2027 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Registered Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/registered-nursing/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong registered nursing education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 196 schools to find the best return on investment for registered nursing students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in registered nursing, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Registered Nursing Schools
For return on investment in registered nursing, no school beat Metropolitan Community College Area this year. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,375, while out-of-state students pay about $4,950. Students borrow a median of $17,882 to complete the registered nursing program here. Registered Nursing graduates of Metropolitan Community College Area earn a median of $68,874 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,882 median debt.
Central Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value registered nursing schools. Set in the city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,360, compared with $4,800 for out-of-state students. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $14,805 in student loans. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $64,945. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Charles Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in registered nursing, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Cottleville, St Charles Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,810, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $18,712. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from St Charles Community College generally make around $68,488. Set against $18,712 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Hutchinson Community College earned it the #4 place for registered nursing. Set in the town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,540, compared with $4,770 for out-of-state students. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $21,889 in student loans. Registered Nursing graduates of Hutchinson Community College earn a median of $60,330 early in their careers. Set against $21,889 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Salina Area Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in registered nursing, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Salina, Salina Area Technical College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,128. Students borrow a median of $17,124 to complete the registered nursing program here. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $38,440. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Nebraska Community College came in at #6 for value in registered nursing this year. Located in the town of Scottsbluff, Western Nebraska Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,840, with out-of-state students paying around $4,410. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $16,249. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Western Nebraska Community College generally make around $62,413. That is a strong return on a $16,249 median debt.
Saint Louis Community College landed the #7 spot for registered nursing value this year. Saint Louis Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Bridgeton. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $6,990. Students borrow a median of $16,667 to complete the registered nursing program here. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $68,262. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Labette Community College landed the #8 spot for registered nursing value this year. Set in the town of Parsons, Labette Community College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,064, while out-of-state students pay about $4,864. Students borrow a median of $16,150 to complete the registered nursing program here. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $66,833. That is a strong return on a $16,150 median debt.
Western Iowa Tech Community College earned the #9 position for value in registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,186, while out-of-state students pay about $5,330. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $22,597. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College generally make around $63,214. Set against $22,597 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ozarks Technical Community College came in at #10 for value in registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,256, while out-of-state students pay about $7,040. Students borrow a median of $18,250 to complete the registered nursing program here. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Ozarks Technical Community College generally make around $61,192. That is a strong return on a $18,250 median debt.
Mid Plains Community College came in at #11 for value in registered nursing this year. Set in the rural area of North Platte, Mid Plains Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,600, with out-of-state students paying around $4,530. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $20,376. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Mid Plains Community College generally make around $59,746. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Metropolitan Community College Kansas City placed #12 among the best values for registered nursing. Set in the city of Kansas City, Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,630, while out-of-state students pay about $9,600. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $21,188 in student loans. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $63,534. Set against $21,188 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Moberly Area Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value registered nursing schools. Located in the town of Moberly, Moberly Area Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,110, with out-of-state students paying around $8,640. Students borrow a median of $17,587 to complete the registered nursing program here. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Moberly Area Community College generally make around $67,023. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Coffeyville Community College earned the #14 position for value in registered nursing this year. Coffeyville Community College is a small public school located in the town of Coffeyville. Students from in state pay about $3,600 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,680 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,677 to complete the registered nursing program here. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $62,328. Set against $17,677 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Crowder College came in at #15 for value in registered nursing this year. Set in the town of Neosho, Crowder College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,104, with out-of-state students paying around $5,784. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $14,528. Registered Nursing graduates of Crowder College earn a median of $62,875 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeast Community College Area placed #16 among the best values for registered nursing. Set in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,444, with out-of-state students paying around $4,032. Students borrow a median of $25,814 to complete the registered nursing program here. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Southeast Community College Area generally make around $71,239. Set against $25,814 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Dodge City Community College placed #17 among the best values for registered nursing. Set in the town of Dodge City, Dodge City Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,650, with out-of-state students paying around $5,850. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,427 ten years after entry.
Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff placed #18 among the best values for registered nursing. Located in the town of Poplar Bluff, Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,830, compared with $6,060 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,490 to complete the registered nursing program here. Registered Nursing graduates of Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff earn a median of $65,883 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jefferson College came in at #19 for value in registered nursing this year. Set in the rural area of Hillsboro, Jefferson College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,250 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,850 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,554 to complete the registered nursing program here. Registered Nursing graduates of Jefferson College earn a median of $67,439 early in their careers. Set against $22,554 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast Community College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value registered nursing schools. Located in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,840 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,130. Students borrow a median of $19,053 to complete the registered nursing program here. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $62,930. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Ozarks landed the #21 spot for registered nursing value this year. Located in the town of Point Lookout, College Of The Ozarks is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,360. Registered Nursing graduates of College Of The Ozarks earn a median of $57,521 early in their careers. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Riverland Community College came in at #22 for value in registered nursing this year. Riverland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Austin. In-state tuition and fees average $6,297. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $25,000. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $69,481. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Garden City Community College came in at #23 for value in registered nursing this year. Set in the town of Garden City, Garden City Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,690, with out-of-state students paying around $4,320. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $16,100. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $61,593. That is a strong return on a $16,100 median debt.
Fort Scott Community College came in at #24 for value in registered nursing this year. Located in the town of Fort Scott, Fort Scott Community College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,390, while out-of-state students pay about $3,840. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $23,832. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Fort Scott Community College generally make around $55,847. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Marshalltown Community College landed the #25 spot for registered nursing value this year. Located in the town of Marshalltown, Marshalltown Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,496, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,935 to complete the registered nursing program here. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Marshalltown Community College generally make around $61,954. That is a strong return on a $17,935 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for registered nursing this year:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 196 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 196 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
