2023 Most Popular 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 Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 222 schools in the Plains States Region to see which programs were the most popular for nursing students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Nursing program at each school on the list.
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2023 Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region
The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Nursing Colleges.
Top 25 Most Popular Plains States Region Schools in Nursing
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Capella University is a great place for nursing students. Capella University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Capella University carry an average student debt load of $34,172.
The excellent programs at Maryville University of Saint Louis helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Plains States Region . Maryville U is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at Maryville U accumulate an average of around $51,555 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $408.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a great place for nursing students. Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a small private for-profit school located in the small city of St. Cloud.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Rasmussen University - Minnesota take out is $22,529. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $221, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Out of the 222 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Nebraska Medical Center landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the city of Omaha, UNMC is a public college with a small student population.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from UNMC carry an average student debt load of $38,555. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $196.
Full Nursing at University of Nebraska Medical Center Report
Concordia University, Saint Paul ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Concordia University, Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Saint Paul.
On average, nursing graduates from Concordia University, Saint Paul take out $16,417 in student loans while working on their degree.
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular nursing programs. UMN Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the large city of Minneapolis.
Nursing majors at UMN Twin Cities take out an average of $44,569 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 $273.
Full Nursing at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Report
Creighton University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the city of Omaha, Creighton is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.
Nursing majors at Creighton take out an average of $46,750 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $535.
With a ranking of #9, Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students. Located in the large city of Saint Louis, Goldfarb School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
On average, nursing graduates from Goldfarb School of Nursing take out $35,071 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $399.
The College of Saint Scholastica did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #10 on the list. St. Scholastica is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Duluth.
Nursing majors at St. Scholastica take out an average of $38,163 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $240.
Butler Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in the town of El Dorado, Butler CC is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
On average, nursing graduates from Butler CC take out $16,415 in student loans while working on their degree.
University of Missouri - Kansas City came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. UMKC is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City.
On average, nursing graduates from UMKC take out $57,224 in student loans while working on their degree.
South Dakota State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State is a public college with a fairly large student population.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from South Dakota State carry an average student debt load of $41,014. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $210.
Saint Louis University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. SLU is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis.
Nursing majors at SLU take out an average of $43,682 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 $462.
Mercy College of Health Sciences landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular nursing programs. Mercy College of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Des Moines.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Mercy College of Health Sciences take out is $21,977. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $411.
Rockhurst University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Rockhurst is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Kansas City.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Rockhurst take out is $28,000. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $299.
With a ranking of #17, University of Kansas did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students. KU is a fairly large public school located in the city of Lawrence.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from KU carry an average student debt load of $43,685.
With a ranking of #18, University of Iowa did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students. Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City.
On average, nursing graduates from Iowa take out $68,820 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $220.
University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular nursing programs. Located in the city of Columbia, Mizzou is a public school with a fairly large student population.
On average, nursing graduates from Mizzou take out $24,993 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $405, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #20 on the list. Located in the small city of Mankato, Minnesota State Mankato is a public school with a large student population.
On average, nursing graduates from Minnesota State Mankato take out $13,225 in student loans while working on their degree.
St Catherine University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #21 on the list. Located in the large city of Saint Paul, St. Kate's is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from St. Kate's carry an average student debt load of $46,009. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $413.
Winona State University landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular nursing programs. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Winona State carry an average student debt load of $33,269. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $196.
Graceland University - Lamoni came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the remote area of Lamoni, Graceland Lamoni is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Graceland Lamoni take out is $41,560.
Cox College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the city of Springfield, Cox College is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Nursing majors at Cox College take out an average of $27,575 in student loans while working on their egree.
University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #25 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Saint Louis, UMSL is a public school with a large student population.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at UMSL accumulate an average of around $41,594 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $226, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Nursing at University of Missouri - St Louis
Rest of the Top Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region
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 Schools in the Plains States Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Research College of Nursing | Kansas City, MO |
| 35 | Metropolitan State University | Saint Paul, MN |
| 36 | University of South Dakota | Vermillion, SD |
| 37 | Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health | Omaha, NE |
| 38 | Wichita State University | Wichita, KS |
| 39 | Rasmussen University - Kansas | Topeka, KS |
| 40 | Missouri State University - Springfield | Springfield, MO |
| 40 | University of Central Missouri | Warrensburg, MO |
| 42 | Fort Hays State University | Hays, KS |
| 43 | Webster University | Saint Louis, MO |
| 44 | University of North Dakota | Grand Forks, ND |
| 44 | Pittsburg State University | Pittsburg, KS |
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 |
Majors Related to Nursing
Nursing Focus Areas
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.
- 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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