Find Grad Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Most Popular Online Doctor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region

Find Schools Near

2023 Most Popular Online Doctor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region

51 Schools Ranked

A student has lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Also, there are a number of trade schools and bootcamps with offerings that you might find attractive.

The Most Popular Online Doctor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking is one of many tools that Grad Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 51 schools in the Plains States Region to see which online doctor's degree programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with online programs.

Learn more about these popular schools with online programs:

#2

Capella University

Minneapolis, Minnesota
1,437 Total Awards

You’ll be in good company if you attend Capella University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Online Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Capella University is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,437 doctor’s degrees to qualified students.

Of those students who received their degree, 77% were women.

Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Capella University. Every graduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Read full report on Capella University

787 Total Awards
$42,128 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 51 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, A T Still University of Health Sciences landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in Kirksville, Missouri, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 787 doctor’s degree awards in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.

Since the graduate programs at A T Still University of Health Sciences are primarily online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.

Read More…

#4

Maryville University of Saint Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
201 Total Awards
$15,696 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent doctor’s degree programs at Maryville University of Saint Louis helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular schools in the Plains States Region . Maryville U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 201 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 79% were women.

Around 91% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Maryville University of Saint Louis

#5

University of Missouri - Columbia

Columbia, Missouri
792 Total Awards
$11,255 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Online Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large public school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 792 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.

During the 2019-2020 year, about 67% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Full University of Missouri - Columbia Report

#6

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
916 Total Awards
$11,045 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Kansas came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. KU is located in Lawrence, Kansas and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 916 doctor’s degrees to qualified students.

Of those students who received their degree, 53% were women.

To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 69% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#7

William Woods University

Fulton, Missouri
68 Total Awards

William Woods University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a doctor’s degree. It came in at #7 on the list. William Woods is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Fulton, Missouri. It awarded 68 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 71% were women.

To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 42% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full William Woods University Report

#7

Creighton University

Omaha, Nebraska
858 Total Awards
$19,096 Average Tuition & Fees

Creighton University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree programs. Omaha, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctor’s degrees to 858 students in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 62% were women.

In 2019-2020 about 50% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

59 Total Awards
$12,158 Average Tuition & Fees

Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health is a small private not-for-profit school located in Omaha, Nebraska that handed out 59 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 81% were women.

If you are interested in distance education, Nebraska Methodist College is an excellent choice, since graduate classes are offered online.

Full Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health Report

#10

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri
615 Total Awards
$11,745 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Missouri - Kansas City landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree programs. UMKC is a fairly large public school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 615 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 55% of those degree recipients were women.

Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 66% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#10

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
874 Total Awards
$12,065 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Iowa did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a doctor’s degree. It came in at #10 on the list. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctor’s degrees to 874 students in 2020-2021.

Around 51% of those degree recipients were women.

To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 33% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on University of Iowa

#13

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
29 Total Awards
$8,756 Average Tuition & Fees

Winona State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Winona, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctor’s degrees to 29 students in 2020-2021.

Around 97% of those degree recipients were women.

During the 2019-2020 year, about 66% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Full Winona State University Report

#14

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas
120 Total Awards
$9,636 Average Tuition & Fees

Washburn University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a doctor’s degree. It came in at #14 on the list. Topeka, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctor’s degrees to 120 students in 2020-2021.

Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.

Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 48% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#15

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas
18 Total Awards
$8,728 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #15, Pittsburg State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their doctor’s degree. Pittsburg State University is a medium-sized public school located in Pittsburg, Kansas that handed out 18 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 94% of those degree recipients were women.

During the 2019-2020 year, about 80% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Pittsburg State University

#16

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas
94 Total Awards
$7,252 Average Tuition & Fees

Wichita State University ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Online Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Wichita, Kansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctor’s degrees to 94 students in 2020-2021.

Around 53% of those degree recipients were women.

Around 37% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full Wichita State University Report

17 Total Awards
$11,052 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #16, Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their doctor’s degree. Located in Moorhead, Minnesota, the medium-sized public school handed out 17 doctor’s degree awards in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 88% were women.

During the 2019-2020 year, about 84% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Minnesota State University - Moorhead

#16

Fort Hays State University

Hays, Kansas
17 Total Awards
$4,500 Average Tuition & Fees

Fort Hays State University ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Online Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. FHSU is located in Hays, Kansas and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 doctor’s degrees to qualified students.

Around 100% of those degree recipients were women.

During the 2019-2020 year, about 93% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Fort Hays State University

#19

Concordia University, Saint Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota
49 Total Awards

With a ranking of #19, Concordia University, Saint Paul did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their doctor’s degree. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 49 doctor’s degree awards in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.

In 2019-2020 about 94% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Concordia University, Saint Paul Report

#20

Dakota State University

Madison, South Dakota
14 Total Awards
$6,731 Average Tuition & Fees

Dakota State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Dakota State is located in Madison, South Dakota and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 doctor’s degrees to qualified students.

Around 21% of those degree recipients were women.

In 2019-2020 about 96% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#20

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
339 Total Awards
$11,225 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #20, Kansas State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their doctor’s degree. Manhattan, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctor’s degrees to 339 students in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.

During the 2019-2020 year, about 52% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Full Kansas State University Report

#22

Logan University

Chesterfield, Missouri
222 Total Awards

Logan University ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Online Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Logan University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chesterfield, Missouri. It awarded 222 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 40% were women.

During the 2019-2020 year, about 78% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#23

Bellevue University

Bellevue, Nebraska
10 Total Awards
$11,730 Average Tuition & Fees

Bellevue University ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Online Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bellevue, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 10 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 40% of those degree recipients were women.

Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 99% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Bellevue University Report

#24

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
73 Total Awards
$17,760 Average Tuition & Fees

St Catherine University ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular Online Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list. St Catherine University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 73 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 85% of those degree recipients were women.

In 2019-2020 about 87% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on St Catherine University

#24

College of Saint Mary

Omaha, Nebraska
9 Total Awards

College of Saint Mary landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular doctor’s degree programs. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 9 doctor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of those students who received their degree, 89% were women.

In 2019-2020 about 38% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

View Most Popular Online Doctor’s Degree Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

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%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Featured Schools

Find Graduate Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited graduate schools across the U.S.