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2022 Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region

21 Ranked Colleges
255 Degrees Awarded
$12,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 31,648 people earned their degree in health sciences and services, making the major the 42nd most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, health sciences and services graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $34,571 and had an average of $24,129 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 1,793 health sciences and services graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,826 and $21,513 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 255 health sciences and services graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,069 and $19,434 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region” ranking analyzed 21 colleges that offered a degree in health sciences and services. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great health sciences and services programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the health sciences and services program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The health science school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region associate degree health science students.

Top 21 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Health Sciences & Services in the Plains States Region

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s health science degrees to 67 students in 2019-2020.

MCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Health Sciences & Services Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City is $7,066 for plains states region associate degree health science students.

Full Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City Health Sciences & Services Report

#2

Century College

White Bear Lake, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Century College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school handed out 24 diplomas to qualified associates’s health science students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Century College, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Health Sciences & Services Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Century College is $10,808 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Health Science students.

Read more about Health Sciences & Services at Century College

#3

North Hennepin Community College

Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, North Hennepin Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. North Hennepin Community College is a medium-sized school located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota that handed out 9 associates’s health science degrees in 2019-2020.

North Hennepin Community College also took the #8 spot in our “Best Health Sciences & Services Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for North Hennepin Community College is $10,284 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Health Science students.

Read more about Health Sciences & Services at North Hennepin Community College

#4

Northwest Technical College

Bemidji, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwest Technical College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Bemidji, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s health science degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

NTC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Health Sciences & Services Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,783 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Health Science students per year to attend Northwest Technical College.

Read full report on Health Sciences & Services at Northwest Technical College

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, St Cloud Technical and Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, this small public school awarded 6 degrees to qualified associates’s health science students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at St Cloud Technical and Community College, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Health Sciences & Services Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend St Cloud Technical and Community College is $9,019 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Health Science students.

Full St Cloud Technical and Community College Health Sciences & Services Report

#10 in overall quality

Rochester Community and Technical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #6. Rochester Community and Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Rochester, Minnesota. It awarded 3 associates’s health science degrees in 2019-2020.

Rochester Community and Technical College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Health Sciences & Services Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Rochester Community and Technical College is $14,088 for plains states region associate degree health science students.

Read more about Health Sciences & Services at Rochester Community and Technical College

#7

Southeast Technical College

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Southeast Technical College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Southeast Tech is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 associates’s health science degrees to qualified students.

Southeast Tech also took the #6 spot in our “Best Health Sciences & Services Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,633 for plains states region associate degree health science students per year to attend Southeast Tech.

Read full report on Health Sciences & Services at Southeast Technical College

#12 in overall quality

Metropolitan Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Metropolitan Community College is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 associates’s health science degrees to qualified students.

MCC also made our “Best Health Sciences & Services Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for Metropolitan Community College is $4,295 for plains states region associate degree health science students.

Read full report on Health Sciences & Services at MCC

#9

Butler Community College

El Dorado, Kansas
#11 in overall quality

Butler Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Located in El Dorado, Kansas, this medium-sized public school handed out 34 degrees to qualified associates’s health science students in 2019-2020.

Butler CC also took the #11 spot in our “Best Health Sciences & Services Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Butler Community College is $13,895 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Health Science students.

Full Butler Community College Health Sciences & Services Report

#2 in overall quality

Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Cape Girardeau, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associates’s health science degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Southeast Health did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Health Sciences & Services Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Health is $22,395 for plains states region associate degree health science students.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Health Sciences & Services at Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences

#11

Anoka-Ramsey Community College

Coon Rapids, Minnesota
#13 in overall quality

Anoka-Ramsey Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #11. This medium-sized school is located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, and it awarded 7 associates’s health science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree health science students list, Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Health Sciences & Services Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,890 for plains states region associate degree health science students per year to attend Anoka-Ramsey Community College.

Read more about Health Sciences & Services at Anoka-Ramsey Community College

#12

Normandale Community College

Bloomington, Minnesota
#14 in overall quality

Normandale Community College landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Bloomington, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s health science degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Normandale Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Health Sciences & Services Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Normandale Community College is $12,620 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Health Science students.

Read full report on Health Sciences & Services at Normandale Community College

#13

Saint Paul College

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#15 in overall quality

Saint Paul College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Saint Paul College is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 associates’s health science degrees to qualified students.

Saint Paul College also made our “Best Health Sciences & Services Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #15. The yearly cost to attend Saint Paul College is $11,613 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Health Science students.

Read full report on Health Sciences & Services at Saint Paul College

#14

Itasca Community College

Grand Rapids, Minnesota
#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Itasca Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Itasca Community College is a small public school situated in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. It awarded 3 associates’s health science degrees in 2019-2020.

Itasca Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Health Sciences & Services Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Itasca Community College is $11,449 for plains states region associate degree health science students.

Read more about Health Sciences & Services at Itasca Community College

#15

Western Dakota Technical Institute

Rapid City, South Dakota
#16 in overall quality

Western Dakota Technical Institute came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Rapid City, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s health science degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

Western Dakota Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Health Sciences & Services Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Western Dakota Technical Institute is $14,388 for plains states region associate degree health science students.

Read full report on Health Sciences & Services at Western Dakota Technical Institute

#16

Central Lakes College - Brainerd

Brainerd, Minnesota
#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Central Lakes College - Brainerd did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Central Lakes College - Brainerd is a public institution located in Brainerd, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Central Lakes College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Health Sciences & Services Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Central Lakes College - Brainerd is $12,514 for plains states region associate degree health science students.

Read more about Health Sciences & Services at Central Lakes College - Brainerd

#17

South Central College

North Mankato, Minnesota
#18 in overall quality

South Central College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in North Mankato, Minnesota, and it awarded 1 associates’s health science degrees in 2019-2020.

South Central College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Health Sciences & Services Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend South Central College is $10,175 for plains states region associate degree health science students.

Read more about Health Sciences & Services at South Central College

#18

Lake Superior College

Duluth, Minnesota
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Lake Superior College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. LSC is a small school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 3 associates’s health science degrees in 2019-2020.

LSC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Health Sciences & Services Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for LSC is $13,503 for plains states region associate degree health science students.

Read more about Health Sciences & Services at Lake Superior College

#19

Union College Nebraska

Lincoln, Nebraska
#4 in overall quality

Union College Nebraska did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #19. Union College Nebraska is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 associates’s health science degrees to qualified students.

Union College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Health Sciences & Services Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Union College is $22,497 for plains states region associate degree health science students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Union College Nebraska Health Sciences & Services Report

#20

Pine Technical & Community College

Pine City, Minnesota
#21 in overall quality

Pine Technical & Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Pine City, Minnesota, and it awarded 1 associates’s health science degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Pine Technical & Community College, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Health Sciences & Services Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,149 for plains states region associate degree health science students per year to attend Pine Technical & Community College.

Full Pine Technical & Community College Health Sciences & Services Report

#21

Rockhurst University

Kansas City, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

Rockhurst University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Health Science Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Rockhurst is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 associates’s health science degrees to qualified students.

Rockhurst also took the #1 spot in our “Best Health Sciences & Services Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Rockhurst University is $21,116 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Health Science students.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Rockhurst University Health Sciences & Services Report

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Notes and References

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%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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