by our College Data Analytics TeamCollege Factual looked at 96 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 6,339 associate degrees in nursing to qualified students.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
Your choice of nursing for getting your associate 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. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To account for this we include a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving their associate degree from the school. After all, your associate degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.
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 associate degree.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list, to help you choose the best school for you.
Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing an associate degree in nursing. Only those schools that rank in the top 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
Any student pursuing a degree in an associate degree in nursing needs to look into Rasmussen University - Minnesota. Located in the city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a private for-profit university with a moderately-sized student population.
Those nursing students who get their associate degree from Rasmussen University - Minnesota receive $4,233 more than the average nursing grad.
More information about a associate in nursing from Rasmussen University - Minnesota
It is hard to beat Rasmussen University - North Dakota if you want to pursue an associate degree in nursing. Rasmussen University - North Dakota is a small private for-profit university located in the medium-sized city of Fargo.
Nursing associate degree recipients from Rasmussen University - North Dakota get an earnings boost of around $4,233 above the average income of nursing majors.
More information about a associate in nursing from Rasmussen University - North Dakota
Any student pursuing a degree in an associate degree in nursing needs to take a look at Rochester Community and Technical College. Located in the city of Rochester, Rochester Community and Technical College is a public college with a small student population.
Those nursing students who get their associate degree from Rochester Community and Technical College make $6,134 more than the typical nursing graduate.
More information about a associate in nursing from Rochester Community and Technical College
It is difficult to beat Minneapolis Community and Technical College if you want to pursue an associate degree in nursing. Located in the large city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community and Technical College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Associate students who receive their degree from the nursing program earn about $61,817 in their early career salary.
More information about a associate in nursing from Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Neosho County Community College is a small public college located in the remote town of Chanute.
Associate students who receive their degree from the nursing program earn around $61,906 in the first couple years of working.
More information about a associate in nursing from Neosho County Community College
Northland Community and Technical College is a small public college located in the remote town of Thief River Falls.
Those nursing students who get their associate degree from Northland Community and Technical College receive $3,189 more than the average nursing graduate.
More information about a associate in nursing from Northland Community and Technical College
DMACC is a very large public college located in the suburb of Ankeny.
Soon after graduation, nursing associate recipients generally earn about $59,181 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a associate in nursing from Des Moines Area Community College
Butler CC is a medium-sized public college located in the distant town of El Dorado.
Associate students who receive their degree from the nursing program earn around $63,244 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a associate in nursing from Butler Community College
Century College is a medium-sized public college located in the suburb of White Bear Lake.
Nursing associate degree recipients from Century College get an earnings boost of about $2,626 over the typical earnings of nursing majors.
More information about a associate in nursing from Century College
Located in the town of Bemidji, NTC is a public college with a fairly small student population.
Nursing associate degree recipients from Northwest Technical College receive an earnings boost of around $8,892 above the typical income of nursing majors.
More information about a associate in nursing from Northwest Technical College
Located in the suburb of Coon Rapids, Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Associate recipients from the nursing major at Anoka-Ramsey Community College make $2,598 more than the typical college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation.
More information about a associate in nursing from Anoka-Ramsey Community College
Located in the remote town of Watertown, LATI is a public school with a small student population.
Nursing associate degree recipients from Lake Area Technical Institute get an earnings boost of about $2,347 above the average earnings of nursing graduates.
More information about a associate in nursing from Lake Area Technical Institute
Located in the remote town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a public college with a small student population.
After graduating, nursing associate recipients generally earn around $59,082 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a associate in nursing from Ridgewater College
Southeast Tech is a small public college located in the city of Sioux Falls.
Students who graduate with their associate from the nursing program report average early career wages of $62,601.
More information about a associate in nursing from Southeast Technical College
North Hennepin Community College is a medium-sized public college located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park.
Those nursing students who get their associate degree from North Hennepin Community College receive $3,426 more than the average nursing student.
More information about a associate in nursing from North Hennepin Community College
Southeastern Community College is a small public college located in the remote town of West Burlington.
Soon after graduation, nursing associate recipients usually earn around $61,159 in their early careers.
More information about a associate in nursing from Southeastern Community College
Located in the town of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College is a public college with a small student population.
Associate students who receive their degree from the nursing program earn around $56,562 in the first couple years of working.
More information about a associate in nursing from Iowa Central Community College
Located in the remote town of Hibbing, Hibbing Community College is a public college with a small student population.
Associate graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program make about $61,116 in the first couple years of working.
More information about a associate in nursing from Hibbing Community College
Located in the small city of Duluth, LSC is a public college with a small student population.
Students who graduate with their associate from the nursing program state that they receive average early career earnings of $64,846.
More information about a associate in nursing from Lake Superior CollegeHere are some additional great schools for Nursing students in the Plains States Region that almost earned our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Cox College | Springfield, MO |
| 21 | Western Iowa Tech Community College | Sioux City, IA |
| 22 | St Cloud Technical and Community College | Saint Cloud, MN |
| 23 | Eastern Iowa Community College District | Davenport, IA |
| 24 | Central Lakes College - Brainerd | Brainerd, MN |
| 25 | Inver Hills Community College | Inver Grove Heights, MN |
| 26 | Hutchinson Community College | Hutchinson, KS |
| 27 | Saint Louis Community College | Bridgeton, MO |
| 28 | Columbia College | Columbia, MO |
| 29 | Riverland Community College | Austin, MN |
| 30 | Mercy College of Health Sciences | Des Moines, IA |
| 31 | Kansas City Kansas Community College | Kansas City, KS |
| 32 | Kirkwood Community College | Cedar Rapids, IA |
Explore the best nursing colleges for a specific state in the Plains States Region .
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 151 | 2,167 |
| Kansas | 146 | 868 |
| Missouri | 117 | 1,409 |
| Iowa | 116 | 1,152 |
| Nebraska | 98 | 265 |
| South Dakota | 93 | 114 |
| North Dakota | 92 | 287 |
Nursing is one of 34 different types of Health Professions programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | 6,290 |
| Nursing Practice | 49 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Allied Health Professions | 1,953 |
| Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services | 1,074 |
| Dental Support Services | 756 |
| Health & Medical Administrative Services | 628 |
| Health Sciences & Services | 342 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science | 275 |
| Health/Medical Prep Programs | 165 |
| Mental & Social Health Services | 133 |
| Somatic Bodywork & Therapeutic Services | 74 |
| Other Health Professions | 73 |
