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2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

107 Ranked Colleges
13,753 Degrees Awarded
$10,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

With 313,362 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, nursing is the 3rd most popular major in the United States. In 2017-2018, nursing graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $67,065 and had an average of $26,282 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 29,923 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $66,148 and $28,004 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 13,753 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 107 colleges that offer a degree in nursing. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent nursing programs, but they also 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 nursing program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our 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 Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Nursing (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#1

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Out of the 107 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #1 spot on the list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s nursing degrees to 130 students in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Twin Cities is $7,266 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read more about Nursing at UMN Twin Cities

#2

Truman State University

Kirksville, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Truman State University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Truman State University is a small school located in Kirksville, Missouri that handed out 50 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Truman State University is $7,564 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Full Truman State University Nursing Report

#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Iowa State is located in Ames, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 bachelors’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Iowa State also took the #7 spot in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,054 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Iowa State.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Nursing at Iowa State

#4

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota

Out of the 107 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, St Olaf College landed the #4 spot on the list. St Olaf College is a small school located in Northfield, Minnesota that handed out 22 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Olaf, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for St Olaf College is $12,459 for plains states region bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read more about Nursing at St. Olaf

#5

College of Saint Mary

Omaha, Nebraska

Out of the 107 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, College of Saint Mary landed the #5 spot on the list. Omaha, Nebraska is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s nursing degrees to 57 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,944 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Saint Mary.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at Saint Mary

#6

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota

Minot State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Minot State University is a small public school situated in Minot, North Dakota. It awarded 54 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Minot State University is $8,923 for plains states region bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Nursing at MSU

#7

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Winona State is a medium-sized school located in Winona, Minnesota that handed out 248 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Winona State, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,381 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Winona State.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at Winona State University

University of Missouri - Columbia came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Columbia, Missouri, and it awarded 215 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k list, Mizzou has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,940 for plains states region bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 Nursing at Mizzou

North Dakota State University - Main Campus landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. North Dakota State University is located in Fargo, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 202 bachelors’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k list, North Dakota State University has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Dakota State University is $11,524 for plains states region bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at North Dakota State University

Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Minnesota State Mankato is a fairly large school located in Mankato, Minnesota that handed out 229 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato also took the #23 spot in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,057 for plains states region bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Minnesota State Mankato.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Minnesota State Mankato Nursing Report

#11

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

With a ranking of #11, Saint Cloud State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saint Cloud, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s nursing degrees to 99 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,688 for plains states region bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend St. Cloud State University.

Read more about Nursing at Saint Cloud State University

#12

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota

Bemidji State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Bemidji, Minnesota, and it awarded 150 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Bemidji State University is $10,632 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Nursing at Bemidji State University

#13

Dickinson State University

Dickinson, North Dakota

Dickinson State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. DSU is a public institution located in Dickinson, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,402 for plains states region bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Dickinson State University.

Read more about Nursing at DSU

#14

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of North Dakota is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 120 bachelors’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

UND also made our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend UND is $11,092 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at University of North Dakota

#15

Mayville State University

Mayville, North Dakota

With a ranking of #15, Mayville State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mayville State University is a public institution located in Mayville, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 46 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Mayville State University is $7,679 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Nursing at Mayville State University

Fort Hays State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. Hays, Kansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s nursing degrees to 142 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $9,464 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend FHSU.

Full FHSU Nursing Report

#17

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. University of Missouri - St Louis is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 197 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,401 for plains states region bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Missouri - St Louis.

Full UMSL Nursing Report

Missouri Southern State University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Joplin, Missouri, this medium-sized public school handed out 62 degrees to qualified bachelors’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Missouri Southern State University is $7,882 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Nursing at Missouri Southern

Southwest Minnesota State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southwest Minnesota State University is a medium-sized school located in Marshall, Minnesota that handed out 43 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Southwest Minnesota State University is $10,801 for plains states region bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Nursing at Southwest Minnesota State University

#20

Missouri Western State University

Saint Joseph, Missouri

Missouri Western State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Missouri Western is located in Saint Joseph, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 99 bachelors’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $8,762 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Missouri Western.

Full Missouri Western State University Nursing Report

#21

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Iowa is a large school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 214 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa is $12,975 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Iowa Nursing Report

#22

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas

Pittsburg State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Pittsburg, Kansas, this medium-sized public school awarded 120 degrees to qualified bachelors’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Pitt State is $10,638 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Nursing at Pitt State

#23

Rockhurst University

Kansas City, Missouri

Rockhurst University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s nursing degrees to 269 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,869 for plains states region bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Rockhurst.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Nursing at Rockhurst

#24

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. UCM is a medium-sized public school situated in Warrensburg, Missouri. It awarded 156 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,608 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UCM.

Read more about Nursing at UCM

#25

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Southeast Missouri State University is a public institution located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 96 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Southeast Missouri State University is $9,092 for plains states region bachelor’s degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Nursing at Southeast Missouri State University

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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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