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Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region

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2023 Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

92 Colleges
$5,087 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$36,841 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate 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 assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 92 schools in the Plains States Region to see which undergraduate certificate programs offered the best value experiences for practical nursing students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

2023 Best Value Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region

Check out the practical nursing undergraduate certificate programs at these schools if you want to get the best value for your educational dollar.

Top 15% Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools

Our analysis found Southeast Community College Area to be the best value school for practical nursing and nursing assistants students who want to pursue a undergraduate certificate in the Plains States Region . Southeast Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Lincoln.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Southeast Community College are $3,780 a year. Practical Nursing majors at Southeast Community College take out an average of $21,264 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Southeast Community College Area

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cloud County Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Cloud County Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Concordia.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cloud County Community College are $3,570 per year.

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

#3

Central Community College

Grand Island, NE

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Central Community College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the small city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Central Community College are $4,590 per year. The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Central Community College take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $12,675.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Central Community College also is in the top 15% of our Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Central Community College Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Metropolitan Community College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. MCC is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Omaha.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MCC are $4,680 per year.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Neosho County Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the town of Chanute, Neosho County Community College is a public college with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Neosho County Community College are $4,000 per year. Practical Nursing majors at Neosho County Community College take out an average of $14,677 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Neosho County Community College

Western Iowa Tech Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the small city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Western Iowa Tech Community College are $4,826 per year. While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, practical nursing majors at Western Iowa Tech Community College accumulate an average of around $17,333 in student debt.

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Northland Community and Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for practical nursing and nursing assistants students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the town of Thief River Falls, Northland Community and Technical College is a public school with a small student population.

Northland Community and Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,052 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Northland Community and Technical College take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $24,495.

Northland Community and Technical College also took the #3 spot in our Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region rankings.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Northland Community and Technical College

Alexandria Technical & Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the town of Alexandria, ATCC is a public college with a small student population.

ATCC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,910 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, practical nursing majors at ATCC accumulate an average of around $14,767 in student debt.

ATCC also claimed a spot on our Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Alexandria Technical & Community College

Hutchinson Community College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the distant town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Hutchinson Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,470 in tuition and fees each year. On average, practical nursing graduates from Hutchinson Community College take out $17,190 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

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#10

Lake Region State College

Devils Lake, ND

Lake Region State College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Lake Region State College is a small public school located in the remote town of Devils Lake.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Lake Region State College are $5,000 a year.

Read More…

#11

Garden City Community College

Garden City, KS

Garden City Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for practical nursing and nursing assistants students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in the town of Garden City, Garden City Community College is a public college with a small student population.

Garden City Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,020 in tuition and fees each year. On average, practical nursing graduates from Garden City Community College take out $14,974 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Garden City Community College

#12

Mid-Plains Community College

North Platte, NE

Mid-Plains Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for practical nursing and nursing assistants students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the remote town of North Platte, Mid-Plains Community College is a public college with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Mid-Plains Community College are $4,320 a year.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Mid-Plains Community College Report

#13

Hennepin Technical College

Brooklyn Park, MN

Hennepin Technical College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the large suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a public college with a small student population.

Hennepin Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,741 in tuition and fees each year. Practical Nursing majors at Hennepin Technical College take out an average of $16,764 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Hennepin Technical College also is in the top 20% of our Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Hennepin Technical College Report

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 Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region award.

Rank College Location
14 St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud, MN
15 Lake Area Technical Institute Watertown, SD
16 Southeastern Community College West Burlington, IA
17 Rochester Community and Technical College Rochester, MN
18 Dakota County Technical College Rosemount, MN
18 Anoka Technical College Anoka, MN

Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Colleges by State

Explore the best practical nursing and nursing assistants schools 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.

  • 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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