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2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

52 Ranked Colleges
7,280 Degrees Awarded
$16,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master's in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 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 Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 52 colleges that offered a degree in nursing. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great nursing programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the nursing program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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 Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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 Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Nursing in the Plains States Region (With Aid)

#1

Mount Marty University

Yankton, South Dakota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Mount Marty University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Yankton, South Dakota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 18 diplomas to qualified masters’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

Mount Marty also took the #4 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 Mount Marty are $8,175.

Full Mount Marty University Nursing Report

#2

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Dakota. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, this fairly large public school awarded 90 degrees to qualified masters’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

UND not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Dakota are $18,326, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Nursing at UND

#3

Clarkson College

Omaha, Nebraska

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Clarkson College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Clarkson College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Omaha, Nebraska. It awarded 113 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Clarkson College also took 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 some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Nursing at Clarkson College

#4

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - St Louis. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Missouri - St Louis 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.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMSL, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMSL are $30,154, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Missouri - St Louis Nursing Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Mankato, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Minnesota State University - Mankato are $8,788, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Nursing at Minnesota State University - Mankato

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 Getting Aid ranking. FHSU is a public institution located in Hays, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 31 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Fort Hays State University are $11,376.

Read full report on Nursing at Fort Hays State University

#7

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. This medium-sized school is located in Warrensburg, Missouri, and it awarded 47 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Central Missouri are $16,394.

Read more about Nursing at UCM

#8

University of Mary

Bismarck, North Dakota

University of Mary came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Mary is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bismarck, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 52 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMary not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 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 University of Mary are $17,861.

Read more about Nursing at UMary

#9

Newman University

Wichita, Kansas

Newman University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Newman University is a small school located in Wichita, Kansas that handed out 21 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Newman University are $8,484, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Newman University Nursing Report

#10

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri

University of Missouri - Kansas City ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. UMKC is a fairly large school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 80 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

UMKC also made our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #15. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - Kansas City are $26,699.

Read more about Nursing at UMKC

Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Missouri State University - Springfield are $12,042.

Read more about Nursing at Missouri State University - Springfield

#12

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota

With a ranking of #12, Winona State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Winona, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 13 diplomas to qualified masters’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

Winona State also took the #11 spot in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Winona State are $12,378, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Nursing at Winona State

With a ranking of #13, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 9 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also took the #22 spot in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - Columbia are $27,193, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Nursing at University of Missouri - Columbia

#14

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 88 students in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities also took the #7 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 UMN Twin Cities are $28,845.

Read full report on Nursing at UMN Twin Cities

#15

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas

Pittsburg State University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Pittsburg State University is located in Pittsburg, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Pittsburg State University are $19,320, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Nursing at Pittsburg State University

#16

Missouri Western State University

Saint Joseph, Missouri

Missouri Western State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Saint Joseph, Missouri, and it awarded 13 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Missouri Western are $12,212, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Nursing at Missouri Western

#17

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, University of Iowa did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Iowa is a public institution located in Iowa City, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa are $27,613, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Nursing at University of Iowa

#18

Capella University

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Capella University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 527 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Capella University, 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 Capella University are $14,767, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Nursing at Capella University

#19

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, this fairly large public school handed out 9 diplomas 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 Southeast Missouri State University are $10,792.

Read full report on Nursing at Southeast Missouri State University

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Winona, Minnesota, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 64 diplomas to qualified masters’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

SMU MN also made our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #13. Average graduate tuition and fees at SMU MN are $10,260, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#21

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota

With a ranking of #21, South Dakota State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Brookings, South Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 45 students in 2019-2020.

South Dakota State also took the #17 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 South Dakota State University are $16,743.

Read more about Nursing at South Dakota State University

#22

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas

With a ranking of #22, Wichita State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Wichita State University is a public institution located in Wichita, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

WSU 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 WSU are $15,112, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Nursing at Wichita State University

Graceland University - Lamoni did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. Graceland Lamoni is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lamoni, Iowa. It awarded 199 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Graceland Lamoni also made our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #20. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Graceland Lamoni are $17,647.

Read full report on Nursing at Graceland University - Lamoni

#24

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

St Catherine University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. St Catherine University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 93 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree nursing students with aid list, St. Kate’s has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at St Catherine University are $17,400, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full St Catherine University Nursing Report

Minnesota State University - Moorhead ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. 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 Minnesota State University - Moorhead are $9,900, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Nursing at MSU Moorhead

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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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