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Most Popular Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region

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2023 Most Popular Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region

128 Colleges
$64,238 Avg Salary
$28,730 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing Bachelor's 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.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Healthcare Degree Search has created its Most Popular Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 128 schools in the Plains States Region to see which bachelor's 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.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for nursing majors pursuing a bachelor's degree.

#1

Capella University

Minneapolis, MN

Our 2023 rankings named Capella University the most popular school in the Plains States Region for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a private for-profit school with a very large student population.

Women make up 90% of the nursing majors at the school.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Capella University take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $28,936.

Full Nursing at Capella University Report

The in-demand bachelor’s degree programs at Concordia University, Saint Paul helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in the Plains States Region . Located in the large city of Saint Paul, Concordia University, Saint Paul is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.

Of the 415 students majoring in nursing at Concordia University, Saint Paul, 16% are male and 84% are female.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from Concordia University, Saint Paul carry an average student debt load of $36,494.

Read More…

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Nebraska Medical Center. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. UNMC is a small public school located in the city of Omaha.

Of the 392 students majoring in nursing at UNMC, 14% are male and 86% are female.

On average, nursing graduates from UNMC take out $24,990 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $236.

Full Nursing at University of Nebraska Medical Center Report

Out of the 128 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Goldfarb School of Nursing is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Saint Louis.

Of the 365 students majoring in nursing at Goldfarb School of Nursing, 13% are male and 87% are female.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from Goldfarb School of Nursing carry an average student debt load of $28,828. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $350.

Read full report on Nursing at Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College

The College of Saint Scholastica ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the small city of Duluth, St. Scholastica is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

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

Nursing majors at St. Scholastica take out an average of $32,525 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $314, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Nursing at The College of Saint Scholastica

South Dakota State University ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. South Dakota State is a fairly large public school located in the remote town of Brookings.

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

Nursing majors at South Dakota State take out an average of $29,938 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $162.

Read More…

#8

Creighton University

Omaha, NE

Creighton University landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Creighton is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Omaha.

Of the 308 students majoring in nursing at Creighton, 10% are male and 90% are female.

On average, nursing graduates from Creighton take out $28,316 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $483, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Nursing at Creighton University Report

Mercy College of Health Sciences ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the medium-sized city of Des Moines, Mercy College of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

About 86% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 14% are male.

On average, nursing graduates from Mercy College of Health Sciences take out $32,347 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $330.

Full Nursing at Mercy College of Health Sciences Report

Minnesota State University - Mankato came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Minnesota State Mankato is a large public school located in the small city of Mankato.

About 89% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 11% are male.

Nursing majors at Minnesota State Mankato take out an average of $28,013 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.

Full Nursing at Minnesota State University - Mankato Report

#11

Rockhurst University

Kansas City, MO

Rockhurst University ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the large city of Kansas City, Rockhurst is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Women make up 91% of the nursing majors at the school.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Rockhurst take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $28,482. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $275.

Read More…

Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #12 on the list. CMU CGES is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Fayette.

Women make up 87% of the nursing majors at the school.

On average, nursing graduates from CMU CGES take out $29,850 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.

Full Nursing at Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies Report

#13

Winona State University

Winona, MN

Winona State University ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Winona State is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Winona.

Of the 230 students majoring in nursing at Winona State, 12% are male and 88% are female.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Winona State take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $25,953. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $190, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #14 on the list. Mizzou is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Columbia.

Women make up 90% of the nursing majors at the school.

On average, nursing graduates from Mizzou take out $23,696 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $425, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

#15

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA

With a ranking of #15, University of Iowa did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the city of Iowa City, Iowa is a public school with a fairly large student population.

About 86% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 14% are male.

On average, nursing graduates from Iowa take out $25,295 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $221, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Nursing at University of Iowa

MidAmerica Nazarene University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #16 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Olathe, MNU is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Of the 208 students majoring in nursing at MNU, 17% are male and 83% are female.

Nursing majors at MNU take out an average of $28,384 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $429.

Full Nursing at MidAmerica Nazarene University Report

University of Missouri - St Louis landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree nursing programs. UMSL is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Saint Louis.

Of the 205 students majoring in nursing at UMSL, 12% are male and 88% are female.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at UMSL take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $28,760. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $164.

Read full report on Nursing at University of Missouri - St Louis

#18

University of Kansas

Lawrence, KS

University of Kansas ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the city of Lawrence, KU is a public college with a very large student population.

Of the 204 students majoring in nursing at KU, 10% are male and 90% are female.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at KU take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $23,714.

Full Nursing at University of Kansas Report

North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Fargo, North Dakota State University is a public college with a large student population.

Women make up 88% of the nursing majors at the school.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from North Dakota State University carry an average student debt load of $30,764.

Read full report on Nursing at North Dakota State University - Main Campus

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region award.

Rank College Location
20 Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MO
21 University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD
22 Maryville University of Saint Louis Saint Louis, MO
23 Wichita State University Wichita, KS
24 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN
25 St Catherine University Saint Paul, MN

Best Nursing Colleges by State

Explore the best nursing schools 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 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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