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Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region

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2023 Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region

100 Colleges
$37,423 Avg Salary
$16,456 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants School for You

Out of all the majors we analyze each year, practical nursing and nursing assistants was ranked #21 in the country. In fact 84,274 degrees and certificates were handed out in 2020-2021.

Today's healthcare students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Healthcare Degree Search has created the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 100 schools in the Plains States Region to see which ones offered the best programs for healthcare students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region

Check out the practical nursing programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.

Top 15% Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools

#1

Cass Career Center

Harrisonville, MO

Our analysis found Cass Career Center to be the best school for practical nursing and nursing assistants students who want to pursue a degree in the Plains States Region . Cass RIX School District is a small public school located in the fringe town of Harrisonville.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Cass RIX School District take out $13,850 in student loans while working on their degree.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Lex La-Ray Technical Center. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the distant town of Lexington, LLRTC is a public college with a small student population.

Practical Nursing majors at LLRTC take out an average of $15,881 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#3

Applied Technology Services

Sunset Hills, MO

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Applied Technology Services. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the large suburb of Sunset Hills, Applied Technology Services is a public school with a fairly small student population.

Practical Nursing majors at Applied Technology Services take out an average of $16,779 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Applied Technology Services Report

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A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Saline County Career Center is a great place for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the remote town of Marshall, SCCC is a public school with a fairly small student population.

On average, practical nursing graduates from SCCC take out $14,027 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Saline County Career Center Report

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Out of the 100 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Carthage Technical Center landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the town of Carthage, Carthage Technical Center is a public college with a small student population.

Practical Nursing majors at Carthage Technical Center take out an average of $14,995 in student loans while working on their egree.

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Clinton Technical School landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Clinton Technical School is a fairly small public school located in the remote town of Clinton.

Practical Nursing majors at Clinton Technical School take out an average of $20,500 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Clinton Technical School Report

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With a ranking of #7, Washburn Institute of Technology did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Washburn Tech is a small public school located in the medium-sized city of Topeka.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Washburn Tech accumulate an average of around $15,000 in student debt.

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#8

Four Rivers Career Center

Washington, MO

With a ranking of #8, Four Rivers Career Center did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Four Rivers Career Center is a fairly small public school located in the town of Washington.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Four Rivers Career Center take out $14,913 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Four Rivers Career Center Report

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North Dakota State College of Science came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. North Dakota State College of Science is a small public school located in the distant town of Wahpeton.

Practical Nursing majors at North Dakota State College of Science take out an average of $23,197 in student loans while working on their egree.

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Rasmussen University - Minnesota did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #10 on the list. Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a small private for-profit school located in the small city of St. Cloud.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Rasmussen University - Minnesota take out $20,833 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $121, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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Hannibal - LaGrange University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the town of Hannibal, HLGU is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from HLGU carry an average student debtload of $12,635.

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#12

Century College

White Bear Lake, MN

With a ranking of #12, Century College did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the large suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

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Lake Area Technical Institute ranked #13 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region list. LATI is a small public school located in the remote town of Watertown.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at LATI take out is $17,000.

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Texas County Technical College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the remote area of Houston, Bolivar Technical College is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Practical Nursing majors at Bolivar Technical College take out an average of $16,621 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#15

Southeast Technical College

Sioux Falls, SD

With a ranking of #15, Southeast Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Southeast Tech is a small public school located in the rural area of Sioux Falls.

Practical Nursing majors at Southeast Tech take out an average of $19,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

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Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region award.

Rank College Location
16 Rolla Technical Institute/Center Rolla, MO
17 Alexandria Technical & Community College Alexandria, MN
18 Northland Community and Technical College Thief River Falls, MN
19 Kirksville Area Technical Center Kirksville, MO
20 North Central Kansas Technical College Beloit, KS

Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Colleges by State

Explore the best practical nursing and nursing assistants schools for a specific state in the Plains States region.

State Degrees Awarded
Minnesota 22
Nebraska 0
South Dakota 0
North Dakota 70

One of 30 majors within the healthcare area of study, practical nursing and nursing assistants has other similar majors worth exploring.

Practical Nursing Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training 44,900
Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide 34,557
Other Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants 4,817

Majors Similar to Practical Nursing

Related Major Annual Graduates
Nursing 322,592
Health & Medical Administrative Services 89,359
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 84,492
Allied Health Professions 82,308
Public Health 40,596

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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