2023 Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate 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.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Nursing Degree Search has created the Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 35 schools in the Plains States Region to see which ones offered the best value basic certificate programs for nursing students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
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 Basic Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Neosho County Community College to be the best value school for nursing students who want to pursue a basic certificate in the Plains States Region . Located in Chanute, Kansas, the small public school awarded 176 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate 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.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Neosho County Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 42% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Hutchinson Community College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized public school is located in Hutchinson, Kansas, and it awarded 251 basic certificates in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Hutchinson Community College are $4,470 a year.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Hutchinson Community College. In 2019-2020 about 45% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Western Iowa Tech Community College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Sioux City, Iowa, the medium-sized public school awarded 297 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Western Iowa Tech Community College are $4,826 per year.
One thing to take note of is that Western Iowa Tech Community College does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 53% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Western Iowa Tech Community College also claimed a spot on our Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Garden City Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Garden City, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 118 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Garden City Community College are $4,020 per year.
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.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Century College is a great place for nursing students working on their basic certificate who want the most bang for their educational buck. Century College is a medium-sized public school located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota that handed out 60 basic certificates in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Century College are $5,907 a year.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Century College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 91% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Century College also made our Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list, coming in at #2.
Johnson County Community College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate nursing programs. Located in Overland Park, Kansas, the fairly large public school awarded 317 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2020-2021.
JCCC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,352 in tuition and fees each year.
Online courses are available at JCCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 84% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, JCCC also is in the top 20% of our Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.
Lake Area Technical Institute landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate nursing programs. Located in Watertown, South Dakota, the small public school handed out 18 basic certificate awards in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at LATI are $6,718 a year.
LATI 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 44% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, LATI is ranked #1 for overall quality in the Plains States Region .
Dodge City Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Dodge City Community College is a small public school located in Dodge City, Kansas that handed out 146 basic certificates in 2020-2021.
Dodge City Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,830 in tuition and fees each year.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Dodge City Community College. In 2019-2020 about 51% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Anoka Technical College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Anoka, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 129 students in 2020-2021.
Anoka Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,075 in tuition and fees each year.
Anoka Technical 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 47% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Anoka Technical College is ranked #4 for overall quality in the Plains States Region .
With a ranking of #10, Seward County Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate. Liberal, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 68 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SCCC are $4,832 per year.
Online courses are available at SCCC, 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 23% took at least some of their classes online.
Inver Hills Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate nursing programs. Located in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, the small public school awarded 112 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2020-2021.
IHCC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,809 in tuition and fees each year.
One thing to take note of is that IHCC does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 85% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Northland Community and Technical College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate nursing programs. Northland Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 64 basic certificates in 2020-2021.
Northland Community and Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,052 in tuition and fees each year.
One thing to take note of is that Northland Community and Technical College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 48% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Barton County Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in Great Bend, Kansas, the small public school handed out 70 basic certificate awards in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Barton Community College are $4,544 per year.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Barton Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 78% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #14, Dakota County Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate. Located in Rosemount, Minnesota, the small public school awarded 68 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at DCTC are $6,208 per year.
DCTC 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 2019-2020 year, about 80% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #15, Kansas City Kansas Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate. Kansas City, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 187 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Kansas City Kansas Community College are $6,510 per year.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Kansas City Kansas Community College. In fact, around 43% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Kansas City Kansas Community College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list.
Saint Paul College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate nursing programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 165 basic certificates in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Saint Paul College are $6,041 a year.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Saint Paul College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 75% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #17, Rochester Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate. This small public school is located in Rochester, Minnesota, and it awarded 14 basic certificates in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Rochester Community and Technical College are $5,372 a year.
Online courses are available at Rochester Community and Technical College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 71% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Hennepin Technical College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, the small public school awarded 19 diplomas to qualifed basic certificate students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Hennepin Technical College are $5,741 a year.
One thing to take note of is that Hennepin Technical College does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 64% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Flint Hills Technical College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Flint Hills Technical College is a public institution located in Emporia, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 46 basic certificates in 2020-2021.
Flint Hills Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,032 in tuition and fees each year.
Flint Hills Technical College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 38% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
North Central Kansas Technical College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. This very small public school is located in Beloit, Kansas, and it awarded 133 basic certificates in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at North Central Kansas Technical College are $7,692 per year.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at North Central Kansas Technical College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 19% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, North Central Kansas Technical College is ranked #3 for overall quality in the Plains States Region .
Southeastern Community College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate nursing programs. This small public school is located in West Burlington, Iowa, and it awarded 91 basic certificates in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southeastern Community College are $6,240 per year.
Online courses are available at Southeastern Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 49% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Wichita, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out basic certificates to 408 students in 2020-2021.
WSU Tech undergraduate students pay an average of $6,875 in tuition and fees each year.
One thing to take note of is that WSU Tech does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 48% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Minneapolis Community and Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #23 on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 141 basic certificates in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Minneapolis Community and Technical College are $5,906 a year.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. In fact, around 47% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Lake Superior College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #24 on the list. Lake Superior College is a small public school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 36 basic certificates in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at LSC are $5,616 a year.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at LSC. During the 2019-2020 year, about 47% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #25, North Iowa Area Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate. North Iowa Area Community College is a small public school located in Mason City, Iowa that handed out 113 basic certificates in 2020-2021.
North Iowa Area Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,547 in tuition and fees each year.
North Iowa Area Community College is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
North Iowa Area Community College not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #5 on our Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list.
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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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