College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2027 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the The Plains States Region

114 Colleges in the United States
12,904 Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Degrees Awarded
$43,565 Avg Early-Career Salary

Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their practical nursing & nursing assistants programs.

To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 114 schools to find the best for practical nursing & nursing assistants students.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants in the The Plains States Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants

1

Leading the list is Neosho County Community College, our #1 school for practical nursing & nursing assistants. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Chanute. About 251 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Neosho County Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Neosho County Community College generally make around $44,672. Neosho County Community College graduates carry a median of $13,150 in student loans. See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Neosho County Community College

2

Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants, landing the #2 spot this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Liberal. There were roughly 84 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Seward County Community College And Area Technical School in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Seward County Community College And Area Technical School generally make around $53,375. Students borrow a median of $11,350 to complete this degree. Read more about the practical nursing & nursing assistants program at Seward County Community College And Area Technical School

3

Garden City Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants, ranking #3. Set in the town of Garden City, Garden City Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 190 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Garden City Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $35,476 in their early career. Garden City Community College graduates carry a median of $14,338 in student loans. More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Garden City Community College

4

Pratt Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Pratt, Pratt Community College is a mid-sized public university. Pratt Community College awarded about 84 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $61,703 in their early career. Pratt Community College graduates carry a median of $10,327 in student loans. Get the full practical nursing & nursing assistants details for Pratt Community College

5

Students looking for a strong practical nursing & nursing assistants program will find one at Highland Community College Highland, which ranked #5. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Highland. About 241 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Highland Community College Highland in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Highland Community College Highland generally make around $22,909. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000. Get the full practical nursing & nursing assistants details for Highland Community College Highland

6

Kansas City Kansas Community College landed the #6 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, Kansas City Kansas Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 242 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Kansas City Kansas Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $48,862 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,750. Read more about the practical nursing & nursing assistants program at Kansas City Kansas Community College

7

Hutchinson Community College came in at #7 for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 302 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Hutchinson Community College in the most recent data year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Hutchinson Community College earn a median of $45,344 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,210. Read more about the practical nursing & nursing assistants program at Hutchinson Community College

8

North Central Kansas Technical College placed #8 among the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Set in the rural area of Beloit, North Central Kansas Technical College is a small public institution. There were roughly 193 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at North Central Kansas Technical College in the most recent data year. Get the full practical nursing & nursing assistants details for North Central Kansas Technical College

9

Flint Hills Technical College came in at #9 for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the town of Emporia, Flint Hills Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Flint Hills Technical College awarded about 110 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Flint Hills Technical College generally make around $34,930. Typical student debt for the program is $13,600. Get the full practical nursing & nursing assistants details for Flint Hills Technical College

10

Salina Area Technical College came in at #10 for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Salina Area Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Salina. There were roughly 202 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Salina Area Technical College in the most recent data year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Salina Area Technical College earn a median of $38,440 early in their careers. Salina Area Technical College graduates carry a median of $17,124 in student loans. Get the full practical nursing & nursing assistants details for Salina Area Technical College

11

Cloud County Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Cloud County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Concordia. About 153 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Cloud County Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their practical nursing & nursing assistants degree from Cloud County Community College earn around $53,004 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,839. See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Cloud County Community College

12

Minnesota West Community And Technical College placed #12 among the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Set in the rural area of Granite Falls, Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Minnesota West Community And Technical College awarded about 323 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Minnesota West Community And Technical College earn a median of $43,009 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,946 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Minnesota West Community And Technical College

13

Barton County Community College landed the #13 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the rural area of Great Bend, Barton County Community College is a large public institution. About 127 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Barton County Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $44,536 in their early career. Barton County Community College graduates carry a median of $13,125 in student loans. See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Barton County Community College

14
Inver Hills Community College crest
Inver Hills Community College
Inver Grove Heights, MN

Inver Hills Community College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the suburb of Inver Grove Heights, Inver Hills Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 173 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Inver Hills Community College in the most recent data year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Inver Hills Community College earn a median of $52,798 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,160. Get the full practical nursing & nursing assistants details for Inver Hills Community College

15

Southeast Missouri Hospital College Of Nursing And Health Sciences landed the #15 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital College Of Nursing And Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit institution. Southeast Missouri Hospital College Of Nursing And Health Sciences awarded about 15 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Southeast Missouri Hospital College Of Nursing And Health Sciences generally make around $67,421. Southeast Missouri Hospital College Of Nursing And Health Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans. See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Southeast Missouri Hospital College Of Nursing And Health Sciences

16

Manhattan Area Technical College earned the #16 position for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. This small public university is located in the city of Manhattan. There were roughly 150 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Manhattan Area Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Manhattan Area Technical College generally make around $32,624. Manhattan Area Technical College graduates carry a median of $13,998 in student loans. Read more about the practical nursing & nursing assistants program at Manhattan Area Technical College

17
Central Community College crest
Central Community College
Grand Island, NE

Central Community College landed the #17 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a large public institution. Central Community College awarded about 95 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $43,218 in their early career. Central Community College graduates carry a median of $10,277 in student loans. Read more about the practical nursing & nursing assistants program at Central Community College

18

Dodge City Community College earned the #18 position for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the town of Dodge City, Dodge City Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 122 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Dodge City Community College in the most recent year. See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Dodge City Community College

19

Washburn Institute Of Technology earned the #19 position for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the city of Topeka, Washburn Institute Of Technology is a small public university. Washburn Institute Of Technology awarded about 223 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $43,321 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,283 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Washburn Institute Of Technology

20

Southeastern Community College West Burlington placed #20 among the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Set in the town of West Burlington, Southeastern Community College West Burlington is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 336 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Southeastern Community College West Burlington in the most recent data year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Southeastern Community College West Burlington earn a median of $45,760 early in their careers. Southeastern Community College West Burlington graduates carry a median of $16,920 in student loans. More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Southeastern Community College West Burlington

21

Butler Community College came in at #21 for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of El Dorado. About 205 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Butler Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $39,404 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,670 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Butler Community College

22

Johnson County Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Johnson County Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Overland Park. About 593 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Johnson County Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $36,404 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,406 to complete this degree. Read more about the practical nursing & nursing assistants program at Johnson County Community College

23

Lake Region State College landed the #23 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Lake Region State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Devils Lake. Lake Region State College awarded about 47 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $48,331 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete this degree. Get the full practical nursing & nursing assistants details for Lake Region State College

24

Iowa Central Community College landed the #24 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the town of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 308 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Iowa Central Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $39,624 in their early career. Iowa Central Community College graduates carry a median of $18,557 in student loans. Get the full practical nursing & nursing assistants details for Iowa Central Community College

25
South Central College crest
South Central College
North Mankato, MN

South Central College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of North Mankato. There were roughly 29 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at South Central College in the most recent data year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of South Central College earn a median of $46,447 early in their careers. South Central College graduates carry a median of $13,139 in student loans. Read more about the practical nursing & nursing assistants program at South Central College

Rest of the Top 50 Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools

These schools also placed among the best for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year:

26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
Hennepin Technical College crest
Hennepin Technical College
Brooklyn Park, MN
41
42
43
44
45
Mineral Area College crest
Mineral Area College
Park Hills, MO
46
47
48
49
50

Narrow Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools by State

View All Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 114 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options