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2026 Best Nursing Practice Schools in the The Plains States Region

20 Colleges in the United States
1,015 Nursing Practice Degrees Awarded
$102,010 Avg Early-Career Salary

Nursing Practice is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their nursing practice programs.

College Factual analyzed 33 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best nursing practice schools.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Nursing Practice in the The Plains States Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall nursing practice education in the The Plains States Region.

Top Schools in Nursing Practice

1
University Of Kansas crest
University Of Kansas
Lawrence, KS

University Of Kansas tops our 2026 ranking of the best nursing practice schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Lawrence. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 36 nursing practice degrees were awarded at University Of Kansas in the most recent year. Nursing Practice graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $105,103 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500. Read more about the nursing practice program at University Of Kansas

2

Students looking for a strong nursing practice program will find one at University Of Nebraska Medical Center, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska Medical Center is a mid-sized public university. About 44 nursing practice degrees were awarded at University Of Nebraska Medical Center in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing practice program make about $96,559 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. Read more about the nursing practice program at University Of Nebraska Medical Center

3

Students looking for a strong nursing practice program will find one at Creighton University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Omaha, Creighton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 nursing practice degrees were awarded at Creighton University in the most recent year. Graduates of the nursing practice program make about $96,152 in their early career. Creighton University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full nursing practice details for Creighton University

4
University Of Iowa crest
University Of Iowa
Iowa City, IA

University Of Iowa is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in nursing practice, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University Of Iowa awarded about 15 nursing practice degrees in the most recent data year. Nursing Practice graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $96,368 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,811 to complete this degree. Get the full nursing practice details for University Of Iowa

5

Students looking for a strong nursing practice program will find one at University Of Missouri Columbia, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 41 nursing practice students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $92,946. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Get the full nursing practice details for University Of Missouri Columbia

6

University Of North Dakota earned the #6 position for nursing practice this year. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public university. University Of North Dakota graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 42 nursing practice students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Dakota in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from University Of North Dakota generally make around $153,282. Typical student debt for the program is $25,792. Get the full nursing practice details for University Of North Dakota

7
Capella University crest
Capella University
Minneapolis, MN

Capella University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best nursing practice schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit institution. Roughly 20% of students complete a degree within six years here. Capella University awarded about 221 nursing practice degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Capella University generally make around $107,183. Students borrow a median of $27,826 to complete this degree. See the full nursing practice program report for Capella University

8

Missouri State University Springfield ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best nursing practice schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 nursing practice students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent data year. Nursing Practice graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $132,297 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,631. More information about a degree in nursing practice from Missouri State University Springfield

9

The College Of Saint Scholastica landed the #9 spot for nursing practice this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Duluth. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 40 nursing practice degrees were awarded at The College Of Saint Scholastica in the most recent year. Nursing Practice graduates of The College Of Saint Scholastica earn a median of $94,855 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in nursing practice from The College Of Saint Scholastica

10

Maryville University Of Saint Louis ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best nursing practice schools. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Maryville University Of Saint Louis awarded about 59 nursing practice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing practice program make about $103,656 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $29,881 to complete this degree. Get the full nursing practice details for Maryville University Of Saint Louis

11

Washburn University landed the #11 spot for nursing practice this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Topeka. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. There were roughly 17 nursing practice students who graduated with this degree at Washburn University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Washburn University generally make around $98,985. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in nursing practice from Washburn University

12

University Of Missouri Kansas City placed #12 among the best nursing practice schools. This large public university is located in the city of Kansas City. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 36 nursing practice students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Kansas City in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing practice degree from University Of Missouri Kansas City earn around $107,719 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in nursing practice from University Of Missouri Kansas City

13
Walden University crest
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN

Walden University earned the #13 position for nursing practice this year. Walden University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. About 304 nursing practice degrees were awarded at Walden University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Walden University generally make around $107,541. Typical student debt for the program is $32,800. See the full nursing practice program report for Walden University

14
Augsburg College crest
Augsburg College
Minneapolis, MN

Augsburg College earned the #14 position for nursing practice this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 52% of students finish within six years. Augsburg College awarded about 12 nursing practice degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their nursing practice degree from Augsburg College earn around $104,795 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,441 to complete this degree. Read more about the nursing practice program at Augsburg College

15
St Catherine University crest
St Catherine University
Saint Paul, MN

St Catherine University placed #15 among the best nursing practice schools. St Catherine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 28 nursing practice degrees were awarded at St Catherine University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from St Catherine University generally make around $89,336. Typical student debt for the program is $32,610. Read more about the nursing practice program at St Catherine University

16

University Of Missouri St Louis came in at #16 for nursing practice this year. University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. University Of Missouri St Louis graduates 57% of students within six years. University Of Missouri St Louis awarded about 32 nursing practice degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the nursing practice program make about $100,122 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full nursing practice program report for University Of Missouri St Louis

17

Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health placed #17 among the best nursing practice schools. Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Omaha. Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health graduates 49% of students within six years. About 18 nursing practice degrees were awarded at Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing practice degree from Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health earn around $80,755 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $35,362. See the full nursing practice program report for Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health

18

Columbia College Missouri placed #18 among the best nursing practice schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Columbia. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. About 27 nursing practice degrees were awarded at Columbia College Missouri in the most recent year. Students who receive their nursing practice degree from Columbia College Missouri earn around $68,520 in the first couple years of their career. Columbia College Missouri graduates carry a median of $32,750 in student loans. See the full nursing practice program report for Columbia College Missouri

View All Nursing Practice Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 33 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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