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Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Trade Schools in the Plains States Region

2023 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Trade Schools in the Plains States Region

124 Colleges
$37,423 Avg Salary
$11,714 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants School for You

In 2021-2022, 85,339 practical nursing & nursing assistants students received a degree or certificate, making the major the #2 most popular in the country.

There are so many trade school programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This report analyzed 124 schools in the Plains States Region to see which ones were the most popular programs for trade school students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants program at each school on the list.

The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Colleges.

Our analysis found Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology to be the most popular school for practical nursing & nursing assistants students who want to pursue a degree in the Plains States Region . Located in the rural area of Wichita, WSU Tech is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Western Iowa Tech Community College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the small city of Sioux City.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Western Iowa Tech Community College Report

#3

Johnson County Community College

Overland Park, KS

The excellent programs at Johnson County Community College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools in the Plains States Region . Located in the medium-sized city of Overland Park, JCCC is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Johnson County Community College Report

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Des Moines Area Community College is a great place for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. Located in the large suburb of Ankeny, DMACC is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Des Moines Area Community College Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Minnesota West Community and Technical College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the remote town of Granite Falls, Minnesota West is a public school with a small student population.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Minnesota West Community and Technical College

Hutchinson Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. It came in at #6 on the list. Hutchinson Community College is a small public school located in the town of Hutchinson.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Hutchinson Community College Report

Highland Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing & nursing assistants programs. Highland Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Highland.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Highland Community College Report

#8

Saint Paul College

Saint Paul, MN

Saint Paul College ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Saint Paul College is a moderately-sized public school located in the large city of Saint Paul.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Saint Paul College Report

With a ranking of #9, Kansas City Kansas Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. Located in the midsize city of Kansas City, Kansas City Kansas Community College is a public school with a small student population.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Kansas City Kansas Community College Report

Washburn Institute of Technology landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing & nursing assistants programs. Located in the city of Topeka, Washburn Tech is a public school with a small student population.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Washburn Institute of Technology

Neosho County Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing & nursing assistants programs. Neosho County Community College is a small public school located in the town of Chanute.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Neosho County Community College

With a ranking of #12, North Central Kansas Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. North Central Kansas Technical College is a small public school located in the rural area of Beloit.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at North Central Kansas Technical College

Iowa Central Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the remote town of Fort Dodge.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Iowa Central Community College

With a ranking of #14, Salina Area Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. Salina Tech is a small public school located in the town of Salina.

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Northland Community and Technical College ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Northland Community and Technical College is a small public school located in the remote town of Thief River Falls.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Northland Community and Technical College

#16

Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, IA

Iowa Western Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the city of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

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Anoka Technical College ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Anoka Technical College is a small public school located in the large suburb of Anoka.

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#18

Southeastern Community College

West Burlington, IA

Southeastern Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Southeastern Community College is a small public school located in the town of West Burlington.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Southeastern Community College

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Trade Schools in the Plains States Region award.

Rank College Location
19 Dodge City Community College Dodge City, KS
20 Garden City Community College Garden City, KS
21 Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis, MN
22 North Iowa Area Community College Mason City, IA
23 Fort Scott Community College Fort Scott, KS
24 Manhattan Area Technical College Manhattan, KS

Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Colleges by State

Explore the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools for a specific state in the Plains States region.

State Degrees Awarded
Kansas 3,821
Missouri 962
Minnesota 2,176
South Dakota 245
Iowa 1,762
North Dakota 256
Nebraska 346

One of 11 majors within the trade school area of study, practical nursing & nursing assistants has other similar majors worth exploring.

Practical Nursing Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training 45,031
Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide 35,655
Other Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants 4,653

Related Major Annual Graduates
Health & Medical Administrative Services 88,600
Allied Health Professions 83,905
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 83,587
Health Sciences & Services 36,762
Mental & Social Health Services 30,331

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • 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 the rest 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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