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Best Nursing Schools in Kansas

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2023 Best Nursing Schools in Kansas

31 Colleges
$67,165 Avg Salary
$28,256 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing School for You

Nursing is the most popular major in Kansas with 2,633 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for nursing students. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

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 Kansas ranking. Our analysis looked at 31 schools in Kansas to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Nursing Schools in Kansas

Check out the nursing programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.

Top 10 Best Nursing Schools

#1

Ottawa University - Kansas City

Overland Park, KS

Our analysis found Ottawa University - Kansas City to be the best school for nursing students who want to pursue a degree in Kansas. Ottawa University - Kansas City is a small private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Overland Park.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Ottawa University - Kansas City carry an average student debtload of $26,768.

Full Nursing at Ottawa University - Kansas City Report

#2

University of Kansas

Lawrence, KS

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Kansas. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in Kansas list. Located in the small city of Lawrence, KU is a public college with a very large student population.

On average, nursing graduates from KU take out $22,182 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Nursing at University of Kansas Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rasmussen University - Kansas. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in Kansas list. Located in the rural area of Topeka, Rasmussen University - Kansas is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Rasmussen University - Kansas accumulate an average of around $35,539 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $161.

Full Nursing at Rasmussen University - Kansas Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Fort Hays State University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Kansas list. FHSU is a fairly large public school located in the remote town of Hays.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from FHSU carry an average student debtload of $22,866.

Read More…

#5

Newman University

Wichita, KS

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Newman University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Kansas list. Located in the city of Wichita, Newman University is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Newman University accumulate an average of around $25,500 in student debt.

Full Nursing at Newman University Report

#6

Washburn University

Topeka, KS

Washburn University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in the midsize city of Topeka, Washburn University is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Washburn University carry an average student debtload of $26,142. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $187, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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MidAmerica Nazarene University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in the large suburb of Olathe, MNU is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at MNU take out is $27,125. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $429.

Read More…

#8

Baker University

Baldwin City, KS

Baker University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Kansas ranking. Baker is a small private not-for-profit school located in the fringe town of Baldwin City.

Nursing majors at Baker take out an average of $27,750 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Nursing at Baker University

#9

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, KS

Pittsburg State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Kansas ranking. Located in the town of Pittsburg, Pitt State is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

On average, nursing graduates from Pitt State take out $24,546 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Nursing at Pittsburg State University Report

#10

University of Saint Mary

Leavenworth, KS

With a ranking of #10, University of Saint Mary did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. University of St. Mary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Leavenworth.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from University of St. Mary carry an average student debtload of $30,899.

Full Nursing at University of Saint Mary Report

Best Nursing Colleges in the Plains States Region

Explore all the Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Minnesota 14,890
South Dakota 1,022
North Dakota 976
Nebraska 1,908
Iowa 2,966
Missouri 6,840

Nursing Concentrations

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

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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