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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Nursing (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

52 Ranked Colleges
7,280 Degrees Awarded
$16,800 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Nursing is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 3rd of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 313,362 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 7,280 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,438 and $39,783 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 52 colleges that offered a degree in nursing. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality nursing programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the nursing program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

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

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

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

#1

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UMN Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 88 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845.

Read full report on Nursing at UMN Twin Cities

#2

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Dakota. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of North Dakota is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 90 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

UND also took the #5 spot in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UND are $18,326, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of North Dakota Nursing Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Columbia, Missouri, and it awarded 9 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mizzou are $27,193, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Mizzou Nursing Report

#4

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Winona State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Winona, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k list, Winona State has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Winona State are $12,378.

Full Winona State Nursing Report

Out of the 52 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #5 spot on the list. Minnesota State University - Mankato is located in Mankato, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Minnesota State Mankato are $8,788.

Full Minnesota State University - Mankato Nursing Report

Fort Hays State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. FHSU is a fairly large school located in Hays, Kansas that handed out 31 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Fort Hays State University are $11,376, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Nursing at FHSU

#7

Rockhurst University

Kansas City, Missouri
#21 in overall quality

Rockhurst University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 81 students in 2019-2020.

Rockhurst did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Rockhurst University are $16,780.

Read full report on Nursing at Rockhurst University

Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Missouri State University - Springfield is a public institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Missouri State University - Springfield are $12,042, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Nursing at Missouri State University - Springfield

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is located in Winona, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 64 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

SMU MN not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SMU MN are $10,260.

Read more about Nursing at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

#10

Mount Marty University

Yankton, South Dakota

Mount Marty University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Mount Marty University is a small school located in Yankton, South Dakota that handed out 18 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Mount Marty did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mount Marty are $8,175, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Mount Marty Nursing Report

#11

Newman University

Wichita, Kansas

With a ranking of #11, Newman University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Newman University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wichita, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 21 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Newman University are $8,484, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Nursing at Newman University

#12

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri

University of Missouri - Kansas City ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 80 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMKC, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMKC are $26,699, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UMKC Nursing Report

#13

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri

Saint Louis University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SLU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 92 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k list, SLU has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SLU are $22,074, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Nursing at SLU

#14

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

With a ranking of #14, University of Central Missouri did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Central Missouri is a medium-sized public school situated in Warrensburg, Missouri. It awarded 47 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Central Missouri are $16,394, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Nursing at University of Central Missouri

#15

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#8 in overall quality

University of Iowa landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, this large public school awarded 7 diplomas to qualified masters’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree nursing students whose families make $0-$30k list, Iowa has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa are $27,613.

Read more about Nursing at University of Iowa

#16

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

University of Missouri - St Louis came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UMSL is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMSL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - St Louis are $30,154, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UMSL Nursing Report

#16

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, this fairly large public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified masters’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Southeast Missouri State University are $10,792, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Nursing at Southeast Missouri State University

#18

Missouri Western State University

Saint Joseph, Missouri

With a ranking of #18, Missouri Western State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Saint Joseph, Missouri, this small public school awarded 13 degrees to qualified masters’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Missouri Western are $12,212.

Read full report on Nursing at Missouri Western State University

#19

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas

With a ranking of #19, Pittsburg State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Pitt State is a medium-sized school located in Pittsburg, Kansas that handed out 7 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Pittsburg State University are $19,320, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Pittsburg State University Nursing Report

#20

Clarkson College

Omaha, Nebraska

With a ranking of #20, Clarkson College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Clarkson College is a small school located in Omaha, Nebraska that handed out 113 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Clarkson College, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Clarkson College are $11,808, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Nursing at Clarkson College

Minnesota State University - Moorhead came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Moorhead, Minnesota, and it awarded 16 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at MSU Moorhead are $9,900, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full MSU Moorhead Nursing Report

#21

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

St Catherine University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. St Catherine University is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 93 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Kate’s, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at St Catherine University are $17,400.

Read more about Nursing at St. Kate’s

#23

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota

South Dakota State University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. South Dakota State is located in Brookings, South Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 45 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at South Dakota State, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at South Dakota State University are $16,743, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full South Dakota State University Nursing Report

#24

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas

Wichita State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. Wichita, Kansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

WSU also took the #0 spot in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wichita State University are $15,112, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Nursing at WSU

#25

University of Mary

Bismarck, North Dakota

University of Mary landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Mary is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Bismarck, North Dakota. It awarded 52 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

UMary also made our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #12. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Mary are $17,861, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Nursing at University of Mary

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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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