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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Registered Nursing in the Plains States Region

108 Ranked Colleges
12,924 Degrees Awarded
$17,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Registered Nursing is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 3rd of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 259,493 degrees were awarded to students with this major.

Across the Plains States region, there were 24,654 registered nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 12,924 registered nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking analyzed 108 colleges that offered a degree in registered nursing. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great registered nursing programs and 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 registered nursing program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree registered nursing students.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Registered Nursing in the Plains States Region

#1

Capella University

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 108 schools in the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Capella University landed the #1 spot on the list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out bachelors’s registered nursing degrees to 2,035 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Capella University, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,619 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Registered Nursing students per year to attend Capella University.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Capella University

#2

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota

Out of the 108 schools in the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Minot State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Minot, North Dakota, this small public school awarded 54 degrees to qualified bachelors’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,898 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Registered Nursing students per year to attend MSU.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Minot State University

#3

Clarkson College

Omaha, Nebraska
#13 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Clarkson College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. Clarkson College is a small school located in Omaha, Nebraska that handed out 118 bachelors’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Clarkson College also took the #13 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $20,123 for plains states region bachelor’s degree registered nursing students per year to attend Clarkson College.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Clarkson College Registered Nursing Report

#4

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
#23 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend South Dakota State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. South Dakota State University is a public institution located in Brookings, South Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 313 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree registered nursing students list, South Dakota State has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Registered Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend South Dakota State is $19,252 for plains states region bachelor’s degree registered nursing students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full South Dakota State University Registered Nursing Report

#14 in overall quality

Out of the 108 schools in the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, North Dakota State University - Main Campus landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Fargo, North Dakota, this fairly large public school handed out 202 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

North Dakota State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Registered Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for North Dakota State University is $16,584 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Registered Nursing students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 Registered Nursing at North Dakota State University

#6

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota

Bemidji State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Bemidji, Minnesota, and it awarded 150 bachelors’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,868 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Registered Nursing students per year to attend Bemidji State University.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Bemidji State University

#7

Walden University

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Walden University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Walden University is a private for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 892 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Walden University

#8

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#9 in overall quality

Winona State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Winona, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school handed out 248 degrees to qualified bachelors’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree registered nursing students list, Winona State has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Registered Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,656 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Registered Nursing students per year to attend Winona State.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Winona State

#9

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#16 in overall quality

University of North Dakota came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. UND is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It awarded 120 bachelors’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UND, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of North Dakota is $15,738 for plains states region bachelor’s degree registered nursing students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UND Registered Nursing Report

#10

Dickinson State University

Dickinson, North Dakota

Dickinson State University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Dickinson, North Dakota, this small public school awarded 21 degrees to qualified bachelors’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for DSU is $10,855 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Registered Nursing students.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at DSU

#11

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota

University of South Dakota ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, this medium-sized public school handed out 238 degrees to qualified bachelors’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of South Dakota is $18,555 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Registered Nursing students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% 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%.

Full USD Registered Nursing Report

Southwest Minnesota State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Marshall, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s registered nursing degrees to 43 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Southwest Minnesota State University is $14,397 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Registered Nursing students.

Full Southwest Minnesota State University Registered Nursing Report

#13

Truman State University

Kirksville, Missouri
Top 25% in overall quality

Truman State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #13. Kirksville, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s registered nursing degrees to 50 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,462 for plains states region bachelor’s degree registered nursing students per year to attend Truman State University.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. 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%.

Full Truman State University Registered Nursing Report

#14

Mayville State University

Mayville, North Dakota

Mayville State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Mayville, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s registered nursing degrees to 46 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,378 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Registered Nursing students per year to attend Mayville State University.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Mayville State University

Top 25% in overall quality

Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #15. Nebraska Methodist College is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 170 bachelors’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Nebraska Methodist College is $25,311 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Registered Nursing students.

The low student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%.

Full Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health Registered Nursing Report

#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Bryan College of Health Sciences did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it awarded 97 bachelors’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Bryan College of Health Sciences also took the #18 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bryan College of Health Sciences is $26,122 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Registered Nursing students.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Bryan College of Health Sciences

Mercy College of Health Sciences ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Mercy College of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution located in Des Moines, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 189 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $21,989 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Registered Nursing students per year to attend Mercy College of Health Sciences.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 more about Registered Nursing at Mercy College of Health Sciences

#21 in overall quality

Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a public institution located in Mankato, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 229 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato also made our “Best Registered Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #21. It costs about $16,221 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Registered Nursing students per year to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%.

Full Minnesota State University - Mankato Registered Nursing Report

Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Southeast Health is $22,395 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s 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%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences Registered Nursing Report

#20

University of Mary

Bismarck, North Dakota
Top 25% in overall quality

University of Mary landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Bismarck, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s registered nursing degrees to 94 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Mary is $17,410 for plains states region bachelor’s degree registered nursing students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Mary Registered Nursing Report

#21

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Saint Cloud, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s registered nursing degrees to 99 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,267 for plains states region bachelor’s degree registered nursing students per year to attend Saint Cloud State University.

Read more about Registered Nursing at St. Cloud State University

Minnesota State University - Moorhead landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Moorhead, Minnesota, and it awarded 76 bachelors’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend MSU Moorhead is $16,893 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Registered Nursing students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Minnesota State University - Moorhead Registered Nursing Report

With a ranking of #23, Fort Hays State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. FHSU is a fairly large public school situated in Hays, Kansas. It awarded 142 bachelors’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for FHSU is $12,053 for plains states region bachelor’s degree registered nursing students.

Full Fort Hays State University Registered Nursing Report

#24

College of Saint Mary

Omaha, Nebraska

With a ranking of #24, College of Saint Mary did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Saint Mary is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 57 bachelors’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $14,325 for plains states region bachelor’s degree registered nursing students per year to attend Saint Mary.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%.

Full College of Saint Mary Registered Nursing Report

Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Springfield, Missouri, this large public school handed out 72 degrees to qualified bachelors’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $16,725 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Registered Nursing students per year to attend Missouri State.

Full Missouri State Registered Nursing Report

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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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