2023 Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region
Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
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. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Nursing Degree Search has developed this Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 86 schools in the Plains States Region to see which associate degree 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.
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Top Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Oglala Lakota College the best value school in the Plains States Region for nursing students working on their associate degree. Oglala Lakota College is located in Kyle, South Dakota and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Oglala Lakota College are $2,684 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $9,769 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Oglala Lakota College. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Southeast Community College Area is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. Southeast Community College is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 61 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southeast Community College are $3,780 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $17,475 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Southeast Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 42% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Neosho County Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Chanute, Kansas, the small public school awarded 90 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Neosho County Community College are $4,000 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $14,072 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Neosho County Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 42% took at least some of their classes online.
Out of the 86 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s value ranking, Cloud County Community College landed the # 4 spot on the list. This small public school is located in Concordia, Kansas, and it awarded 36 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cloud County Community College are $3,570 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,410 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Cloud County Community College. In 2019-2020 about 39% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Out of the 86 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s value ranking, Rochester Community and Technical College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Rochester Community and Technical College is located in Rochester, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 111 associate degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Rochester Community and Technical College are $5,372 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $22,180 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Rochester Community and Technical College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 71% took at least some of their classes online.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Rochester Community and Technical College also did well on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Read full report on Rochester Community and Technical College
Metropolitan Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #6 on the list. Metropolitan Community College is a fairly large public school located in Omaha, Nebraska that handed out 58 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at MCC are $4,680 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $13,886 in loans while pursuing their degree.
MCC 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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 68% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Hutchinson Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Hutchinson, Kansas, and it awarded 69 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Hutchinson Community College are $4,470 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $19,221 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Hutchinson Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 45% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Northwest Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #8 on the list. This very small public school is located in Bemidji, Minnesota, and it awarded 77 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at NTC are $6,380 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $32,265 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that NTC does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 72% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
NTC also made our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list, coming in at #2.
Central Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Central Community College is located in Grand Island, Nebraska and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 55 associate degrees to qualified students.
Central Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,590 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,095 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Central Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 69% took at least some of their classes online.
North Hennepin Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. North Hennepin Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota that handed out 72 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
North Hennepin Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,882 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $24,520 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since North Hennepin Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 86% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Lake Region State College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree nursing programs. Located in Devils Lake, North Dakota, the small public school handed out 43 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
Lake Region State College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,000 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $16,732 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Lake Region State College. In fact, around 65% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Mid-Plains Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in North Platte, Nebraska, the small public school handed out 33 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Mid-Plains Community College are $4,320 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $14,135 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Mid-Plains Community College 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 60% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #13, Anoka-Ramsey Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, the medium-sized public school handed out 151 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus undergraduate students pay an average of $5,515 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $23,645 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 48% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus also is in the top 15% of our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.
Labette Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Parsons, Kansas, the small public school handed out 21 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Labette Community College are $4,288 a year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $14,135 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Labette Community College 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 2019-2020 about 66% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #15, North Dakota State College of Science did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. North Dakota State College of Science is a small public school located in Wahpeton, North Dakota that handed out 78 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at North Dakota State College of Science are $6,606 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $16,451 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at North Dakota State College of Science, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 32% took at least some of their classes online.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, North Dakota State College of Science is ranked #5 for overall quality in the Plains States Region .
With a ranking of #16, Western Iowa Tech Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Sioux City, Iowa that handed out 81 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Western Iowa Tech Community College are $4,826 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $17,167 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Western Iowa Tech Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 53% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Inver Hills Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #17 on the list. IHCC is located in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 89 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at IHCC are $5,809 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $22,611 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since IHCC does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 85% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, IHCC also did well on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
With a ranking of #18, Northeast Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Northeast Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Norfolk, Nebraska that handed out 36 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Northeast are $5,010 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $13,887 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Northeast does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 35% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Garden City Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Garden City Community College is located in Garden City, Kansas and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 associate degrees to qualified students.
Garden City Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,020 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,301 in student loans.
Garden City Community College 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 67% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Seward County Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Seward County Community College is a small public school located in Liberal, Kansas that handed out 28 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
SCCC undergraduate students pay an average of $4,832 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,565 in student loans.
SCCC 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 2019-2020.
Crowder College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Crowder College is a small public school located in Neosho, Missouri that handed out 127 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Crowder College are $5,088 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $12,664 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Crowder College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 60% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #22, Ridgewater College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Ridgewater College is a small public school located in Willmar, Minnesota that handed out 93 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Ridgewater College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,914 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $20,453 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Ridgewater College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 60% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
In addition to its great value ranking, Ridgewater College is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list.
With a ranking of #23, Alexandria Technical & Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Alexandria, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.
ATCC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,910 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $15,116 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at ATCC. In fact, around 48% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
ATCC also claimed a spot on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Read full report on Alexandria Technical & Community College
Barton County Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Barton Community College is a public institution located in Great Bend, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Barton Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,544 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $16,125 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Barton Community College 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 2019-2020 academic year, around 78% took at least some of their classes online.
South Central College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree nursing programs. South Central College is a public institution located in North Mankato, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 55 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
South Central College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,966 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $19,738 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
South Central College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 79% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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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