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

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

109 Colleges
$36,841 Avg Salary
$15,480 Avg Student Debt

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.

The Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 109 schools in the Plains States Region to see which ones were the most popular undergraduate certificate 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.

The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Colleges.

#1

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, IA

Our 2023 rankings named Iowa Western Community College the most popular school in the Plains States Region for practical nursing and nursing assistants students working on their undergraduate certificate. Iowa Western Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Council Bluffs.

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

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, practical nursing graduates from Iowa Western Community College carry an average student debt load of $22,595.

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The in-demand undergraduate certificate programs at Western Iowa Tech Community College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular practical nursing and nursing assistants schools in the Plains States Region . Located in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Of the 121 students majoring in practical nursing at Western Iowa Tech Community College, 10% are male and 90% are female.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Western Iowa Tech Community College take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $17,333.

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#3

Southeast Technical College

Sioux Falls, SD

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southeast Technical College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Southeast Tech is a small public school located in the rural area of Sioux Falls.

Of the 116 students majoring in practical nursing at Southeast Tech, 9% are male and 91% are female.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Southeast Tech take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $22,719.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northland Community and Technical College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the remote town of Thief River Falls, Northland Community and Technical College is a public school with a small student population.

Of the 110 students majoring in practical nursing at Northland Community and Technical College, 8% are male and 92% are female.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, practical nursing graduates from Northland Community and Technical College carry an average student debt load of $24,495.

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Out of the 109 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Rasmussen University - Minnesota landed the # 5 spot on the list. Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a small private for-profit school located in the small city of St. Cloud.

About 91% of the students majoring in practical nursing at the school are women while 9% are male.

Practical Nursing majors at Rasmussen University - Minnesota take out an average of $25,044 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $121.

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Southeast Community College Area landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular undergraduate certificate practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Southeast Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the large city of Lincoln.

About 91% of the students majoring in practical nursing at the school are women while 9% are male.

Practical Nursing majors at Southeast Community College take out an average of $21,264 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

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With a ranking of #7, Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the rural area of Wichita, WSU Tech is a public college with a small student population.

Of the 95 students majoring in practical nursing at WSU Tech, 5% are male and 95% are female.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, practical nursing graduates from WSU Tech carry an average student debt load of $22,822.

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#8

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, IA

Kirkwood Community College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular undergraduate certificate practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the midsize city of Cedar Rapids.

Of the 94 students majoring in practical nursing at Kirkwood Community College, 6% are male and 94% are female.

While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, practical nursing majors at Kirkwood Community College accumulate an average of around $21,196 in student debt.

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Northeast Iowa Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the rural area of Calmar, NICC is a public college with a small student population.

Women make up 93% of the practical nursing majors at the school.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, practical nursing graduates from NICC carry an average student debt load of $21,057.

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Cloud County Community College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular undergraduate certificate practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Cloud County Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Concordia.

About 94% of the students majoring in practical nursing at the school are women while 6% are male.

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Ozarks Technical Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for practical nursing and nursing assistants students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #11 on the list. OTC is a fairly large public school located in the city of Springfield.

Of the 87 students majoring in practical nursing at OTC, 14% are male and 86% are female.

On average, practical nursing graduates from OTC take out $18,010 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

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North Central Missouri College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. NCMC is a small public school located in the remote town of Trenton.

Of the 84 students majoring in practical nursing at NCMC, 8% are male and 92% are female.

While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, practical nursing majors at NCMC accumulate an average of around $19,264 in student debt.

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With a ranking of #13, St Cloud Technical and Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, St Cloud Technical and Community College is a public college with a small student population.

Women make up 97% of the practical nursing majors at the school.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, practical nursing graduates from St Cloud Technical and Community College carry an average student debt load of $22,002.

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#14

Central Community College

Grand Island, NE

Central Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for practical nursing and nursing assistants students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #14 on the list. Located in the small city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

About 99% of the students majoring in practical nursing at the school are women while 1% are male.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, practical nursing graduates from Central Community College carry an average student debt load of $12,675.

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Alexandria Technical & Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the town of Alexandria, ATCC is a public college with a small student population.

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

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at ATCC take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $14,767.

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Metropolitan Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. MCC is a large public school located in the city of Omaha.

Women make up 78% of the practical nursing majors at the school.

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#15

Southeastern Community College

West Burlington, IA

Southeastern Community College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular undergraduate certificate practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the town of West Burlington, Southeastern Community College is a public college with a small student population.

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

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, practical nursing graduates from Southeastern Community College carry an average student debt load of $19,479.

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#15

Saint Paul College

Saint Paul, MN

Saint Paul College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for practical nursing and nursing assistants students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

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

On average, practical nursing graduates from Saint Paul College take out $21,586 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

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Additional Noteworthy Schools

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

Rank College Location
19 Moberly Area Community College Moberly, MO
20 Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN
21 Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls, 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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