Southwestern Michigan College
Published tuition$6,026 - $14,999
Online programsYes
Best Online Nursing Programs in South Bend, IN (2026)
South Bend, Indiana has 5 accredited schools offering nursing programs, with tuition ranging from $6,026 to $16,152 per year for indexed programs. South Bend has a population of about 102,866. Median household income is $52,512 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 29.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Practitioner at a median $126,220 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Nursing Schools to South Bend
The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer nursing programs near South Bend. Distances are calculated from South Bend city center.
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from South Bend. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Glen Oaks Community College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Ross Medical Education Center-Portage
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programs--
Michigan Career and Technical Institute
Published tuition$8,300 - $16,152
Online programs--
University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Indiana schools on the Indiana nursing page.
Nursing Wages Near South Bend
South Bend is part of the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area (BLS area code 43780). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Indiana statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $93,540 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $100,689 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $65,240 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $70,226 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | N/A | IN statewide | – |
| Nurse Midwife | $101,630 | IN statewide | $109,397 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $126,220 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $135,867 |
| Nursing Assistant | $38,550 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $41,496 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
South Bend at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 102,866 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $52,512 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 29.4% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 92.9 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Nursing-related employment in St. Joseph County | 11,210 workers, 74 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other South Bend-Area Cities With Nursing Programs
- Elkhart, IN – 15.9 mi away (147,181 pop)
- LaPorte, IN – 23.5 mi away (21,732 pop)
- Benton Harbor, MI – 31.7 mi away (60,298 pop)
- Warsaw, IN – 37.0 mi away (32,622 pop)
- Portage, IN – 47.4 mi away (36,505 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited nursing schools are near South Bend, IN?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering nursing programs near South Bend. The closest is Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac, MI (22.1 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne (69.7 miles). 3 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying nursing roles near South Bend?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near South Bend are: Nurse Practitioner ($126,220), Nurse Midwife ($101,630), Registered Nurse ($93,540). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Indiana statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Elkhart instead of South Bend?
Elkhart, IN is 15.9 miles from South Bend and has its own set of local nursing programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is South Bend an affordable place to study nursing?
South Bend’s median household income of $52,512 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in South Bend while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Indiana public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Learn More About Nursing Programs
- Nursing accreditation: what to look for
- Nursing concentrations and specializations
- Is a Nursing degree worth it?
- Main Nursing degree guide
- Online Nursing programs in Indiana
- Nursing programs by state
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Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.