2023 Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region
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. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Also there are many trade schools and bpptcamp that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Nursing Degree Search has created the Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 99 schools in the Plains States Region to see which ones offered the best bachelor's degree programs for nursing students. To come up with a school's ranking, we analyzed numerous factors related to post-graduation wages, the quality of education offered by the school, average accumulated student debt, and more.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Ottawa University - Kansas City the best school in the Plains States Region for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in Overland Park, Kansas, the very small private not-for-profit school awarded 80 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Ottawa University - Kansas City is $12,622. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $22,495 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Ottawa University - Kansas City. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means College of Saint Benedict is a great place for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in Saint Joseph, Minnesota, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 407 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at CSB is $52,108. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid.
CSB does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2020-2021 year, about 0% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Webster University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Plains States Region . This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 689 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $29,840 to cover tuition and fees at Webster. The school does not offer an in-state discount. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,128 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Webster. During the 2020-2021 year, about 57% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Capella University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the large private for-profit school handed out 6,115 bachelor’s degree awards in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,673 in student loans.
Since Capella University is primarily an online school, it is an excellent choice for undergraduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bemidji State University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Bemidji, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 972 bachelor’s degree awards in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Bemidji State University, expect to pay an average of $10,130 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $19,541 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Bemidji State University. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 56% took at least some of their classes online.
Gustavus Adolphus College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Gustavus Adolphus is located in Saint Peter, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 682 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
Gustavus Adolphus does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $53,030. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $24,078 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Gustavus Adolphus, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2020-2021 year, about 43% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #7, Mayville State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Mayville State University is a public institution located in Mayville, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 209 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from North Dakota who attend Mayville State University full time pay an average of $7,873 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,131. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,856 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Mayville State University. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 67% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #8, Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in Fayette, Missouri, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 586 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
CMU CGES does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $6,960. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,750 in student loans.
CMU CGES does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 57% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Full Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies Report
University of Kansas ranked #9 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 4,493 students in 2021-2022.
Students from Kansas who attend KU full time pay an average of $11,167 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $28,035. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,064 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at KU. In 2020-2021 about 57% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Minnesota State University - Moorhead ranked #10 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Minnesota State University - Moorhead is a small public school located in Moorhead, Minnesota that handed out 1,039 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $10,236 in tuition and fees if they attend MSU Moorhead full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $19,072. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,450 in student loans.
Online courses are available at MSU Moorhead, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 73% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Southwest Minnesota State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #11 on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Marshall, Minnesota, and it awarded 457 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Southwest Minnesota State University, expect to pay an average of $10,122 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $20,604 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Southwest Minnesota State University does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 22% took at least some of their classes online.
Creighton University landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 1,445 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Creighton, expect to pay an average of $45,638 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $23,821 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Creighton does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 37% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Grantham University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Grantham University is a medium-sized public school located in LIttle Rock, Arkansas that handed out 569 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $8,280 to cover tuition and fees at Grantham University. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Grantham University accumulate an average of $32,063 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Since Grantham University is primarily an online school, it is an excellent choice for undergraduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.
With a ranking of #15, St Olaf College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Northfield, Minnesota, and it awarded 969 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The College of Saint Scholastica ranked #16 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Duluth, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 761 students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at St. Scholastica is $39,410. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from St. Scholastica accumulate an average of $21,142 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at St. Scholastica, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2020-2021 year, about 31% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #17, Augsburg University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Augsburg is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 572 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $42,064 to cover tuition and fees at Augsburg. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Augsburg accumulate an average of $23,865 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Augsburg. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 53% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Winona State University landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Located in Winona, Minnesota, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,483 bachelor’s degree awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Minnesota pay an average of $10,492 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Winona State. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $17,224. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Winona State accumulate an average of $21,128 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Winona State does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 53% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Luther College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Luther is a private not-for-profit institution located in Decorah, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 499 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Luther, expect to pay an average of $48,160 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
One thing to take note of is that Luther does offer online classes in some areas. In 2020-2021 about 8% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #20, Northwestern College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. NWC is located in Orange City, Iowa and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 259 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $34,250 to cover tuition and fees at NWC. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $19,468 in loans while pursuing their degree.
NWC does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 23% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #21, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the large public school awarded 8,508 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UMN Twin Cities is $15,859. Out-of-state students pay an average of $35,099. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,954 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at UMN Twin Cities. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 52% took at least some of their classes online.
Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree nursing programs. Minnesota State Mankato is located in Mankato, Minnesota and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,628 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
In-state students pay an average of $9,444 in tuition and fees if they attend Minnesota State Mankato full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $18,814. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $21,121 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Minnesota State Mankato. During the 2020-2021 year, about 53% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Concordia College at Moorhead did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #23 on the list. Concordia College Moorhead is a private not-for-profit institution located in Moorhead, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 453 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Concordia College Moorhead does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $28,916. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,158 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Concordia College Moorhead. During the 2020-2021 year, about 24% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #24, Augustana University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and it awarded 569 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $37,342 to cover tuition and fees at Augustana Sioux Falls. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Augustana Sioux Falls accumulate an average of $22,081 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Augustana Sioux Falls. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 16% took at least some of their classes online.
Nebraska Wesleyan University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. NWU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lincoln, Nebraska. It awarded 467 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $39,868 to cover tuition and fees at NWU. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $20,886 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that NWU does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 19% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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