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Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region

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2023 Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region

21 Schools Ranked

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which nursing program is right 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. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 21 schools in the Plains States Region to see which online doctor's degree programs were the most popular for nursing students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with online programs.

Learn more about these popular schools with online programs:

#2

Capella University

Minneapolis, Minnesota
171 Total Awards

Out of the 21 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Capella University landed the # 2 spot on the list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out doctor’s degrees to 171 students in 2020-2021.

Around 94% of those degree recipients were women.

Since the graduate programs at Capella University are primarily online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.

Read More…

#3

Maryville University of Saint Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
77 Total Awards
$15,696 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 21 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Maryville University of Saint Louis landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 77 doctor’s degree awards in 2020-2021.

Around 91% of those degree recipients were women.

Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 91% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Maryville University of Saint Louis

#4

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
80 Total Awards
$11,045 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Kansas. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. KU is a public institution located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 80 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 81% were women.

During the 2019-2020 year, about 69% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on University of Kansas

#5

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri
52 Total Awards
$11,745 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - Kansas City. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. UMKC is a public institution located in Kansas City, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 52 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 81% of those degree recipients were women.

In 2019-2020 about 66% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on University of Missouri - Kansas City

#5

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
51 Total Awards
$12,065 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means University of Iowa is a great place for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree. University of Iowa is a large public school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 51 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 82% of those degree recipients were women.

Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 33% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#7

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
22 Total Awards
$8,756 Average Tuition & Fees

Winona State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Winona, Minnesota, and it awarded 22 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.

Around 66% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Winona State University

21 Total Awards
$12,158 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #8, Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree. Nebraska Methodist College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Omaha, Nebraska. It awarded 21 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 95% were women.

Nebraska Methodist College is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each graduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Read full report on Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health

#9

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas
20 Total Awards
$9,636 Average Tuition & Fees

Washburn University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree nursing programs. Washburn University is a public institution located in Topeka, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 20 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 90% of those degree recipients were women.

Around 48% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Washburn University

#10

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas
18 Total Awards
$8,728 Average Tuition & Fees

Pittsburg State University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree nursing programs. Pitt State is a medium-sized public school situated in Pittsburg, Kansas. It awarded 18 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 94% of those degree recipients were women.

During the 2019-2020 year, about 80% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Pittsburg State University

#11

Fort Hays State University

Hays, Kansas
17 Total Awards
$4,500 Average Tuition & Fees

Fort Hays State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Hays, Kansas, the fairly large public school handed out 17 doctor’s degree awards in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.

Around 93% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Fort Hays State University

#12

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas
8 Total Awards
$7,252 Average Tuition & Fees

Wichita State University ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. This fairly large public school is located in Wichita, Kansas, and it awarded 8 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.

Around 37% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#13

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
41 Total Awards

University of Missouri - St Louis ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. This fairly large public school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 41 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 95% were women.

In 2019-2020 about 71% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full University of Missouri - St Louis Report

#13

Morningside College

Sioux City, Iowa
6 Total Awards

Morningside College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Sioux City, Iowa, and it awarded 6 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 100% of those degree recipients were women.

Morningside is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each graduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Read full report on Morningside College

#15

Allen College

Waterloo, Iowa
4 Total Awards
$18,908 Average Tuition & Fees

Allen College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree nursing programs. Allen College is a very small private not-for-profit school located in Waterloo, Iowa that handed out 4 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.

In 2019-2020 about 78% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#16

Briar Cliff University

Sioux City, Iowa
3 Total Awards
$10,530 Average Tuition & Fees

Briar Cliff University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree nursing programs. Briar Cliff University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Sioux City, Iowa that handed out 3 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.

In 2019-2020 about 64% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Briar Cliff University

2 Total Awards
$11,187 Average Tuition & Fees

Graceland University - Lamoni came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Graceland Lamoni is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lamoni, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.

Since the graduate programs at Graceland Lamoni are primarily online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.

Read full report on Graceland University - Lamoni

#18

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
1 Total Awards
$13,217 Average Tuition & Fees

University of North Dakota did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a doctor’s degree. It came in at #18 on the list. UND is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It awarded 1 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.

Around 71% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#19

Rasmussen University - North Dakota

Fargo, North Dakota
$5,615 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #19, Rasmussen University - North Dakota did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree.

Since the graduate programs at Rasmussen University - North Dakota are online, the school is an excellent choice for graduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.

Full Rasmussen University - North Dakota Report

#19

Rasmussen University - Minnesota

St. Cloud, Minnesota
$5,615 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #19, Rasmussen University - Minnesota did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree.

Since the graduate programs at Rasmussen University - Minnesota are primarily online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.

Full Rasmussen University - Minnesota Report

#19

Rasmussen University - Kansas

Topeka, Kansas
$5,615 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #19, Rasmussen University - Kansas did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their doctor’s degree.

If you are interested in distance education, Rasmussen University - Kansas is an excellent choice, since graduate classes are offered online.

Full Rasmussen University - Kansas Report

View Most Popular Online Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 21 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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