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 analysis found Mount Marty University to be the best school for nursing students in the Plains States Region . Mount Marty is a private not-for-profit institution located in Yankton, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 198 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Mount Marty accumulate an average of $63,778 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Mount Marty, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $80,285 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Ottawa University - Kansas City. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Overland Park, Kansas is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 185 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Ottawa University - Kansas City accumulate an average of $26,604 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Ottawa University - Kansas City, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $47,843 during the early years of their career.
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. Located in Winona, Minnesota, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 1,704 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $36,638 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from SMU MN, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $55,226 during the early years of their career.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Webster University is a great place for nursing students. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 3,092 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $44,927 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Webster graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $50,709 during the early year of their career.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means College of Saint Benedict is a great place for nursing students. CSB is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Joseph, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 407 degrees in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, CSB graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,995 during the early year of their career.
Bemidji State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Bemidji State University is located in Bemidji, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,147 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,067 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Bemidji State University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,896 during the early year of their career.
Gustavus Adolphus College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #7 on the list. Gustavus Adolphus is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Peter, Minnesota. It awarded 682 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Gustavus Adolphus accumulate an average of $24,078 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $379, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Gustavus Adolphus, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,133 during the early years of their career.
Mayville State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Mayville, North Dakota, the small public school awarded 233 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $18,856 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Mayville State University graduates make an average of $39,678 annually.
Rasmussen University - Minnesota did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #9 on the list. Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a small private for-profit school situated in St. Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 2,068 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,566 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $168.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.
With a ranking of #10, University of Kansas did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. This large public school is located in Lawrence, Kansas, and it awarded 7,733 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $34,045 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $465. Once they receive their degree, KU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $50,693 during the early year of their career.
Maryville University of Saint Louis ranked #11 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Maryville U is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3,153 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $39,378 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $407. Once they receive their degree, Maryville U graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $59,828 during the early year of their career.
Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #12 on the list. CMU CGES is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fayette, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 674 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from CMU CGES accumulate an average of $23,396 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from CMU CGES, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,784 during the early years of their career.
Southwest Minnesota State University landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Marshall, Minnesota, and it awarded 642 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $21,445 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Southwest Minnesota State University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,918 during the early years of their career.
Creighton University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Omaha, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 2,955 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $65,893 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $499.After graduating from Creighton, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $58,756 during the early years of their career.
Capella University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Capella University is a private for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14,847 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Capella University accumulate an average of $59,264 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Capella University graduates make an average of $61,758 annually.
With a ranking of #16, St Olaf College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. St. Olaf is located in Northfield, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 969 degrees to qualified students.
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 did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #17 on the list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 892 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $36,228 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Augsburg, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $50,712 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #18, The College of Saint Scholastica did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. St. Scholastica is located in Duluth, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,464 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from St. Scholastica accumulate an average of $38,974 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $240, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, St. Scholastica graduates make an average of $48,635 annually.
Winona State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Winona State is a public institution located in Winona, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,834 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $25,056 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $232.After graduating from Winona State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,424 during the early years of their career.
Northwest Technical College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in Bemidji, Minnesota, the very small public school handed out 203 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $14,947 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, NTC graduates make an average of $51,103 annually.
Minnesota State University - Moorhead ranked #21 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Moorhead, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,487 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $22,807 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 came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Luther is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Decorah, Iowa. It awarded 499 degrees in 2021-2022.
If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $391, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Luther graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,469 during the early year of their career.
Northwestern College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Orange City, Iowa, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 523 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,315 in student loans. 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. Minnesota State Mankato is located in Mankato, Minnesota and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3,728 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from Minnesota State Mankato accumulate an average of $22,957 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $180, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Minnesota State Mankato, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,060 during the early years of their career.
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. Located in Moorhead, Minnesota, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 469 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $25,140 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Concordia College Moorhead graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,477 during the early year of their career.
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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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