2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
Finding the Best Nursing School for You
In 2020-2021, 322,592 degrees and certificates were awarded to nursing students, making the major the most popular in the country.
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for healthcare students. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
The Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking is one of many tools that Healthcare Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 193 schools in the Plains States Region to see which ones offered the best value programs for nursing students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
Top 25 Best Plains States Region Schools for Affordable Quality in Nursing
Our analysis found Oglala Lakota College to be the best value school for nursing students who want to pursue a degree in the Plains States Region . Oglala Lakota College is a small public school located in the remote area of Kyle.
Oglala Lakota College undergraduate students pay an average of $2,684 in tuition and fees each year.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Southeast Community College Area. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the large city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Southeast Community College are $3,780 a year. While working on their degree, nursing majors at Southeast Community College accumulate an average of around $28,750 in student debt.
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Out of the 193 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Neosho County Community College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Neosho County Community College is a small public school located in the remote town of Chanute.
Neosho County Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,000 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Neosho County Community College take out is $17,450.
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A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Cloud County Community College is a great value for nursing students. Located in the rural area of Concordia, Cloud County Community College is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cloud County Community College are $3,570 per year. After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Cloud County Community College carry an average student debtload of $23,397.
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The excellent programs at Rochester Community and Technical College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Plains States Region . Located in the medium-sized city of Rochester, Rochester Community and Technical College is a public school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Rochester Community and Technical College are $5,372 per year. On average, nursing graduates from Rochester Community and Technical College take out $23,562 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Lutheran School of Nursing landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Lutheran School of Nursing is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Lutheran School of Nursing are $10,620 per year. Nursing majors at Lutheran School of Nursing take out an average of $18,110 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Metropolitan Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Located in the large city of Omaha, MCC is a public school with a fairly large student population.
MCC undergraduate students pay an average of $4,680 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, nursing graduates from MCC carry an average student debtload of $21,350.
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Hutchinson Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Hutchinson Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the distant town of Hutchinson.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Hutchinson Community College are $4,470 a year. Nursing majors at Hutchinson Community College take out an average of $23,665 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Northwest Technical College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. NTC is a fairly small public school located in the remote town of Bemidji.
NTC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,380 in tuition and fees each year. On average, nursing graduates from NTC take out $31,500 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. CMU CGES is a small private not-for-profit school located in the distant town of Fayette.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CMU CGES are $6,720 per year. After completing their degree, nursing graduates from CMU CGES carry an average student debtload of $27,562.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, CMU CGES also is in the top 10% of our Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.
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Central Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #11 on the list. Central Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the small city of Grand Island.
Central Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,590 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Central Community College take out is $11,250.
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North Hennepin Community College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. North Hennepin Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the large suburb of Brooklyn Park.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at North Hennepin Community College are $4,882 per year. Nursing majors at North Hennepin Community College take out an average of $31,784 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Lake Region State College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the remote town of Devils Lake, Lake Region State College is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Lake Region State College are $5,000 per year. After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Lake Region State College carry an average student debtload of $22,813.
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Mid-Plains Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #14 on the list. Mid-Plains Community College is a small public school located in the remote town of North Platte.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Mid-Plains Community College are $4,320 a year. On average, nursing graduates from Mid-Plains Community College take out $15,858 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Anoka-Ramsey Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the suburb of Coon Rapids, Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus are $5,515 per year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus take out is $27,066.
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Labette Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #16 on the list. Labette Community College is a small public school located in the town of Parsons.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Labette Community College are $4,288 a year. While working on their degree, nursing majors at Labette Community College accumulate an average of around $18,102 in student debt.
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With a ranking of #17, Western Iowa Tech Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Western Iowa Tech Community College are $4,826 per year. On average, nursing graduates from Western Iowa Tech Community College take out $21,962 in student loans while working on their degree.
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With a ranking of #18, Inver Hills Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students. Located in the suburb of Inver Grove Heights, IHCC is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at IHCC are $5,809 a year. Nursing majors at IHCC take out an average of $24,929 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Northeast Community College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Northeast is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Norfolk.
Northeast undergraduate students pay an average of $5,010 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Northeast carry an average student debtload of $20,701.
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Garden City Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Garden City Community College is a small public school located in the town of Garden City.
Garden City Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,020 in tuition and fees each year. Nursing majors at Garden City Community College take out an average of $13,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Seward County Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the remote town of Liberal, SCCC is a public college with a small student population.
SCCC undergraduate students pay an average of $4,832 in tuition and fees each year.
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Crowder College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #22 on the list. Located in the distant town of Neosho, Crowder College is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Crowder College are $5,088 a year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Crowder College take out is $14,930.
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With a ranking of #23, North Dakota State College of Science did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students. Located in the town of Wahpeton, North Dakota State College of Science is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at North Dakota State College of Science are $6,606 per year. While working on their degree, nursing majors at North Dakota State College of Science accumulate an average of around $27,445 in student debt.
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Ridgewater College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Ridgewater College is a small public school located in the town of Willmar.
Ridgewater College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,914 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Ridgewater College carry an average student debtload of $25,534.
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Alexandria Technical & Community College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. ATCC is a small public school located in the remote town of Alexandria.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at ATCC are $5,910 a year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at ATCC take out is $19,254.
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Honorable Mentions
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Northeast Iowa Community College | Calmar, IA |
| 30 | St Cloud Technical and Community College | Saint Cloud, MN |
| 31 | Lake Area Technical Institute | Watertown, SD |
| 32 | Mount Marty University | Yankton, SD |
| 33 | Johnson County Community College | Overland Park, KS |
| 34 | Lake Superior College | Duluth, MN |
| 35 | Dodge City Community College | Dodge City, KS |
| 36 | Central Lakes College - Brainerd | Brainerd, MN |
| 37 | Northland Community and Technical College | Thief River Falls, MN |
| 38 | Hawkeye Community College | Waterloo, IA |
Best Nursing Colleges by State
Explore the best nursing colleges for a specific state in the Plains States region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | 14,890 |
| Iowa | 2,966 |
| Missouri | 6,840 |
| Nebraska | 1,908 |
| Kansas | 2,633 |
| South Dakota | 1,022 |
| North Dakota | 976 |
More Nursing Rankings in the Plains States Region
Nursing Related Majors for Nursing
One of 30 majors within the healthcare area of study, nursing has other similar majors worth exploring.
Nursing Concentrations
Majors Similar to Nursing
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Health & Medical Administrative Services | 89,359 |
| Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services | 84,492 |
| Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants | 84,274 |
| 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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