2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in Kansas
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. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
The Best Value Nursing Schools in Kansas ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 29 schools in Kansas to see which 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 Schools in Kansas
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Johnson County Community College to be the best value school for nursing students in Kansas. Johnson County Community College is a fairly large public school located in Overland Park, Kansas that handed out 400 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at JCCC are $5,352 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $16,311 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, JCCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,711 during the early year of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Kansas City Kansas Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools in Kansas list. Located in Kansas City, Kansas, the small public school awarded 264 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Kansas City Kansas Community College are $6,510 a year. On average, students take out $15,005 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Kansas City Kansas Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,587 during the early years of their career.
The excellent programs at Hutchinson Community College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best value nursing schools in Kansas. Hutchinson Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Hutchinson, Kansas. It awarded 368 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Hutchinson Community College are $4,470 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,967 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Hutchinson Community College graduates make an average of $38,555 annually.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Cloud County Community College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Kansas list. Located in Concordia, Kansas, the small public school handed out 124 degrees in 2020-2021.
Cloud County Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $3,570 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $16,410 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Cloud County Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,806 during the early year of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Garden City Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Kansas list. Located in Garden City, Kansas, the small public school handed out 160 degrees in 2020-2021.
Garden City Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,020 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $12,836 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Garden City Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,354 during the early years of their career.
Neosho County Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Kansas ranking. 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. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,224 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Neosho County Community College graduates make an average of $36,250 annually.
Seward County Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Kansas list. Liberal, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 114 students in 2020-2021.
SCCC undergraduate students pay an average of $4,832 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,037 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, SCCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $53,776 during the early year of their career.
Labette Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Kansas list. This small public school is located in Parsons, Kansas, and it awarded 35 degrees in 2020-2021.
Labette Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,288 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $14,135 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Labette Community College graduates make an average of $39,899 annually.
Fort Hays State University 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 Hays, Kansas, the fairly large public school awarded 173 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at FHSU are $15,870 per year. On average, students take out $28,036 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $165.After graduating from FHSU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,454 during the early years of their career.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, FHSU is ranked #5 for overall quality in Kansas.
Barton County Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Kansas list. Barton Community College is a small public school situated in Great Bend, Kansas. It awarded 115 degrees in 2020-2021.
Barton Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,544 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,719 in student loans.After graduating from Barton Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,383 during the early years of their career.
Dodge City Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in Dodge City, Kansas, the small public school handed out 160 degrees in 2020-2021.
Dodge City Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,830 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $10,121 in loans while pursuing their degree. 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.
Colby Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Kansas ranking. Colby Community College is a small public school located in Colby, Kansas that handed out 74 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Colby Community College are $5,553 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,067 in student loans.After graduating from Colby Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,960 during the early years of their career.
Butler Community College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Butler CC is a public institution located in El Dorado, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 363 degrees in 2020-2021.
Butler CC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,976 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,822 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Butler CC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $30,089 during the early year of their career.
Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #14 on the list. Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology is a small public school located in Wichita, Kansas that handed out 503 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WSU Tech are $6,875 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,570 in student loans. During the early years of their career, WSU Tech graduates make an average of $40,673 annually.
Flint Hills Technical College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Kansas ranking. Flint Hills Technical College is located in Emporia, Kansas and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 66 degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Flint Hills Technical College are $7,032 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $14,748 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Flint Hills Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,297 during the early year of their career.
North Central Kansas Technical College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Kansas ranking. Located in Beloit, Kansas, the very small public school awarded 211 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at North Central Kansas Technical College are $7,692 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,130 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, North Central Kansas Technical College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,770 during the early year of their career.
North Central Kansas Technical College did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our Best Nursing Schools in Kansas list.
Grantham University landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Lenexa, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out degrees to 22 students in 2020-2021.
Grantham University undergraduate students pay an average of $8,280 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,781 in student loans.After graduating from Grantham University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $55,745 during the early years of their career.
Ottawa University - Kansas City came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Kansas ranking. Ottawa University - Kansas City is a very small private not-for-profit school located in Overland Park, Kansas that handed out 19 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Ottawa University - Kansas City are $12,869 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $31,724 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.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Ottawa University - Kansas City is ranked #1 for overall quality in Kansas.
Pittsburg State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools in Kansas ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Pittsburg, Kansas, and it awarded 168 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Pitt State are $19,088 per year. On average, students take out $21,816 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Pitt State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,688 during the early years of their career.
Manhattan Area Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #20 on the list. MATC is a very small public school situated in Manhattan, Kansas. It awarded 155 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MATC are $7,650 per year. On average, students take out $17,343 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, MATC graduates make an average of $50,709 annually.
University of Kansas landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Located in Lawrence, Kansas, the large public school awarded 297 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
KU undergraduate students pay an average of $28,034 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $23,985 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $365, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from KU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $50,693 during the early years of their career.
KU also made our Best Nursing Schools in Kansas list, coming in at #2.
Washburn University landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Washburn University is a medium-sized public school situated in Topeka, Kansas. It awarded 221 degrees in 2020-2021.
Washburn University undergraduate students pay an average of $19,876 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,201 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $187, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Washburn University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,384 during the early years of their career.
Wichita State University landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Located in Wichita, Kansas, the fairly large public school handed out 185 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WSU are $18,165 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,875 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $142, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from WSU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,743 during the early years of their career.
Rasmussen University - Kansas did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #24 on the list. Rasmussen University - Kansas is a very small private for-profit school located in Topeka, Kansas that handed out 184 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Rasmussen University - Kansas are $13,639 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $30,604 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $127.After graduating from Rasmussen University - Kansas, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,940 during the early years of their career.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Rasmussen University - Kansas is ranked #3 for overall quality in Kansas.
Newman University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools in Kansas list. Newman University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Wichita, Kansas. It awarded 61 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Newman University are $34,460 a year. On average, students take out $27,879 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Newman University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $56,885 during the early years of their career.
Newman University excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Nursing Schools in Kansas 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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