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Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region

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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

In 2020-2021, 84,274 practical nursing and nursing assistants students received a degree or certificate, making the major the #2 most popular in the country.

It's not easy to decide which nursing program to enroll in when you have so many options available. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Nursing Degree Search has developed this Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This report analyzed 100 schools in the Plains States Region to see which ones offered the best programs for nursing 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 analysis found Cass Career Center to be the best school for practical nursing and nursing assistants students who want to pursue a degree in the Plains States Region . Cass RIX School District is a fairly small public school located in the town of Harrisonville.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Cass RIX School District accumulate an average of around $13,850 in student debt.

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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 school with a fairly small student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from LLRTC carry an average student debtload of $15,881.

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#3

Applied Technology Services

Sunset Hills, MO

Out of the 100 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Applied Technology Services landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the suburb of Sunset Hills, Applied Technology Services is a public college with a small student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Applied Technology Services carry an average student debtload of $16,779.

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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 town of Marshall, SCCC is a public school with a small student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at SCCC accumulate an average of around $14,027 in student debt.

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The excellent programs at Carthage Technical Center helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best practical nursing and nursing assistants schools in the Plains States Region . Located in the fringe town of Carthage, Carthage Technical Center is a public school with a fairly small student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Carthage Technical Center carry an average student debtload of $14,995.

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Clinton Technical School landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Clinton Technical School is a small public school located in the remote town of Clinton.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Clinton Technical School carry an average student debtload of $20,500.

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Washburn Institute of Technology did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #7 on the list. Washburn Tech is a small public school located in the city of Topeka.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Washburn Tech take out is $15,000.

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#8

Four Rivers Career Center

Washington, MO

Four Rivers Career Center ranked #8 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region list. Four Rivers Career Center is a fairly small public school located in the distant town of Washington.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Four Rivers Career Center accumulate an average of around $14,913 in student debt.

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North Dakota State College of Science did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #9 on the list. North Dakota State College of Science is a small public school located in the distant town of Wahpeton.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from North Dakota State College of Science carry an average student debtload of $23,197.

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Rasmussen University - Minnesota ranked #10 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region list. Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a small private for-profit school located in the small city of St. Cloud.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Rasmussen University - Minnesota accumulate an average of around $20,833 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $121.

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Hannibal - LaGrange University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the remote town of Hannibal, HLGU is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

On average, practical nursing graduates from HLGU take out $12,635 in student loans while working on their degree.

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#12

Century College

White Bear Lake, MN

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

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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.

Practical Nursing majors at LATI take out an average of $17,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

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

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Bolivar Technical College carry an average student debtload of $16,621.

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#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.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Southeast Tech carry an average student debtload of $19,000.

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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
South Dakota 0
North Dakota 70
Nebraska 0

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

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.

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