by our College Data Analytics TeamCollege Factual reviewed 102 schools in the Plains States Region to determine which ones were the best for bachelor's degree seekers in the field of nursing. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 16,158 bachelor's degrees in nursing during the 2022-2023 academic year.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
Your choice of nursing for getting your bachelor's degree school matters. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
The overall quality of a bachelor's degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To account for this we consider a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a host of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of bachelor's graduates during the early years of their career. That is, everyone wants their bachelor's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for nursing students working on their bachelor's degree.
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 Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Learn about the top ranked colleges and universities for nursing students seeking a a bachelor's degree. Only those schools that rank in the top 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
Creighton University is a great choice for students interested in a bachelor's degree in nursing. Located in the city of Omaha, Creighton is a private not-for-profit university with a moderately-sized student population.
Nursing bachelor's degree recipients from Creighton University receive an earnings boost of around $6,240 above the typical earnings of nursing graduates.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Creighton University
Every student pursuing a degree in a bachelor's degree in nursing needs to take a look at University of Iowa. Located in the city of Iowa City, Iowa is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the nursing program state that they receive average early career wages of $69,368.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from University of Iowa
It is difficult to beat University of Nebraska Medical Center if you want to pursue a bachelor's degree in nursing. Located in the city of Omaha, UNMC is a public university with a small student population.
Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the nursing program report average early career earnings of $73,324.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from University of Nebraska Medical Center
Any student who is interested in a bachelor's degree in nursing has to look into Winona State University. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State is a public university with a medium-sized student population.
Those nursing students who get their bachelor's degree from Winona State University earn $3,966 more than the standard nursing grad.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Winona State University
UMN Twin Cities is a fairly large public university located in the city of Minneapolis.
Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program earn an average of $72,929 for their early career.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Located in the city of Saint Louis, SLU is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.
After graduation, nursing bachelor's recipients typically earn about $70,226 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Saint Louis University
Goldfarb School of Nursing is a fairly small private not-for-profit college located in the large city of Saint Louis.
Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the nursing program make an average of $66,925 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College
Located in the midsize city of Columbia, Mizzou is a public university with a very large student population.
Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program make around $72,300 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from University of Missouri - Columbia
Clarkson College is a small private not-for-profit college located in the city of Omaha.
Bachelor's recipients from the nursing program at Clarkson College make $2,488 above the average college grad in this field when they enter the workforce.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Clarkson College
Maryville U is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Saint Louis.
Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the nursing program earn around $69,116 for their early career.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Maryville University of Saint Louis
Located in the remote town of Brookings, South Dakota State is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the nursing program make about $71,758 for their early career.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from South Dakota State University
Allen College is a fairly small private not-for-profit college located in the city of Waterloo.
Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the nursing program make an average of $65,924 for their early career.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Allen College
Located in the small city of Lawrence, KU is a public university with a very large student population.
Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program make around $65,347 in the first couple years of working.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from University of Kansas
St. Scholastica is a small private not-for-profit college located in the small city of Duluth.
Bachelor's recipients from the nursing program at The College of Saint Scholastica earn $4,152 above the average college graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from The College of Saint Scholastica
St. Kate's is a small private not-for-profit university located in the city of Saint Paul.
Bachelor's recipients from the nursing degree program at St Catherine University get $4,737 more than the average graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from St Catherine University
Nebraska Methodist College is a small private not-for-profit college located in the city of Omaha.
Soon after graduating, nursing bachelor's recipients usually earn around $70,680 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health
Minnesota State Mankato is a fairly large public university located in the city of Mankato.
Bachelor's recipients from the nursing degree program at Minnesota State University - Mankato get $4,308 more than the average graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Minnesota State University - Mankato
Located in the city of Kansas City, UMKC is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the nursing program state that they receive average early career earnings of $71,150.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from University of Missouri - Kansas City
Located in the small city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a private for-profit university with a moderately-sized student population.
Bachelor's recipients from the nursing degree program at Rasmussen University - Minnesota get $3,514 more than the typical graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from Rasmussen University - Minnesota
UND is a large public university located in the small city of Grand Forks.
Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the nursing program make about $73,097 in their early career salary.
More information about a bachelor’s in nursing from University of North DakotaThese are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Bethel University Minnesota | Saint Paul, MN |
| 22 | Herzing University - Minneapolis | St. Louis Park, MN |
| 23 | Rockhurst University | Kansas City, MO |
| 24 | North Dakota State University - Main Campus | Fargo, ND |
| 25 | University of Missouri - St Louis | Saint Louis, MO |
| 26 | Mercy College of Health Sciences | Des Moines, IA |
| 27 | University of South Dakota | Vermillion, SD |
| 28 | MidAmerica Nazarene University | Olathe, KS |
| 29 | College of Saint Benedict | Saint Joseph, MN |
| 30 | Rasmussen University - North Dakota | Fargo, ND |
| 31 | Washburn University | Topeka, KS |
| 32 | Research College of Nursing | Kansas City, MO |
| 33 | Mount Marty University | Yankton, SD |
| 34 | Metropolitan State University | Saint Paul, MN |
Explore the best nursing colleges for a specific state in the Plains States Region .
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 228 | 3,224 |
| Minnesota | 215 | 6,914 |
| Iowa | 197 | 1,352 |
| Kansas | 184 | 1,454 |
| Nebraska | 180 | 1,229 |
| North Dakota | 149 | 589 |
| South Dakota | 148 | 814 |
Nursing is one of 34 different types of Health Professions programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | 15,171 |
| Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 487 |
| Nursing Practice | 371 |
| Nursing Administration | 96 |
| Nursing Science | 33 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Health Sciences & Services | 1,570 |
| Health & Medical Administrative Services | 1,301 |
| Allied Health Professions | 916 |
| Communication Sciences | 882 |
| Public Health | 622 |
| Dental Support Services | 285 |
| Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences | 285 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science | 280 |
| Mental & Social Health Services | 228 |
| Dietetics & Clinical Nutrition Services | 226 |
