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2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

93 Ranked Colleges
6,381 Degrees Awarded
$6,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 313,362 nursing students received their degree, making the major the 3rd most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, nursing graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $67,065 and had an average of $26,282 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 29,923 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $66,148 and $28,004 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 6,381 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,069 and $19,434 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 93 colleges that offered a degree in nursing. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great 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 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 Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

#1

St Charles Community College

Cottleville, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St Charles Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Cottleville, Missouri, and it awarded 61 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $2,183 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SCC.

Full St Charles Community College Nursing Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Metropolitan Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 66 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for MCC is $2,963 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Nursing at MCC

#3

Southeastern Community College

West Burlington, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southeastern Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This small school is located in West Burlington, Iowa, and it awarded 64 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $6,527 for plains states region associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Southeastern Community College.

Read full report on Nursing at Southeastern Community College

#4

Crowder College

Neosho, Missouri

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Crowder College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Crowder College is a small public school situated in Neosho, Missouri. It awarded 116 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Crowder College is $4,967 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Crowder College Nursing Report

#5

Saint Louis Community College

Saint Louis, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Saint Louis Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Saint Louis Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 182 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Saint Louis Community College also took the #6 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Louis Community College is $7,013 for plains states region associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Nursing at Saint Louis Community College

#6

Oglala Lakota College

Kyle, South Dakota

With a ranking of #6, Oglala Lakota College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Kyle, South Dakota, and it awarded 9 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Oglala Lakota College is $662 for plains states region associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Oglala Lakota College Nursing Report

Western Iowa Tech Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Sioux City, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 95 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k list, Western Iowa Tech Community College has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Western Iowa Tech Community College is $5,287 for plains states region associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Nursing at Western Iowa Tech Community College

#8

Hutchinson Community College

Hutchinson, Kansas

Hutchinson Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Hutchinson Community College is a public institution located in Hutchinson, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 69 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Hutchinson Community College is $6,606 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Nursing at Hutchinson Community College

Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, this fairly large public school handed out 132 degrees to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

MCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $6,519 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend MCC.

Read more about Nursing at Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City

#10

Western Nebraska Community College

Scottsbluff, Nebraska

Western Nebraska Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. WNCC is a small public school situated in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. It awarded 19 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Western Nebraska Community College is $3,767 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Nursing at WNCC

With a ranking of #11, North Iowa Area Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Mason City, Iowa, this small public school awarded 44 degrees to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend North Iowa Area Community College is $7,397 for plains states region associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full North Iowa Area Community College Nursing Report

Neosho County Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Neosho County Community College is located in Chanute, Kansas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 100 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Neosho County Community College also made our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #24. The estimated yearly cost for Neosho County Community College is $7,517 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Neosho County Community College Nursing Report

#13

Central Community College

Grand Island, Nebraska

Central Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Central Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Grand Island, Nebraska. It awarded 99 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Central Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Central Community College is $7,241 for plains states region associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Central Community College Nursing Report

Southeast Community College Area did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. Lincoln, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 50 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Southeast Community College Area is $7,573 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Nursing at Southeast Community College Area

Northeast Iowa Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Northeast Iowa Community College is located in Calmar, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 95 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Northeast Iowa Community College is $9,153 for plains states region associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full NICC Nursing Report

#16

Dodge City Community College

Dodge City, Kansas

Dodge City Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Dodge City Community College is a small public school situated in Dodge City, Kansas. It awarded 16 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,039 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Dodge City Community College.

Read more about Nursing at Dodge City Community College

Des Moines Area Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. DMACC is located in Ankeny, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 184 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

DMACC also took the #11 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $8,543 for plains states region associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend DMACC.

Full Des Moines Area Community College Nursing Report

#18

Garden City Community College

Garden City, Kansas

With a ranking of #18, Garden City Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Garden City Community College is a small public school situated in Garden City, Kansas. It awarded 13 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Garden City Community College is $4,610 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Garden City Community College Nursing Report

St Cloud Technical and Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. St Cloud Technical and Community College is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 49 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

St Cloud Technical and Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend St Cloud Technical and Community College is $6,970 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full St Cloud Technical and Community College Nursing Report

#20

Bismarck State College

Bismarck, North Dakota

Bismarck State College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. BSC is a small public school situated in Bismarck, North Dakota. It awarded 30 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $6,514 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend BSC.

Read more about Nursing at Bismarck State College

#21

Hibbing Community College

Hibbing, Minnesota

Hibbing Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Hibbing, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 68 students in 2019-2020.

Hibbing Community College also made our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #23. The estimated yearly cost for Hibbing Community College is $8,404 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Hibbing Community College Nursing Report

#22

Labette Community College

Parsons, Kansas

Labette Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. This small school is located in Parsons, Kansas, and it awarded 29 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,506 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Labette Community College.

Full Labette Community College Nursing Report

#23

Century College

White Bear Lake, Minnesota

With a ranking of #23, Century College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and it awarded 118 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Century College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $9,441 for plains states region associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Century College.

Read full report on Nursing at Century College

#24

Fort Scott Community College

Fort Scott, Kansas

Fort Scott Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. Fort Scott, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,898 for plains states region associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend FSCC.

Read full report on Nursing at FSCC

#25

Anoka-Ramsey Community College

Coon Rapids, Minnesota

Anoka-Ramsey Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, and it awarded 162 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Anoka-Ramsey Community College is $10,361 for plains states region associate degree nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus 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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