2023 Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which nursing program is right 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 Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 107 schools in the Plains States Region to see which associate degree programs were the most popular for nursing students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
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Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Rasmussen University - Minnesota the most popular school in the Plains States Region for nursing students working on their associate degree. Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a small private for-profit school situated in St. Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 674 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Rasmussen University - Minnesota does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $13,558. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,551 in student loans. Around 87% of those degree recipients were women.
Rasmussen University - Minnesota 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 99% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Saint Louis Community College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, the fairly large public school awarded 204 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
In-state students pay an average of $5,295 in tuition and fees if they attend Saint Louis Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,155. On average, associate degree students take out $13,964 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 86% of those degree recipients were women.
Saint Louis 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 80% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Des Moines Area Community College is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree. DMACC is a large public school situated in Ankeny, Iowa. It awarded 166 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, associate degree students take out $16,614 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 90% of those degree recipients were women.
Online courses are available at DMACC, 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 63% took at least some of their classes online.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Rasmussen University - Kansas is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree. Topeka, Kansas is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 154 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees at Rasmussen University - Kansas is $13,639. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Rasmussen University - Kansas accumulate an average of $27,566 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 94% of those degree recipients were women.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Rasmussen University - Kansas. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Anoka-Ramsey Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, the medium-sized public school handed out 151 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $5,515 to cover tuition and fees at Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, associate degree students take out $23,645 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 83% of those degree recipients were women.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus 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 48% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Iowa Western Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #6 on the list. Council Bluffs, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 146 students in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from Iowa pay an average of $6,330 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Iowa Western Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,480. Associate Degree recipients from Iowa Western Community College accumulate an average of $21,172 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 90% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Iowa Western Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 75% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Southwest Baptist University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Southwest Baptist University is located in Bolivar, Missouri and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 133 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees at Southwest Baptist University is $26,060. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,722 in student loans. Around 90% of those degree recipients were women.
Online courses are available at Southwest Baptist University, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 38% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Crowder College ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. This small public school is located in Neosho, Missouri, and it awarded 127 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $5,088 to cover tuition and fees at Crowder College. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, associate degree students take out $12,664 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 88% of those degree recipients were women.
Online courses are available at Crowder College, 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 60% took at least some of their classes online.
Butler Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Butler CC is located in El Dorado, Kansas and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 122 associate degrees to qualified students.
Full-time students from Kansas pay an average of $4,176 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Butler CC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,976. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,517 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 88% were women.
Butler CC 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 35% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Lake Superior College ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. This small public school is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and it awarded 112 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
LSC does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $5,616. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from LSC accumulate an average of $23,773 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 81% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since LSC does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 47% took at least some of their classes online.
Rochester Community and Technical College ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Rochester Community and Technical College is a small public school located in Rochester, Minnesota that handed out 111 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Rochester Community and Technical College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $5,372. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,180 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 74% were women.
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. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 71% took at least some of their classes online.
Century College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. This medium-sized public school is located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and it awarded 108 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees at Century College is $5,907. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $22,559 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 87% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you 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.
With a ranking of #13, Rasmussen University - North Dakota did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Rasmussen University - North Dakota is located in Fargo, North Dakota and has a very small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 105 associate degrees to qualified students.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $11,847 to cover tuition and fees at Rasmussen University - North Dakota. The school does not offer an in-state discount. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,566 in student loans. Around 86% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that Rasmussen University - North Dakota does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 100% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #14, Kirkwood Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Kirkwood Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It awarded 98 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
In-state students pay an average of $5,308 in tuition and fees if they attend Kirkwood Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,072. Associate Degree recipients from Kirkwood Community College accumulate an average of $19,972 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 84% of those degree recipients were women.
Online courses are available at Kirkwood 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 86% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Ridgewater College ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Ridgewater College is a public institution located in Willmar, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 93 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $5,914 to cover tuition and fees at Ridgewater College. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, associate degree students take out $20,453 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 92% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Ridgewater College does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 60% took at least some of their classes online.
Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, the fairly large public school handed out 91 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
Associate Degree recipients from MCC accumulate an average of $16,587 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 89% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at MCC. In 2019-2020 about 92% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Northeast Iowa Community College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. NICC is a small public school situated in Calmar, Iowa. It awarded 90 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from Iowa pay an average of $6,120 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend NICC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,840. Around 92% of those degree recipients were women.
Online courses are available at NICC, 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 55% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
North Central Missouri College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in Trenton, Missouri, the small public school awarded 90 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from Missouri pay an average of $5,910 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend NCMC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,020. Associate Degree recipients from NCMC accumulate an average of $17,303 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 91% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at NCMC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 65% took at least some of their classes online.
Minneapolis Community and Technical College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the medium-sized public school awarded 90 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees at Minneapolis Community and Technical College is $5,906. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Minneapolis Community and Technical College accumulate an average of $26,611 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 80% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that Minneapolis Community and Technical College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 47% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Neosho County Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #17 on the list. Neosho County Community College is a public institution located in Chanute, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 90 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Neosho County Community College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $4,000. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,072 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 96% were women.
One thing to take note of is that Neosho County Community College does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 42% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Inver Hills Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 89 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees at IHCC is $5,809. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $22,611 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 88% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at IHCC. In 2019-2020 about 85% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Eastern Iowa Community College District ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is a medium-sized public school situated in Davenport, Iowa. It awarded 86 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,417 in student loans. Around 94% of those degree recipients were women.
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges 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 61% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #23, Western Iowa Tech Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. This medium-sized public school is located in Sioux City, Iowa, and it awarded 81 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from Iowa pay an average of $4,802 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Western Iowa Tech Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $4,826. On average, associate degree students take out $17,167 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 90% of those degree recipients were women.
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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 53% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
St Charles Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #24 on the list. Located in Cottleville, Missouri, the medium-sized public school awarded 80 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at SCC is $5,190. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,900. On average, associate degree students take out $15,948 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 93% of those degree recipients were women.
SCC 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.
Cox College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Cox College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 79 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees at Cox College is $12,600. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $32,512 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 92% of those degree recipients were women.
Cox College is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
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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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