2023 Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate 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 assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This report analyzed 39 schools in the Plains States Region to see which ones were the most popular graduate certificate programs for nursing students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our analysis found Maryville University of Saint Louis to be the most popular school for nursing students who want to pursue a graduate certificate in the Plains States Region . Maryville U is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 429 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.
On average, graduate certificate students take out $41,996 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 80% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Maryville U. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 89% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Washburn University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Washburn University is a public institution located in Topeka, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 79 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Graduate Certificate recipients from Washburn University accumulate an average of $30,029 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 84% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Washburn University. In fact, around 51% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
The excellent graduate certificate programs at University of Missouri - Kansas City helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in the Plains States Region . UMKC is located in Kansas City, Missouri and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 114 graduate certificates to qualified students.
Around 66% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at UMKC. During the 2020-2021 year, about 43% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Graceland University - Lamoni is a great place for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. Graceland Lamoni is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lamoni, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 20 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $46,047 in student loans. Around 95% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Graceland Lamoni. In fact, around 89% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Mayo Clinic School of Medicine is a great place for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. Mayo Clinic School of Medicine is located in Rochester, Minnesota and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 44 graduate certificates to qualified students.
On average, graduate certificate students take out $9,134 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 80% were women.
University of Iowa ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, the large public school handed out 1,251 graduate certificate awards in 2021-2022.
On average, graduate certificate students take out $86,053 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.
Iowa does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 37% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #7, Capella University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. This large private for-profit school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 633 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Graduate Certificate recipients from Capella University accumulate an average of $49,705 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 88% of those degree recipients were women.
Since the graduate programs at Capella University are online, the school is an excellent choice for graduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.
Winona State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Winona, Minnesota, and it awarded 55 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Graduate Certificate recipients from Winona State accumulate an average of $31,617 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 78% of those degree recipients were women.
Winona State does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 87% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #8, Saint Louis University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 91 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $142,884 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
SLU does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 27% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #11, University of Nebraska Medical Center did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. UNMC is a small public school situated in Omaha, Nebraska. It awarded 105 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Around 78% of those degree recipients were women.
UNMC does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 17% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Allen College ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Waterloo, Iowa is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out graduate certificates to 6 students in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.
One thing to take note of is that Allen College does offer online graduate classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 78% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
South Dakota State University landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate nursing programs. Located in Brookings, South Dakota, the fairly large public school awarded 29 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2021-2022.
Around 72% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that South Dakota State does offer online graduate classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 46% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Briar Cliff University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Sioux City, Iowa, the very small private not-for-profit school awarded 5 diplomas to qualifed graduate certificate students in 2021-2022.
Around 80% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Briar Cliff. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 64% took at least some of their classes online.
Morningside College ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Morningside is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux City, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.
Since the graduate programs at Morningside are primarily online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
Creighton University ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Creighton is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Omaha, Nebraska. It awarded 188 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.
On average, graduate certificate students take out $25,766 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 71% of those degree recipients were women.
Creighton does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 40% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Clarkson College ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Clarkson College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.
On average, graduate certificate students take out $26,544 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 93% were women.
Clarkson College does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 97% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #18 on the list. UMSL is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 180 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.
On average, graduate certificate students take out $29,910 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 72% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UMSL does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 68% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Research College of Nursing came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Research College of Nursing is located in Kansas City, Missouri and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2 graduate certificates to qualified students.
Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.
Research College of Nursing does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 77% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
University of Kansas landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate nursing programs. KU is a public institution located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 366 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Graduate Certificate recipients from KU accumulate an average of $24,997 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at KU. In 2020-2021 about 42% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Goldfarb School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 9 graduate certificates in 2021-2022.
Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.
Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Goldfarb School of Nursing. Every graduate student at the school took at least one class online.
Clarke University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #20 on the list.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Clarke. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 41% took at least some of their classes online.
Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #23 on the list. Moorhead, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out graduate certificates to 50 students in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 76% were women.
MSU Moorhead does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 86% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #23, Mount Marty University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. Yankton, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out graduate certificates to 4 students in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Mount Marty. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 98% took at least some of their classes online.
University of North Dakota came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the fairly large public school handed out 57 graduate certificate awards in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 74% were women.
One thing to take note of is that UND does offer online graduate classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 73% of graduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
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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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