2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region
Finding the Best Nursing School for You
Nursing is the most popular major in the United States with 31,555 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021.
There are so many nursing programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. 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, Nursing Degree Search has created its Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 193 schools in the Plains States Region to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region
Check out the nursing programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.
Top 25 Top Plains States Region Schools in Nursing
Our 2023 rankings named Mayo Clinic School of Medicine the best school in the Plains States Region for nursing students. Mayo Clinic School of Medicine is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rochester.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Lutheran School of Nursing. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Lutheran School of Nursing is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis.
Nursing majors at Lutheran School of Nursing take out an average of $18,110 in student loans while working on their egree.
The excellent programs at Chamberlain University - Missouri helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Plains States Region . Chamberlain - Missouri is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis.
Nursing majors at Chamberlain - Missouri take out an average of $38,460 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $256, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Mount Marty University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the remote town of Yankton, Mount Marty is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Mount Marty take out is $28,832.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Ottawa University - Kansas City is a great place for nursing students. Located in the medium-sized city of Overland Park, Ottawa University - Kansas City is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at Ottawa University - Kansas City accumulate an average of around $26,768 in student debt.
Read full report on Nursing at Ottawa University - Kansas City
University of Nebraska Medical Center ranked #6 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the large city of Omaha, UNMC is a public college with a small student population.
Nursing majors at UNMC take out an average of $23,737 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $236.
Read full report on Nursing at University of Nebraska Medical Center
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #7 on the list. SMU MN is a small private not-for-profit school located in the distant town of Winona.
Nursing majors at SMU MN take out an average of $32,139 in student loans while working on their egree.
Webster University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the large suburb of Saint Louis, Webster is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.
College of Saint Benedict did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #9 on the list. CSB is a small private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized suburb of Saint Joseph.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from CSB carry an average student debtload of $27,000.
Bemidji State University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in the remote town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a public school with a small student population.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at Bemidji State University accumulate an average of around $30,446 in student debt.
With a ranking of #11, Rasmussen University - Minnesota did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a small private for-profit school located in the city of St. Cloud.
On average, nursing graduates from Rasmussen University - Minnesota take out $35,539 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $161, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Gustavus Adolphus College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #12 on the list. Gustavus Adolphus is a small private not-for-profit school located in the fringe town of Saint Peter.
On average, nursing graduates from Gustavus Adolphus take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
Mayville State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Mayville State University is a small public school located in the remote area of Mayville.
Nursing majors at Mayville State University take out an average of $32,615 in student loans while working on their egree.
University of Kansas did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #14 on the list. KU is a very large public school located in the small city of Lawrence.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at KU take out is $22,182.
Maryville University of Saint Louis did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville U is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
Nursing majors at Maryville U take out an average of $31,009 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $416, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies ranked #16 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the town of Fayette, CMU CGES is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from CMU CGES carry an average student debtload of $27,562.
Read full report on Nursing at Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies
With a ranking of #17, Clarkson College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Located in the city of Omaha, Clarkson College is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at Clarkson College accumulate an average of around $36,225 in student debt.
Southwest Minnesota State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Southwest Minnesota State University is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Marshall.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at Southwest Minnesota State University accumulate an average of around $31,217 in student debt.
Read full report on Nursing at Southwest Minnesota State University
Northwest Technical College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the town of Bemidji, NTC is a public college with a small student population.
On average, nursing graduates from NTC take out $31,500 in student loans while working on their degree.
Herzing University - Minneapolis did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #20 on the list. Herzing University - Minneapolis is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Minneapolis.
Nursing majors at Herzing University - Minneapolis take out an average of $45,508 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $204.
With a ranking of #21, Creighton University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Located in the large city of Omaha, Creighton is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.
Nursing majors at Creighton take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $483, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Capella University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #22 on the list. Capella University is a very large private for-profit school located in the large city of Minneapolis.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at Capella University accumulate an average of around $27,599 in student debt.
St Olaf College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in the town of Northfield, St. Olaf is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Nursing majors at St. Olaf take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
Bryan College of Health Sciences landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Bryan College of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Lincoln.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Bryan College of Health Sciences carry an average student debtload of $30,125. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $234.
Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Goldfarb School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
Nursing majors at Goldfarb School of Nursing take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $350.
Rest of the Top Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region
Additional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great schools for Nursing students in the Plains States Region that almost earned our Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Minnesota State University - Moorhead | Moorhead, MN |
| 30 | Luther College | Decorah, IA |
| 31 | Northwestern College | Orange City, IA |
| 32 | Minnesota State University - Mankato | Mankato, MN |
| 33 | Concordia College at Moorhead | Moorhead, MN |
| 34 | Rasmussen University - Kansas | Topeka, KS |
| 35 | Augustana University | Sioux Falls, SD |
| 36 | Saint Louis University | Saint Louis, MO |
| 37 | University of Iowa | Iowa City, IA |
| 38 | University of North Dakota | Grand Forks, ND |
Best Nursing Colleges by State
Explore the best nursing schools for a specific state in the Plains States region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Nebraska | 1,908 |
| Minnesota | 14,890 |
| South Dakota | 1,022 |
| North Dakota | 976 |
| Iowa | 2,966 |
| Missouri | 6,840 |
| Kansas | 2,633 |
More Nursing Rankings in the Plains States Region
Nursing Related Rankings by Major
Nursing Focus Areas
| 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 |
Most Popular Majors Related to Nursing
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants | 84,274 |
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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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