2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Nursing (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Nursing is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 3rd of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 313,362 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 7,280 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,438 and $39,783 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 51 colleges that offered a degree in nursing. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent nursing programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the nursing program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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More Ways to Rank Nursing Schools
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list to help you make the college decision.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. 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 a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Nursing (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region
Out of the 51 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 88 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Twin Cities are $28,845, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Dakota. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Grand Forks, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 90 students in 2019-2020.
UND did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UND are $18,326, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Mount Marty University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Mount Marty is located in Yankton, South Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mount Marty, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mount Marty University are $8,175, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - Columbia. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 9 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
Mizzou did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - Columbia are $27,193, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rockhurst University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 81 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rockhurst, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Rockhurst are $16,780.
Capella University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Capella University is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 527 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
Capella University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Capella University are $14,767, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #7. SMU MN is a medium-sized school located in Winona, Minnesota that handed out 64 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SMU MN, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota are $10,260.
Winona State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Winona, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.
Winona State also took the #11 spot in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Winona State are $12,378.
University of Mary landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Bismarck, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 52 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree nursing students whose families make $48-$75k list, UMary has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UMary are $17,861.
Minnesota State University - Mankato came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a fairly large school located in Mankato, Minnesota that handed out 14 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Minnesota State University - Mankato are $8,788.
University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #11. University of Missouri - St Louis is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree nursing students whose families make $48-$75k list, UMSL has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UMSL are $30,154.
Fort Hays State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #12. This fairly large school is located in Hays, Kansas, and it awarded 31 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at FHSU are $11,376.
With a ranking of #13, Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Springfield, Missouri, this large public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified masters’s nursing students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Missouri State University - Springfield are $12,042.
Newman University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Wichita, Kansas, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 21 degrees to qualified masters’s nursing students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Newman University are $8,484.
With a ranking of #15, St Catherine University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. St Catherine University is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 93 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
St. Kate’s not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at St Catherine University are $17,400, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Missouri - Kansas City ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Missouri - Kansas City is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 80 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
UMKC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - Kansas City are $26,699, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Saint Louis University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. Saint Louis University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 92 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
SLU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at SLU are $22,074, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Central Missouri came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Central Missouri is a medium-sized school located in Warrensburg, Missouri that handed out 47 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Central Missouri are $16,394, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Southeast Missouri State University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Southeast Missouri State University is a fairly large public school situated in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It awarded 9 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Southeast Missouri State University are $10,792, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Nursing at Southeast Missouri State University
With a ranking of #20, Pittsburg State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Pittsburg State University is a public institution located in Pittsburg, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Pittsburg State University are $19,320.
University of Iowa did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #21. Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa. It awarded 7 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Iowa are $27,613.
Missouri Western State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #22. Missouri Western is located in Saint Joseph, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Missouri Western are $12,212.
With a ranking of #23, Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Moorhead, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at MSU Moorhead are $9,900, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Nursing at Minnesota State University - Moorhead
Wichita State University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Wichita, Kansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at WSU, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at WSU are $15,112, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Lindenwood University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #25. Lindenwood University is located in Saint Charles, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Lindenwood University are $9,550, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
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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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.
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