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Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region

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2023 Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region

101 Colleges
$57,601 Avg Salary
$21,889 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing Associate Degree 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.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Healthcare Degree Search has created the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 101 schools in the Plains States Region to see which associate degree programs were the most popular for healthcare students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Nursing program at each school on the list.

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

Our 2023 rankings named Rasmussen University - Minnesota the most popular school in the Plains States Region for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the small city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

About 87% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 13% are male.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Rasmussen University - Minnesota take out while working on their Associate Degree is $32,326. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $175.

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#2

Saint Louis Community College

Saint Louis, MO

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Saint Louis Community College is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Saint Louis Community College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Of the 204 students majoring in nursing at Saint Louis Community College, 14% are male and 86% are female.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Saint Louis Community College carry an average student debt load of $19,692.

Read full report on Nursing at Saint Louis Community College

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Des Moines Area Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, DMACC is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Of the 166 students majoring in nursing at DMACC, 10% are male and 90% are female.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from DMACC carry an average student debt load of $23,473.

Read full report on Nursing at Des Moines Area Community College

The in-demand associate degree programs at Rasmussen University - Kansas helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in the Plains States Region . Located in the rural area of Topeka, Rasmussen University - Kansas is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Women make up 94% of the nursing majors at the school.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Rasmussen University - Kansas take out while working on their Associate Degree is $32,326. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $175.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Anoka-Ramsey Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree 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.

About 83% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 17% are male.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus accumulate an average of around $28,625 in student debt.

Full Nursing at Anoka-Ramsey Community College Report

#6

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, IA

Iowa Western Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the small city of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

About 90% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 10% are male.

On average, nursing graduates from Iowa Western Community College take out $27,290 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Iowa Western Community College

Southwest Baptist University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the distant town of Bolivar, Southwest Baptist University is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

About 90% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 10% are male.

On average, nursing graduates from Southwest Baptist University take out $31,891 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

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#8

Crowder College

Neosho, MO

Crowder College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the town of Neosho, Crowder College is a public school with a small student population.

Of the 127 students majoring in nursing at Crowder College, 12% are male and 88% are female.

Nursing majors at Crowder College take out an average of $17,349 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Crowder College

#9

Butler Community College

El Dorado, KS

Butler Community College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. Butler CC is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of El Dorado.

About 88% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 12% are male.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Butler CC accumulate an average of around $28,628 in student debt.

Full Nursing at Butler Community College Report

#10

Lake Superior College

Duluth, MN

Lake Superior College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the small city of Duluth, LSC is a public school with a small student population.

Of the 112 students majoring in nursing at LSC, 19% are male and 81% are female.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at LSC accumulate an average of around $34,246 in student debt.

Read full report on Nursing at Lake Superior College

Rochester Community and Technical College ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the medium-sized city of Rochester, Rochester Community and Technical College is a public college with a small student population.

Of the 111 students majoring in nursing at Rochester Community and Technical College, 26% are male and 74% are female.

Nursing majors at Rochester Community and Technical College take out an average of $27,212 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

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#12

Century College

White Bear Lake, MN

Century College ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Century College is a moderately-sized public school located in the large suburb of White Bear Lake.

Of the 108 students majoring in nursing at Century College, 13% are male and 87% are female.

Nursing majors at Century College take out an average of $30,422 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

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Rasmussen University - North Dakota ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Rasmussen University - North Dakota is a small private for-profit school located in the midsize city of Fargo.

Of the 105 students majoring in nursing at Rasmussen University - North Dakota, 14% are male and 86% are female.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Rasmussen University - North Dakota accumulate an average of around $32,326 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $175.

Read full report on Nursing at Rasmussen University - North Dakota

#14

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, IA

Kirkwood Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Women make up 84% of the nursing majors at the school.

Nursing majors at Kirkwood Community College take out an average of $27,483 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read More…

#15

Ridgewater College

Willmar, MN

With a ranking of #15, Ridgewater College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Ridgewater College is a small public school located in the town of Willmar.

About 92% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 8% are male.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Ridgewater College accumulate an average of around $27,352 in student debt.

Read full report on Nursing at Ridgewater College

Honorable Mentions

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

Rank College Location
16 Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City Kansas City, MO
17 Neosho County Community College Chanute, KS
17 North Central Missouri College Trenton, MO
17 Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar, IA
17 Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis, MN

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
Nebraska 1,908
Missouri 6,840
Kansas 2,633
South Dakota 1,022
North Dakota 976

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

Nursing Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 266,651
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 16,104
Nursing Administration 9,838
Nursing Practice 7,992
Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 5,092
Nursing Science 4,600
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 2,287
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing 2,021
Nurse Anesthetist 1,936
Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing 1,883
Critical Care Nursing 773
Geriatric Nurse/Nursing 563
School Nursing 553
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery 509
Clinical Nurse Leader 444
Clinical Nurse Specialist 419
Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing 331
Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing 181
Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing 57
Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing 53
Palliative Care Nursing 14
Forensic Nursing 14

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 26 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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