Find Healthcare Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region

Find Schools Near

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 2023 rankings named Cass Career Center the best school in the Plains States Region for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Cass RIX School District is a small public school located in the 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.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Cass Career Center Report

Out of the 100 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Lex La-Ray Technical Center landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the 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.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Lex La-Ray Technical Center Report

#3

Applied Technology Services

Sunset Hills, MO

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Applied Technology Services is a great place for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the 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.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Applied Technology Services

The excellent programs at Saline County Career Center helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best practical nursing and nursing assistants schools in the Plains States Region . Located in the remote town of Marshall, SCCC is a public college 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

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 fringe town of Carthage, Carthage Technical Center is a public college with a fairly 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.

Read More…

Clinton Technical School came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Clinton Technical School is a fairly small public school located in the 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

Washburn Institute of Technology ranked #7 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region list. 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.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Washburn Institute of Technology Report

#8

Four Rivers Career Center

Washington, MO

Four Rivers Career Center came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. 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.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Four Rivers Career Center

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 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.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at North Dakota State College of Science

Rasmussen University - Minnesota landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a small private for-profit school located in the 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.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Rasmussen University - Minnesota Report

Hannibal - LaGrange University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in the town of Hannibal, HLGU is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Hannibal - LaGrange University

#12

Century College

White Bear Lake, MN

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

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Century College

Lake Area Technical Institute did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #13 on the list. LATI is a small public school located in the town of Watertown.

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

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Lake Area Technical Institute

Texas County Technical College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the remote area of Houston, Bolivar Technical College is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly 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.

Read More…

#15

Southeast Technical College

Sioux Falls, SD

Southeast Technical College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region list. 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.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Southeast Technical College Report

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 colleges 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.

Featured Schools

Find Healthcare Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited healthcare schools across the U.S.