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Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region

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2023 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region

124 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 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 124 schools in the Plains States Region to see which ones were the most popular programs for healthcare students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants program at each school on the list.

Check out the practical nursing programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the Plains States Region .

Our analysis found Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology to be the most popular school for practical nursing and nursing assistants students who want to pursue a degree in the Plains States Region . Located in the rural area of Wichita, WSU Tech is a public school with a small student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from WSU Tech carry an average student debt load of $20,266.

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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Western Iowa Tech Community College is a great place for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the small city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Western Iowa Tech Community College accumulate an average of around $13,346 in student debt.

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#3

Johnson County Community College

Overland Park, KS

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Johnson County Community College is a great place for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. JCCC is a large public school located in the medium-sized city of Overland Park.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at JCCC accumulate an average of around $13,500 in student debt.

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The excellent programs at Des Moines Area Community College 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 . DMACC is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Ankeny.

Practical Nursing majors at DMACC take out an average of $6,366 in student loans while working on their egree.

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Out of the 124 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Minnesota West Community and Technical College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Minnesota West is a small public school located in the remote town of Granite Falls.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Minnesota West Community and Technical College Report

With a ranking of #6, Hutchinson Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the distant town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Hutchinson Community College carry an average student debt load of $14,905.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Hutchinson Community College

Highland Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the rural area of Highland, Highland Community College is a public college with a small student population.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Highland Community College Report

#8

Saint Paul College

Saint Paul, MN

Saint Paul College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Saint Paul College carry an average student debt load of $18,250.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Saint Paul College

Kansas City Kansas Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Kansas City Kansas Community College is a small public school located in the city of Kansas City.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Kansas City Kansas Community College accumulate an average of around $16,681 in student debt.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Kansas City Kansas Community College Report

Washburn Institute of Technology did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #10 on the list. Washburn Tech is a small public school located in the city of Topeka.

Practical Nursing majors at Washburn Tech take out an average of $15,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

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Neosho County Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the remote town of Chanute, Neosho County Community College is a public school with a small student population.

Practical Nursing majors at Neosho County Community College take out an average of $13,137 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Neosho County Community College Report

North Central Kansas Technical College ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the rural area of Beloit, North Central Kansas Technical College is a public college with a small student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at North Central Kansas Technical College accumulate an average of around $13,778 in student debt.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at North Central Kansas Technical College Report

With a ranking of #13, Iowa Central Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the town of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Iowa Central Community College carry an average student debt load of $12,343.

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Salina Area Technical College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the remote town of Salina, Salina Tech is a public school with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Salina Area Technical College

Northland Community and Technical College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the town of Thief River Falls, Northland Community and Technical College is a public college with a small student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Northland Community and Technical College carry an average student debt load of $21,363.

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#16

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, IA

Iowa Western Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #16 on the list. Iowa Western Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the small city of Council Bluffs.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Iowa Western Community College carry an average student debt load of $18,612.

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Anoka Technical College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the large suburb of Anoka, Anoka Technical College is a public school with a small student population.

Practical Nursing majors at Anoka Technical College take out an average of $12,916 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#18

Southeastern Community College

West Burlington, IA

Southeastern Community College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the remote town of West Burlington, Southeastern Community College is a public school with a small student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Southeastern Community College accumulate an average of around $16,800 in student debt.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Southeastern Community College

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional popular schools for Nursing & Nursing Assistants students in the Plains States Region that almost earned our Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region award.

Rank College Location
19 Dodge City Community College Dodge City, KS
20 Garden City Community College Garden City, KS
21 Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis, MN
22 North Iowa Area Community College Mason City, IA
23 Fort Scott Community College Fort Scott, KS
24 Manhattan Area Technical College Manhattan, 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.

  • 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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