2026 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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 214 schools to find the best return on investment for registered nursing students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the registered nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Registered Nursing Schools
Leading the list is Metropolitan Community College Area, our #1 best value for registered nursing in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $68,874. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value registered nursing schools. Set in the city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,360, with out-of-state students paying around $4,800. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $14,805. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Central Community College generally make around $64,945. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in registered nursing will find it at Crowder College, which ranked #3. Crowder College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Neosho. 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. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Crowder College generally make around $62,875. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saint Louis Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value registered nursing schools. Located in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $6,990. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $16,667 in student loans. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $68,262. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Hutchinson Community College earned it the #5 place for registered nursing. Located in the town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,540, compared with $4,770 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,889 to complete the registered nursing program here. Registered Nursing graduates of Hutchinson Community College earn a median of $60,330 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,889 median debt.
St Charles Community College landed the #6 spot for registered nursing value this year. St Charles Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Cottleville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,810, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $18,712 in student loans. Registered Nursing graduates of St Charles Community College earn a median of $68,488 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,712 median debt.
Western Nebraska Community College landed the #7 spot for registered nursing value this year. Set in the town of Scottsbluff, Western Nebraska Community College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,840, compared with $4,410 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,249 to complete the registered nursing program here. Registered Nursing graduates of Western Nebraska Community College earn a median of $62,413 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Salina Area Technical College landed the #8 spot for registered nursing value this year. Located in the town of Salina, Salina Area Technical College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $7,128 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $17,124. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Salina Area Technical College generally make around $38,440. Set against $17,124 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southeast Community College Area ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value registered nursing schools. Set in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,444, while out-of-state students pay about $4,032. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $25,814. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $71,239. Set against $25,814 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earned the #10 position for value in registered nursing this year. Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,630, while out-of-state students pay about $9,600. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $21,188. Registered Nursing graduates of Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earn a median of $63,534 early in their careers. Set against $21,188 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Moberly Area Community College placed #11 among the best values for registered nursing. Located in the town of Moberly, Moberly Area Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,110 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,640 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,587 to complete the registered nursing program here. Registered Nursing graduates of Moberly Area Community College earn a median of $67,023 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,587 median debt.
Western Iowa Tech Community College earned the #12 position for value in registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,186, with out-of-state students paying around $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. That is a strong return on a $22,597 median debt.
Ozarks Technical Community College landed the #13 spot for registered nursing value this year. Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Springfield. In-state tuition and fees average $4,256, while out-of-state students pay about $7,040. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $18,250 in student loans. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $61,192. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mid Plains Community College placed #14 among the best values for registered nursing. Mid Plains Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of North Platte. In-state tuition and fees average $3,600, with out-of-state students paying around $4,530. Students borrow a median of $20,376 to complete the registered nursing program here. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $59,746. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Seward County Community College And Area Technical School earned the #15 position for value in registered nursing this year. Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Liberal. In-state tuition and fees average $4,032, compared with $5,408 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,175 to complete the registered nursing program here. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Seward County Community College And Area Technical School generally make around $53,375. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fort Scott Community College placed #16 among the best values for registered nursing. Fort Scott Community College is a small public school located in the town of Fort Scott. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,390, with out-of-state students paying around $3,840. Students borrow a median of $23,832 to complete the registered nursing program here. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $55,847. That is a strong return on a $23,832 median debt.
Riverland Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value registered nursing schools. Set in the town of Austin, Riverland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,297. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Riverland Community College generally make around $69,481. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt.
Coffeyville Community College came in at #18 for value in registered nursing this year. Located in the town of Coffeyville, Coffeyville Community College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $3,600 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,680. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $17,677. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Coffeyville Community College generally make around $62,328. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Marshalltown Community College landed the #19 spot for registered nursing value this year. Set in the town of Marshalltown, Marshalltown Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,496, while out-of-state students pay about $6,504. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $17,935. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Marshalltown Community College generally make around $61,954. Set against $17,935 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast Community College placed #20 among the best values for registered nursing. Set in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,840, while out-of-state students pay about $5,130. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $19,053 in student loans. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Northeast Community College generally make around $62,930. Set against $19,053 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oglala Lakota College placed #21 among the best values for registered nursing. Set in the rural area of Kyle, Oglala Lakota College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,684. Median earnings reach $22,517 ten years out.
Labette Community College placed #22 among the best values for registered nursing. Set in the town of Parsons, Labette Community College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,064, compared with $4,864 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $16,150. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Labette Community College generally make around $66,833. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Century College came in at #23 for value in registered nursing this year. Set in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,214. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Registered Nursing graduates of Century College earn a median of $66,512 early in their careers. Set against $25,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Dodge City Community College came in at #24 for value in registered nursing this year. Set in the town of Dodge City, Dodge City Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,650, while out-of-state students pay about $5,850. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $45,427.
North Iowa Area Community College earned the #25 position for value in registered nursing this year. Set in the rural area of Mason City, North Iowa Area Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,653 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,551. Students borrow a median of $15,600 to complete the registered nursing program here. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $58,096. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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), 2026 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 · 214 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 183 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.
