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Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region

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2023 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region

124 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 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This report analyzed 124 schools in the Plains States Region to see which ones were the most popular programs for nursing students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants program at each school on the list.

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

Our analysis found Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology to be the most popular school for practical nursing and nursing assistants students who want to pursue a degree in the Plains States Region . Located in the rural area of Wichita, WSU Tech is a public college with a small student population.

On average, practical nursing graduates from WSU Tech take out $20,266 in student loans while working on their degree.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Western Iowa Tech Community College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants 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.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Western Iowa Tech Community College take out is $13,346.

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#3

Johnson County Community College

Overland Park, KS

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Johnson County Community College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region list. JCCC is a large public school located in the city of Overland Park.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at JCCC take out is $13,500.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Des Moines Area Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region list. DMACC is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from DMACC carry an average student debt load of $6,366.

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The excellent programs at Minnesota West Community and Technical College 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 . Minnesota West is a small public school located in the town of Granite Falls.

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With a ranking of #6, Hutchinson Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Hutchinson Community College take out $14,905 in student loans while working on their degree.

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Highland Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the rural area of Highland, Highland Community College is a public school with a small student population.

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#8

Saint Paul College

Saint Paul, MN

With a ranking of #8, Saint Paul College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the large city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Saint Paul College take out $18,250 in student loans while working on their degree.

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Kansas City Kansas Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Kansas City Kansas Community College is a small public school located in the medium-sized city of Kansas City.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Kansas City Kansas Community College take out is $16,681.

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Washburn Institute of Technology ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region list. Washburn Tech is a small public school located in the city of Topeka.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Washburn Tech carry an average student debt load of $15,000.

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Neosho County Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the town of Chanute, Neosho County Community College is a public school with a small student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Neosho County Community College carry an average student debt load of $13,137.

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North Central Kansas Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the rural area of Beloit, North Central Kansas Technical College is a public school with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at North Central Kansas Technical College take out is $13,778.

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Iowa Central Community College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the town of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Iowa Central Community College take out $12,343 in student loans while working on their degree.

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With a ranking of #14, Salina Area Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the remote town of Salina, Salina Tech is a public school with a fairly small student population.

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Northland Community and Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #15 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.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Northland Community and Technical College take out $21,363 in student loans while working on their degree.

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#16

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, IA

Iowa Western Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region list. Iowa Western Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Council Bluffs.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Iowa Western Community College take out $18,612 in student loans while working on their degree.

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Anoka Technical College ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the large suburb of Anoka, Anoka Technical College is a public college with a small student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Anoka Technical College carry an average student debt load of $12,916.

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#18

Southeastern Community College

West Burlington, IA

Southeastern Community College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the remote town of West Burlington, Southeastern Community College is a public college with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Southeastern Community College take out is $16,800.

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Additional Noteworthy Schools

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

Rank College Location
19 Dodge City Community College Dodge City, KS
20 Garden City Community College Garden City, KS
21 Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis, MN
22 North Iowa Area Community College Mason City, IA
23 Fort Scott Community College Fort Scott, KS
24 Manhattan Area Technical College Manhattan, 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.

  • 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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