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2024 Best Nursing Doctor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region

36 Colleges in the Plains States Region
1,518 Doctor's Degrees
$119,213 Avg Early-Career Salary
Ranked #5 in popularity, nursing is one of the most sought-after doctor's degree programs in the nation. So, there are lots of possibilities to explore when you're trying to determine where you want to get your degree.

For its 2024 ranking, College Factual looked at 36 schools in the Plains States Region to determine which ones were the best for nursing students pursuing a doctor's degree. Combined, these schools handed out 1,518 doctor's degrees in nursing to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Nursing School for Your Doctor's Degree

Best Nursing Doctor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region The nursing doctor's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:

Overall Quality Is a Must

A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To take this into account we include a school's overall Best Colleges for a Doctor's Degree ranking which itself looks at a collection of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.

Average Early-Career Salaries

Average early-career salary of those graduating with their doctor's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. That is, everyone wants their doctor's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.

Other Factors We Consider

The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.

Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for nursing students working on their doctor's degree.

More Ways to Rank Nursing Schools

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Nursing Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Nursing Doctor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.


 

Best Schools for Doctorate Students to Study Nursing in the Plains States Region

Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for nursing students seeking a a doctor's degree.

10 Top Plains States Region Schools for a Doctorate in Nursing

1

Mayo Clinic School of Medicine is a good option for individuals interested in a doctor's degree in nursing. Located in the medium-sized city of Rochester, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Doctorate recipients from the nursing major at Mayo Clinic School of Medicine earn $64,693 above the typical graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a doctorate in nursing from Mayo Clinic School of Medicine

2
97 Annual Graduates

It is hard to beat Creighton University if you want to pursue a doctor's degree in nursing. Located in the city of Omaha, Creighton is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing from Creighton University

3

It's hard to beat University of Minnesota - Twin Cities if you wish to pursue a doctor's degree in nursing. UMN Twin Cities is a very large public university located in the city of Minneapolis.

Soon after graduating, nursing doctorate recipients generally make about $99,422 in their early careers.

More information about a doctorate in nursing from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

4

Maryville University of Saint Louis is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a doctor's degree in nursing. Maryville U is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Saint Louis.

Those nursing students who get their doctor's degree from Maryville University of Saint Louis earn $3,729 more than the average nursing student.

More information about a doctorate in nursing from Maryville University of Saint Louis

5
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS
80 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of Lawrence, KU is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing from University of Kansas

6
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA

Located in the small city of Iowa City, Iowa is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Students who graduate with their doctorate from the nursing program state that they receive average early career wages of $107,534.

More information about a doctorate in nursing from University of Iowa

7
33 Annual Graduates

Located in the town of Yankton, Mount Marty is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.More information about a doctorate in nursing from Mount Marty University

8

Located in the large city of Omaha, UNMC is a public university with a small student population.

Soon after graduating, nursing doctorate recipients generally earn about $103,673 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a doctorate in nursing from University of Nebraska Medical Center

9
1 Annual Graduates

UND is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Grand Forks.More information about a doctorate in nursing from University of North Dakota

10
Capella University crest
Capella University
Minneapolis, MN

Capella University is a very large private for-profit university located in the large city of Minneapolis.

Doctorate students who receive their degree from the nursing program earn about $104,654 for their early career.

More information about a doctorate in nursing from Capella University


 

Best Nursing Colleges by State

Explore the best nursing schools for a specific state in the Plains States Region .

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Missouri 122 380
Minnesota 120 658
Iowa 110 80
Kansas 97 143
Nebraska 70 177
North Dakota 68 39
South Dakota 45 41

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One of 34 majors within the Health Professions area of study, Nursing has other similar majors worth exploring.

Nursing Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Nursing Practice 705
Nurse Anesthetist 221
Nursing Science 156
Nursing Administration 151
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 131
Registered Nursing 83
Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing 13
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 13
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing 11
School Nursing 11

Related Major Annual Graduates
Medicine 2,453
Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions 1,891
Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences 1,279
Chiropractic 1,114
Dentistry 559
Public Health 247
Health & Medical Administrative Services 130
Communication Sciences 129
Health Sciences & Services 92
Allied Health Professions 86

Notes and References

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