
How much do nurses make in Michigan?
Registered nurses in Michigan earn a median of $94,300 a year ($45.34 an hour), $3,250 below the national RN median. Nurse practitioners earn a median of $131,450 (BLS, May 2025).
Is Michigan a compact nursing state?
Michigan is not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact. A Michigan license covers Michigan only, and a nurse licensed in another state needs a separate Michigan license to practice here (licensure by endorsement). Source: NCSBN compact map, checked September 17, 2026.
Nursing in other states
Keep going
- Degree pathwayADN vs BSNBoth degrees lead to the same RN license. Here is how associate and bachelor’s programs actually compare on NCLEX pass rates, graduate debt, and earnings.
- GuideADN vs BSN: Which Nursing Program Should You Choose?Compare ADN and prelicensure BSN pathways by time, total cost, admission, clinical logistics, employer expectations, and bridge options—not prestige alone.
- FinderCheapest RN programs in the U.S.The lowest-cost RN programs nationally, with their NCLEX pass rates alongside.
- FinderCompare nursing schoolsPut any nursing programs side by side on pass rate, cost, and outcomes.
- GuideHow Competitive Is Nursing School Admission?Estimate nursing-school competitiveness using seats, qualified applicants, point rubrics, recent cutoffs, attrition, and the parts of your application you can still change.
- Degree pathwayLPN to RNThe pay difference between a practical nurse and a registered nurse, and how practical-nursing and RN programs compare on pass rates, debt, and graduate earnings.