2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 an Associate in the Plains States Region” ranking.
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 associate degree level specifically, there were 6,381 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,069 and $19,434 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region” ranking, we looked at 96 colleges that offer 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.
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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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More Ways to Rank Nursing Schools
The nursing school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region”.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region.
Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing in the Plains States Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rochester Community and Technical College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region. Located in Rochester, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school handed out 114 degrees to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.
Rochester Community and Technical College also made our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend Rochester Community and Technical College is $14,088 for plains states region associate degree nursing students.
Full Rochester Community and Technical College Nursing Report
Out of the 96 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Anoka-Ramsey Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. Coon Rapids, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 162 students in 2019-2020.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus is $11,890 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Nursing students.
Read full report on Nursing at Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rasmussen University - Minnesota. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region. Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a small private for-profit school situated in St. Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 662 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rasmussen University - Minnesota, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $18,586 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Nursing students per year to attend Rasmussen University - Minnesota.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Saint Louis Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region. Saint Louis Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 182 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
Saint Louis Community College also made our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $6,796 for plains states region associate degree nursing students per year to attend Saint Louis Community College.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Iowa Tech Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Sioux City, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 95 students in 2019-2020.
Western Iowa Tech Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Western Iowa Tech Community College is $7,201 for plains states region associate degree nursing students.
Read full report on Nursing at Western Iowa Tech Community College
Century College landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Century College is a public institution located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 118 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Century College, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Century College is $10,808 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Nursing students.
With a ranking of #7, Neosho County Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Chanute, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 100 students in 2019-2020.
Neosho County Community College also made our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #24. The estimated yearly cost for Neosho County Community College is $8,552 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Nursing students.
Inver Hills Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Inver Hills Community College is a public institution located in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 80 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
IHCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend IHCC is $11,486 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Nursing students.
Central Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Central Community College is a medium-sized school located in Grand Island, Nebraska that handed out 99 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree nursing students list, Central Community College has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Central Community College is $8,235 for plains states region associate degree nursing students.
North Hennepin Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. North Hennepin Community College is a medium-sized school located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota that handed out 48 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
North Hennepin Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,284 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Nursing students per year to attend North Hennepin Community College.
Northwest Iowa Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Located in Sheldon, Iowa, this small public school handed out 50 diplomas to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwest Iowa Community College, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northwest Iowa Community College is $12,125 for plains states region associate degree nursing students.
Read full report on Nursing at Northwest Iowa Community College
South Central College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. North Mankato, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 54 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree nursing students list, South Central College has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend South Central College is $10,175 for plains states region associate degree nursing students.
Hutchinson Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Hutchinson Community College is a small school located in Hutchinson, Kansas that handed out 69 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Hutchinson Community College is $7,922 for plains states region associate degree nursing students.
Ridgewater College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #14. Ridgewater College is a public institution located in Willmar, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 82 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Ridgewater College also took the #18 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ridgewater College is $11,764 for plains states region associate degree nursing students.
With a ranking of #15, Hibbing Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Located in Hibbing, Minnesota, this small public school awarded 68 diplomas to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.
Hibbing Community College also made our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #23. The yearly cost to attend Hibbing Community College is $10,207 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Nursing students.
Lake Region State College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #16. Lake Region State College is a small public school situated in Devils Lake, North Dakota. It awarded 42 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Lake Region State College is $9,564 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Nursing students.
Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #17. Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 132 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
MCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City is $7,066 for plains states region associate degree nursing students.
Lake Area Technical Institute did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #18. Lake Area Technical Institute is a public institution located in Watertown, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 22 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree nursing students list, LATI has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend LATI is $12,939 for plains states region associate degree nursing students.
Metropolitan Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. MCC is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 66 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $4,295 for plains states region associate degree nursing students per year to attend Metropolitan Community College.
St Cloud Technical and Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. St Cloud Technical and Community College is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 49 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at St Cloud Technical and Community College, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for St Cloud Technical and Community College is $9,019 for plains states region associate degree nursing students.
Full St Cloud Technical and Community College Nursing Report
Northland Community and Technical College landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Thief River Falls, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 78 students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $10,860 for plains states region associate degree nursing students per year to attend Northland Community and Technical College.
Read full report on Nursing at Northland Community and Technical College
With a ranking of #22, Seward County Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. SCCC is a small public school situated in Liberal, Kansas. It awarded 24 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for SCCC is $5,222 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Nursing students.
Normandale Community College landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Normandale Community College is located in Bloomington, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 79 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Normandale Community College is $12,620 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Nursing students.
Alexandria Technical & Community College landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Alexandria Technical & Community College is a small school located in Alexandria, Minnesota that handed out 31 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Alexandria Technical & Community College is $13,550 for plains states region associate degree nursing students.
Read full report on Nursing at Alexandria Technical & Community College
Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 35 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
Southeast Health also took the #2 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southeast Health is $22,395 for plains states region associate degree nursing students.
The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
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Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region
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Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing in the Plains States Region
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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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.
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