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2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region

95 Ranked Colleges
6,322 Degrees Awarded
$10,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

With 259,493 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, registered nursing is the 3rd most popular major in the United States.

Across the Plains States region, there were 24,654 registered nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 6,322 registered nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,069 and $19,434 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region” ranking analyzed 95 colleges that offered a degree in registered nursing. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality registered nursing programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

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

One Size Does Not Fit All

The registered 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 Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. 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 Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Registered Nursing in the Plains States Region

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 95 schools in the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Rochester Community and Technical College landed the #1 spot on the list. Rochester Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Rochester, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 114 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree registered nursing students list, Rochester Community and Technical College has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,088 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students per year to attend Rochester Community and Technical College.

Full Rochester Community and Technical College Registered Nursing Report

#2

Anoka-Ramsey Community College

Coon Rapids, Minnesota
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 95 schools in the Best Value Registered 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. Anoka-Ramsey Community College is located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 162 associates’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree registered nursing students list, Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,890 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students per year to attend Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus.

Full Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus Registered Nursing Report

#3

Rasmussen University - Minnesota

St. Cloud, Minnesota
#1 in overall quality

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 Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region. Rasmussen University - Minnesota is located in St. Cloud, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 662 associates’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

Rasmussen University - Minnesota also made our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $18,586 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students per year to attend Rasmussen University - Minnesota.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Rasmussen University - Minnesota

#4

Saint Louis Community College

Saint Louis, Missouri
#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Saint Louis Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Saint Louis Community College is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 182 associates’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

Saint Louis Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Louis Community College is $6,796 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students.

Full Saint Louis Community College Registered Nursing Report

#14 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Western Iowa Tech Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region. Sioux City, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s registered 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 Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Western Iowa Tech Community College is $7,201 for plains states region associate degree registered nursing students.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Western Iowa Tech Community College

#6

Century College

White Bear Lake, Minnesota
#8 in overall quality

Century College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #6. Located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school handed out 118 diplomas to qualified associates’s registered nursing students 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 Registered 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 Registered Nursing students.

Full Century College Registered Nursing Report

#24 in overall quality

Neosho County Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #7. Neosho County Community College is a small school located in Chanute, Kansas that handed out 100 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Neosho County Community College also made our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #24. It costs about $8,552 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students per year to attend Neosho County Community College.

Full Neosho County Community College Registered Nursing Report

#8

Inver Hills Community College

Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota
#12 in overall quality

Inver Hills Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. IHCC is a small public school situated in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. It awarded 80 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

IHCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Registered 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 registered nursing students.

Full Inver Hills Community College Registered Nursing Report

#9

Central Community College

Grand Island, Nebraska
#22 in overall quality

Central Community College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Grand Island, Nebraska, this medium-sized public school handed out 99 degrees to qualified associates’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

Central Community College also took the #22 spot in our “Best Registered 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 Registered Nursing students.

Full Central Community College Registered Nursing Report

#10

North Hennepin Community College

Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
#15 in overall quality

North Hennepin Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and it awarded 48 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Hennepin Community College, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,284 for plains states region associate degree registered nursing students per year to attend North Hennepin Community College.

Read more about Registered Nursing at North Hennepin Community College

#16 in overall quality

Northwest Iowa Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Northwest Iowa Community College is a small public school situated in Sheldon, Iowa. It awarded 50 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree registered nursing students list, Northwest Iowa Community College has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,125 for plains states region associate degree registered nursing students per year to attend Northwest Iowa Community College.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Northwest Iowa Community College

#12

South Central College

North Mankato, Minnesota
#25 in overall quality

South Central College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. South Central College is a public institution located in North Mankato, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 54 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at South Central College, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for South Central College is $10,175 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students.

Read more about Registered Nursing at South Central College

#13

Hutchinson Community College

Hutchinson, Kansas

Hutchinson Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Hutchinson, Kansas, this small public school handed out 69 degrees to qualified associates’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,922 for plains states region associate degree registered nursing students per year to attend Hutchinson Community College.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Hutchinson Community College

#14

Ridgewater College

Willmar, Minnesota
#18 in overall quality

Ridgewater College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Ridgewater College is a small public school situated in Willmar, Minnesota. It awarded 82 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Ridgewater College also took the #18 spot in our “Best Registered 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 Registered Nursing students.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Ridgewater College

#15

Hibbing Community College

Hibbing, Minnesota
#23 in overall quality

Hibbing Community College landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Hibbing Community College is a public institution located in Hibbing, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 68 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Hibbing Community College also took the #23 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,207 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students per year to attend Hibbing Community College.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Hibbing Community College

#16

Lake Region State College

Devils Lake, North Dakota

Lake Region State College landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Devils Lake, North Dakota, this small public school handed out 42 diplomas to qualified associates’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $9,564 for plains states region associate degree registered nursing students per year to attend Lake Region State College.

Full Lake Region State College Registered Nursing Report

#13 in overall quality

Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #17. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s registered nursing degrees to 132 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree registered nursing students list, MCC has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $7,066 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students per year to attend MCC.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at MCC

#18

Lake Area Technical Institute

Watertown, South Dakota
#17 in overall quality

Lake Area Technical Institute ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Watertown, South Dakota, and it awarded 22 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

LATI also made our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #17. The yearly cost to attend LATI is $12,939 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students.

Full Lake Area Technical Institute Registered Nursing Report

Metropolitan Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. MCC is a fairly large public school situated in Omaha, Nebraska. It awarded 66 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Metropolitan Community College is $4,295 for plains states region associate degree registered nursing students.

Read more about Registered Nursing at MCC

#20 in overall quality

St Cloud Technical and Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Saint Cloud, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s registered nursing degrees to 49 students in 2019-2020.

St Cloud Technical and Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Registered Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for St Cloud Technical and Community College is $9,019 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students.

Read more about Registered Nursing at St Cloud Technical and Community College

#21

Northland Community and Technical College

Thief River Falls, Minnesota

Northland Community and Technical College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Northland Community and Technical College is a small school located in Thief River Falls, Minnesota that handed out 78 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Northland Community and Technical College is $10,860 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Northland Community and Technical College

Seward County Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. SCCC is located in Liberal, Kansas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 24 associates’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $5,222 for plains states region associate degree registered nursing students per year to attend Seward County Community College.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at SCCC

#23

Normandale Community College

Bloomington, Minnesota

Normandale Community College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Normandale Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Bloomington, Minnesota. It awarded 79 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,620 for plains states region associate degree registered nursing students per year to attend Normandale Community College.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Normandale Community College

Alexandria Technical & Community College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Alexandria Technical & Community College is located in Alexandria, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 31 associates’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Alexandria Technical & Community College is $13,550 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Registered Nursing students.

Full ATCC Registered Nursing Report

#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #25, Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and it awarded 35 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southeast Health, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Registered 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 Registered Nursing students.

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%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Southeast Health

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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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