2023 Best Value Nursing 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.
The Best Value 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. This report analyzed 184 schools in the Plains States Region to see which ones offered the best value 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 Schools in the Plains States Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Oglala Lakota College to be the best value school for nursing students in the Plains States Region . Oglala Lakota College is a public institution located in Kyle, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 degrees in 2020-2021.
Oglala Lakota College undergraduate students pay an average of $2,684 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,450 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Oglala Lakota College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,569 during the early year of their career.
The excellent programs at Southeast Community College Area helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value nursing schools in the Plains States Region . Southeast Community College Area is a medium-sized public school located in Lincoln, Nebraska that handed out 159 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southeast Community College are $3,780 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $17,221 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $150 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Southeast Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,034 during the early year of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cloud County Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Cloud County Community College is a public institution located in Concordia, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 124 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 degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,410 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Cloud County Community College graduates make an average of $38,806 annually.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Neosho County Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Chanute, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 296 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Neosho County Community College are $4,000 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $14,224 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Neosho County Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,250 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Hutchinson Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized public school is located in Hutchinson, Kansas, and it awarded 368 degrees in 2020-2021.
Hutchinson Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,470 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $18,967 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Hutchinson Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,555 during the early year of their career.
Central Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Grand Island, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 125 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Central Community College are $4,590 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,096 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Central Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,791 during the early year of their career.
Western Iowa Tech Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Sioux City, Iowa. It awarded 499 degrees in 2020-2021.
Western Iowa Tech Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,826 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $14,142 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $31,155 during the early year of their career.
Metropolitan Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Metropolitan Community College is a fairly large public school located in Omaha, Nebraska that handed out 125 degrees in 2020-2021.
MCC undergraduate students pay an average of $4,680 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $13,886 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from MCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,258 during the early years of their career.
Garden City Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in Garden City, Kansas, the small public school awarded 160 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Garden City Community College are $4,020 a year. On average, students take out $12,836 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Garden City Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,354 during the early year of their career.
Rochester Community and Technical College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Rochester Community and Technical College is a small public school situated in Rochester, Minnesota. It awarded 148 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Rochester Community and Technical College are $5,372 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $22,298 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Rochester Community and Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,604 during the early year of their career.
Read full report on Rochester Community and Technical College
Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #11 on the list. Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies is a small private not-for-profit school located in Fayette, Missouri that handed out 249 degrees in 2020-2021.
CMU CGES undergraduate students pay an average of $6,720 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $25,044 in loans while pursuing 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.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, CMU CGES also did well on our Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Full Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies Report
Northwest Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #12 on the list. NTC is a very small public school situated in Bemidji, Minnesota. It awarded 86 degrees in 2020-2021.
NTC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,380 in tuition and fees each year. 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.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, NTC also is in the top 15% of our Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.
Johnson County Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. JCCC is a public institution located in Overland Park, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 400 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at JCCC are $5,352 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,311 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, JCCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,711 during the early year of their career.
Alexandria Technical & Community College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Located in Alexandria, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 84 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at ATCC are $5,910 per year. On average, students take out $15,948 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, ATCC graduates make an average of $40,141 annually.
North Hennepin Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #15 on the list. North Hennepin Community College is a public institution located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 72 degrees in 2020-2021.
North Hennepin Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,882 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $24,533 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, North Hennepin Community College graduates make an average of $42,370 annually.
Dodge City Community College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. This small public school is located in Dodge City, Kansas, and it awarded 160 degrees in 2020-2021.
Dodge City Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,830 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,121 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Dodge City Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $50,338 during the early year of their career.
Anoka Technical College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. This small public school is located in Anoka, Minnesota, and it awarded 171 degrees in 2020-2021.
Anoka Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,075 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $21,588 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Anoka Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,893 during the early year of their career.
Lake Region State College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Lake Region State College is a small public school situated in Devils Lake, North Dakota. It awarded 85 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Lake Region State College are $5,000 per year. On average, students take out $16,764 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Lake Region State College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,054 during the early years of their career.
Mid-Plains Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in North Platte, Nebraska, the small public school awarded 73 diplomas to qualifed students 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. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $14,135 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Mid-Plains Community College graduates make an average of $33,959 annually.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Anoka-Ramsey Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota that handed out 151 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus are $5,515 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $23,645 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus graduates make an average of $43,464 annually.
Inver Hills Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #21 on the list. IHCC is a small public school situated in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. It awarded 201 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at IHCC are $5,809 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $22,661 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, IHCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,023 during the early year of their career.
North Dakota State College of Science came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This small public school is located in Wahpeton, North Dakota, and it awarded 78 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, students take out $16,451 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, North Dakota State College of Science graduates make an average of $41,257 annually.
North Dakota State College of Science excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list.
Northland Community and Technical College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region list. Thief River Falls, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 239 students in 2020-2021.
Northland Community and Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,052 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,224 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Northland Community and Technical College graduates make an average of $41,428 annually.
Century College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #24 on the list. Century College is a medium-sized public school located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota that handed out 168 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Century College are $5,907 per year. On average, students take out $22,112 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Century College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,997 during the early years of their career.
Seward County Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Liberal, Kansas, the small public school awarded 114 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SCCC are $4,832 per year. On average, students take out $12,037 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, SCCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $53,776 during the early year of their career.
Rest of the Best Value Nursing Schools in the Plains States Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the 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 | Dakota County Technical College | Rosemount, MN |
| 30 | Barton County Community College | Great Bend, KS |
| 31 | St Cloud Technical and Community College | Saint Cloud, MN |
| 32 | Northeast Community College | Norfolk, NE |
| 33 | Ridgewater College | Willmar, MN |
| 34 | Saint Paul College | Saint Paul, MN |
| 35 | Crowder College | Neosho, MO |
| 36 | Kansas City Kansas Community College | Kansas City, KS |
| 37 | Northeast Iowa Community College | Calmar, IA |
More Plains States Rankings
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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