2023 Best Nursing 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.
The Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 184 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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Top Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Mount Marty University the best school in the Plains States Region for nursing students working on their degree.
Degree recipients from Mount Marty accumulate an average of $31,631 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Mount Marty graduates make an average of $80,285 annually.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ottawa University - Kansas City. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list.
Degree recipients from Ottawa University - Kansas City accumulate an average of $31,724 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Ottawa University - Kansas City graduates make an average of $47,843 annually.
Out of the 184 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota landed the # 3 spot on the list.
Degree recipients from SMU MN accumulate an average of $29,703 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from SMU MN, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $56,065 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Webster University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list.
On average, students take out $24,185 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Webster graduates make an average of $50,709 annually.
Out of the 184 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, College of Saint Benedict landed the # 5 spot on the list.
Once they receive their degree, CSB graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,995 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #6, Bemidji State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
On average, students take out $25,667 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Bemidji State University graduates make an average of $43,896 annually.
Gustavus Adolphus College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.
Degree recipients from Gustavus Adolphus accumulate an average of $24,571 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Gustavus Adolphus graduates make an average of $38,133 annually.
Mayville State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list.
On average, students take out $28,896 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Mayville State University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,678 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #9, Rasmussen University - Minnesota did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $30,701 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $127 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Rasmussen University - Minnesota, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,281 during the early years of their career.
University of Kansas ranked #10 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list.
Degree recipients from KU accumulate an average of $23,985 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $365. During the early years of their career, KU graduates make an average of $50,693 annually.
Maryville University of Saint Louis ranked #11 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list.
On average, students take out $25,584 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $452 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Maryville U, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $59,828 during the early years of their career.
Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
On average, students take out $25,044 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, CMU CGES graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,784 during the early year of their career.
Read full report on Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies
Southwest Minnesota State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,598 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Southwest Minnesota State University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,918 during the early year of their career.
Creighton University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #14 on the list.
On average, students take out $25,325 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $518, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Creighton graduates make an average of $58,756 annually.
Capella University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.
On average, students take out $36,349 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Capella University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $61,758 during the early years of their career.
St Olaf College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #16 on the list.
After graduating from St. Olaf, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,897 during the early years of their career.
Augsburg University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.
Degree recipients from Augsburg accumulate an average of $26,790 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Augsburg graduates make an average of $50,712 annually.
The College of Saint Scholastica came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.
On average, students take out $30,536 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $314.After graduating from St. Scholastica, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,635 during the early years of their career.
Winona State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list.
Degree recipients from Winona State accumulate an average of $26,110 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $176, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Winona State graduates make an average of $44,424 annually.
With a ranking of #20, Northwest Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,786 in student loans.After graduating from NTC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $51,103 during the early years of their career.
Minnesota State University - Moorhead came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.
On average, students take out $25,798 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, MSU Moorhead graduates make an average of $40,896 annually.
Luther College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #22 on the list.
Degree recipients from Luther accumulate an average of $25,246 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $283, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Luther graduates make an average of $35,469 annually.
Northwestern College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list.
Once they receive their degree, NWC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,021 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #24, Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
On average, students take out $24,437 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $133. During the early years of their career, Minnesota State Mankato graduates make an average of $46,060 annually.
Concordia College at Moorhead did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #25 on the list.
On average, students take out $22,901 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Concordia College Moorhead, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,477 during the early years of their career.
Rest of the Top 15% Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the top 28 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our best nursing schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Saint Louis University | Saint Louis, MO |
| 30 | University of Iowa | Iowa City, IA |
| 31 | University of North Dakota | Grand Forks, ND |
| 32 | Lake Area Technical Institute | Watertown, SD |
| 33 | Walden University | Minneapolis, MN |
| 34 | Nebraska Wesleyan University | Lincoln, NE |
| 35 | North Dakota State University - Main Campus | Fargo, ND |
| 36 | Rasmussen University - North Dakota | Fargo, ND |
| 37 | Bethel University Minnesota | Saint Paul, MN |
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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