2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
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 Value 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 value experiences for nursing students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Top 25 Best Plains States Region Schools for Affordable Quality in Nursing
Our analysis found Oglala Lakota College to be the best value school for nursing students who want to pursue a degree in the Plains States Region . Located in the remote area of Kyle, Oglala Lakota College is a public college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Oglala Lakota College are $2,684 a year.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Southeast Community College Area. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Southeast Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the large city of Lincoln.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southeast Community College are $3,780 per year. While working on their degree, nursing majors at Southeast Community College accumulate an average of around $28,750 in student debt.
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A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Neosho County Community College is a great value for nursing students. Located in the town of Chanute, Neosho County Community College is a public college with a small student population.
Neosho County Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,000 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Neosho County Community College take out is $17,450.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cloud County Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Cloud County Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Concordia.
Cloud County Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $3,570 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Cloud County Community College carry an average student debtload of $23,397.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rochester Community and Technical College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Rochester Community and Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Rochester.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Rochester Community and Technical College are $5,372 a year. On average, nursing graduates from Rochester Community and Technical College take out $23,562 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Lutheran School of Nursing did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #6 on the list. Lutheran School of Nursing is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Lutheran School of Nursing are $10,620 a year. Nursing majors at Lutheran School of Nursing take out an average of $18,110 in student loans while working on their egree.
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With a ranking of #7, Metropolitan Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students. MCC is a large public school located in the large city of Omaha.
MCC undergraduate students pay an average of $4,680 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, nursing graduates from MCC carry an average student debtload of $21,350.
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With a ranking of #8, Hutchinson Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students. Located in the distant town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Hutchinson Community College are $4,470 a year. Nursing majors at Hutchinson Community College take out an average of $23,665 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Northwest Technical College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the remote town of Bemidji, NTC is a public college with a small student population.
NTC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,380 in tuition and fees each year. On average, nursing graduates from NTC take out $31,500 in student loans while working on their degree.
In addition to its great value ranking, NTC is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list.
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Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the town of Fayette, CMU CGES is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CMU CGES are $6,720 per year. After completing their degree, nursing graduates from CMU CGES carry an average student debtload of $27,562.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, CMU CGES also did well on our Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Central Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the small city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Central Community College are $4,590 a year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Central Community College take out is $11,250.
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North Hennepin Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
North Hennepin Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,882 in tuition and fees each year. Nursing majors at North Hennepin Community College take out an average of $31,784 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Lake Region State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #13 on the list. Lake Region State College is a small public school located in the town of Devils Lake.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Lake Region State College are $5,000 a year. After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Lake Region State College carry an average student debtload of $22,813.
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Mid-Plains Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the town of North Platte, Mid-Plains Community College is a public school with a small student population.
Mid-Plains Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,320 in tuition and fees each year. On average, nursing graduates from Mid-Plains Community College take out $15,858 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Anoka-Ramsey Community College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Coon Rapids.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus are $5,515 per year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus take out is $27,066.
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With a ranking of #16, Labette Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students. Located in the town of Parsons, Labette Community College is a public school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Labette Community College are $4,288 per year. While working on their degree, nursing majors at Labette Community College accumulate an average of around $18,102 in student debt.
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Western Iowa Tech Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the small city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Western Iowa Tech Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,826 in tuition and fees each year. On average, nursing graduates from Western Iowa Tech Community College take out $21,962 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Inver Hills Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #18 on the list. IHCC is a small public school located in the suburb of Inver Grove Heights.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at IHCC are $5,809 per year. Nursing majors at IHCC take out an average of $24,929 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Garden City Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in the town of Garden City, Garden City Community College is a public school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Garden City Community College are $4,020 per year. Nursing majors at Garden City Community College take out an average of $13,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
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With a ranking of #19, Northeast Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students. Located in the remote town of Norfolk, Northeast is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Northeast are $5,010 a year. After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Northeast carry an average student debtload of $20,701.
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With a ranking of #21, Seward County Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students. SCCC is a small public school located in the town of Liberal.
SCCC undergraduate students pay an average of $4,832 in tuition and fees each year.
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Crowder College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Crowder College is a small public school located in the distant town of Neosho.
Crowder College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,088 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Crowder College take out is $14,930.
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North Dakota State College of Science did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #23 on the list. North Dakota State College of Science is a small public school located in the distant town of Wahpeton.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at North Dakota State College of Science are $6,606 a year. While working on their degree, nursing majors at North Dakota State College of Science accumulate an average of around $27,445 in student debt.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, North Dakota State College of Science also is in the top 15% of our Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.
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Ridgewater College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #24 on the list. Located in the remote town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a public school with a small student population.
Ridgewater College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,914 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Ridgewater College carry an average student debtload of $25,534.
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Alexandria Technical & Community College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Located in the remote town of Alexandria, ATCC is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at ATCC are $5,910 per year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at ATCC take out is $19,254.
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Additional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great value schools for Nursing students in the Plains States Region seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Northeast Iowa Community College | Calmar, IA |
| 30 | St Cloud Technical and Community College | Saint Cloud, MN |
| 31 | Lake Area Technical Institute | Watertown, SD |
| 32 | Mount Marty University | Yankton, SD |
| 33 | Johnson County Community College | Overland Park, KS |
| 34 | Lake Superior College | Duluth, MN |
| 35 | Dodge City Community College | Dodge City, KS |
| 36 | Central Lakes College - Brainerd | Brainerd, MN |
| 37 | Northland Community and Technical College | Thief River Falls, MN |
| 38 | Hawkeye Community College | Waterloo, IA |
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 |
More Nursing Rankings in the Plains States Region
Majors Related to Nursing
Nursing Focus Areas
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.
- 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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