2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region
Finding the Best Nursing School for You
In 2021-2022, 319,502 degrees and certificates were awarded to nursing students, making the major the most popular in the country.
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.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Mayo Clinic School of Medicine carry an average student debtload of $58,424.
Read full report on Nursing at Mayo Clinic School of Medicine
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 private for-profit school located in the large city of Saint Louis.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Lutheran School of Nursing take out is $16,125.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Chamberlain University - Missouri. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Chamberlain - Missouri is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at Chamberlain - Missouri accumulate an average of around $22,213 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $283.
The excellent programs at Mount Marty University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Plains States Region . Located in the town of Yankton, Mount Marty is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Mount Marty carry an average student debtload of $98,639.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Ottawa University - Kansas City. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the medium-sized city of Overland Park, Ottawa University - Kansas City is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at Ottawa University - Kansas City accumulate an average of around $19,225 in student debt.
Read full report on Nursing at Ottawa University - Kansas City
University of Nebraska Medical Center landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in the city of Omaha, UNMC is a public college with a small student population.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at UNMC accumulate an average of around $38,555 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $196.
Read full report on Nursing at University of Nebraska Medical Center
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. SMU MN is a small private not-for-profit school located in the distant town of Winona.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at SMU MN accumulate an average of around $46,867 in student debt.
Read full report on Nursing at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Webster University landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.
On average, nursing graduates from Webster take out $177,721 in student loans while working on their degree.
College of Saint Benedict came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. CSB is a small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize suburb of Saint Joseph.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from CSB carry an average student debtload of $27,000.
Bemidji State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a public school with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Bemidji State University take out is $15,254.
Rasmussen University - Minnesota ranked #11 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a small private for-profit school located in the city of St. Cloud.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at Rasmussen University - Minnesota accumulate an average of around $22,529 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $221, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #12, Gustavus Adolphus College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Gustavus Adolphus is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Saint Peter.
On average, nursing graduates from Gustavus Adolphus take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
With a ranking of #13, Mayville State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Mayville State University is a small public school located in the rural area of Mayville.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Mayville State University take out is $10,102.
University of Kansas ranked #14 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. KU is a fairly large public school located in the city of Lawrence.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at KU accumulate an average of around $43,685 in student debt.
Maryville University of Saint Louis ranked #15 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Maryville U is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Saint Louis.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Maryville U take out is $51,555. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $408.
With a ranking of #16, Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Located in the distant town of Fayette, CMU CGES is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Nursing majors at CMU CGES take out an average of $15,917 in student loans while working on their egree.
Full Nursing at Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies Report
Clarkson College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the city of Omaha, Clarkson College is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Clarkson College take out is $39,246. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $250.
Southwest Minnesota State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #18 on the list. Southwest Minnesota State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the remote town of Marshall.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at Southwest Minnesota State University accumulate an average of around $13,875 in student debt.
Northwest Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in the remote town of Bemidji, NTC is a public college with a small student population.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at NTC accumulate an average of around $16,637 in student debt.
Herzing University - Minneapolis came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Herzing University - Minneapolis is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis Park.
Nursing majors at Herzing University - Minneapolis take out an average of $27,573 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $186.
Creighton University landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in the large city of Omaha, Creighton is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.
On average, nursing graduates from Creighton take out $46,750 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $535.
Capella University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Capella University is a very large private for-profit school located in the large city of Minneapolis.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Capella University carry an average student debtload of $34,172.
St Olaf College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the town of Northfield, St. Olaf is a private not-for-profit school 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.
With a ranking of #24, Bryan College of Health Sciences did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. Bryan College of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Lincoln.
Nursing majors at Bryan College of Health Sciences take out an average of $56,210 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $307, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Nursing at Bryan College of Health Sciences
Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #25 on the list. Located in the large city of Saint Louis, Goldfarb School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Goldfarb School of Nursing take out is $35,071. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $399.
Read full report on Nursing at Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College
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 colleges for a specific state in the Plains States region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | 14,890 |
| South Dakota | 1,022 |
| North Dakota | 976 |
| Nebraska | 1,908 |
| Kansas | 2,633 |
| Iowa | 2,966 |
| Missouri | 6,840 |
Nursing Related Rankings by Major
Nursing Focus Areas
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | 262,974 |
| Family Practice Nurse/Nursing | 16,647 |
| Nursing Practice | 8,862 |
| Nursing Administration | 8,663 |
| Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 4,717 |
| Nursing Science | 4,701 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing | 2,895 |
| Adult Health Nurse/Nursing | 2,075 |
| Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing | 2,011 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | 1,768 |
| Critical Care Nursing | 747 |
| Geriatric Nurse/Nursing | 622 |
| Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery | 567 |
| School Nursing | 539 |
| Clinical Nurse Leader | 502 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist | 340 |
| Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing | 269 |
| Women’s Health Nurse/Nursing | 262 |
| Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing | 192 |
| Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing | 87 |
| Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing | 26 |
| Forensic Nursing | 23 |
| Palliative Care Nursing | 13 |
Most Popular Majors Related to Nursing
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants | 85,339 |
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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