2026 Best Nursing Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Nursing associate’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 2207 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Healthcare Degree Search reviewed schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Nursing Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
No school ranked higher than Helene Fuld College Of Nursing this year in the United States. Helene Fuld College Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,852. Students borrow a median of $27,775 to complete their Nursing program here. Read more about Helene Fuld College Of Nursing
You'll be in good company at Saint Michael College Of Allied Health, which ranked #2 this year. Saint Michael College Of Allied Health is a private for-profit school based in Washington, DC. In-state tuition and fees run about $19,405. The median Nursing program debt is $23,260. Read more about Saint Michael College Of Allied Health
A rank of #3 makes Arnot Ogden Medical Center one of the top choices in the United States. Arnot Ogden Medical Center is a private not-for-profit school based in Elmira, NY. More on Arnot Ogden Medical Center
Gurnick Academy Of Medical Arts came in at #4 on this year's Nursing ranking in the United States. Based in San Jose, CA, Gurnick Academy Of Medical Arts is a private for-profit institution. Typical Nursing student debt is $25,266. Read the full report on Gurnick Academy Of Medical Arts
You'll be in good company at Stanbridge College, which ranked #5 this year. Stanbridge College is a private for-profit school based in Irvine, CA. Graduates carry a median of $36,666 in student loans. Read more about Stanbridge College
Los Angeles County College Of Nursing And Allied Health did well this year, earning the #6 position. This public school is set in Los Angeles, CA. The median Nursing program debt is $19,224. Read more about Los Angeles County College Of Nursing And Allied Health
Standard Healthcare Services College Of Nursing landed the #7 spot in the United States this year. Based in Falls Church, VA, Standard Healthcare Services College Of Nursing is a private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $22,125 to complete their Nursing program here. Read more about Standard Healthcare Services College Of Nursing
Excelsior College placed #8 among Nursing schools in the United States. Excelsior College is a private not-for-profit school based in Albany, NY. The median Nursing program debt is $23,809. See the full Excelsior College profile
Best Care College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. This private for-profit school is set in East Orange, NJ. Best Care College Nursing students take on a median of $13,056 in debt. See the full Best Care College profile
Cochran School Of Nursing landed the #10 spot in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Yonkers, NY. Students from in state pay about $10,038 in tuition and fees. The median Nursing program debt is $26,758. Get the full Cochran School Of Nursing report
Ohio Medical Career College placed #11 among Nursing schools in the United States. Set in Dayton, OH, Ohio Medical Career College is a private for-profit institution. The median Nursing program debt is $26,331. Read more about Ohio Medical Career College
St Josephs College Of Nursing At St Josephs Hospital Health Center ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Set in Syracuse, NY, St Josephs College Of Nursing At St Josephs Hospital Health Center is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,816. Students borrow a median of $19,279 to complete their Nursing program here. Read the full report on St Josephs College Of Nursing At St Josephs Hospital Health Center
St Pauls School Of Nursing Queens landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. St Pauls School Of Nursing Queens is a private for-profit school based in Rego Park, NY. Students from in state pay about $17,433 in tuition and fees. Typical Nursing student debt is $32,771. Get the full St Pauls School Of Nursing Queens report
Unitek College landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. Set in Fremont, CA, Unitek College is a private for-profit institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. The median Nursing program debt is $27,113. More on Unitek College
Baptist Health System School Of Health Professions placed #15 among Nursing schools in the United States. Baptist Health System School Of Health Professions is a private for-profit school based in San Antonio, TX. Students from in state pay about $13,074 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $33,911 in student loans. Read more about Baptist Health System School Of Health Professions
Jersey College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This private for-profit school is set in Teterboro, NJ. Students borrow a median of $37,010 to complete their Nursing program here. Get the full Jersey College report
Delaware Technical Community College Terry placed #17 among Nursing schools in the United States. Delaware Technical Community College Terry is a public school based in Dover, DE. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,332, with out-of-state students paying around $5,763. Typical Nursing student debt is $16,125. More on Delaware Technical Community College Terry
Trident Technical College landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Charleston, SC. Students from in state pay about $4,546 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,620. Typical Nursing student debt is $30,938. See the full Trident Technical College profile
Merced College placed #19 among Nursing schools in the United States. Set in Merced, CA, Merced College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,200, with out-of-state students paying around $8,520. Students borrow a median of $12,750 to complete their Nursing program here. More on Merced College
Memorial Hospital School Of Nursing came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Set in Albany, NY, Memorial Hospital School Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,358. Memorial Hospital School Of Nursing Nursing students take on a median of $26,487 in debt. More on Memorial Hospital School Of Nursing
Rasmussen College Minnesota did well this year, earning the #21 position. Set in St. Cloud, MN, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,199. Students borrow a median of $34,866 to complete their Nursing program here. Get the full Rasmussen College Minnesota report
Rasmussen College Florida did well this year, earning the #22 position. Rasmussen College Florida is a private for-profit school based in Ocala, FL. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,256. Rasmussen College Florida Nursing students take on a median of $34,866 in debt. Read more about Rasmussen College Florida
Ambria College Of Nursing did well this year, earning the #23 position. Located in Hoffman Estates, IL, Ambria College Of Nursing is a private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $36,518 to complete their Nursing program here. See the full Ambria College Of Nursing profile
Rasmussen College Illinois placed #24 among Nursing schools in the United States. Located in Rockford, IL, Rasmussen College Illinois is a private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,581 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $34,866 to complete their Nursing program here. See the full Rasmussen College Illinois profile
Columbia Gorge Community College did well this year, earning the #25 position. Based in The Dalles, OR, Columbia Gorge Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,940, with out-of-state students paying around $10,260. Typical Nursing student debt is $22,417. More on Columbia Gorge Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Best Nursing Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Modesto Junior College placed #26 among Nursing schools in the United States. Located in Modesto, CA, Modesto Junior College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,282, while out-of-state students pay about $9,264. Typical Nursing student debt is $11,279. More on Modesto Junior College
Galen College Of Nursing San Antonio placed #27 among Nursing schools in the United States. Located in San Antonio, TX, Galen College Of Nursing San Antonio is a private for-profit institution. Galen College Of Nursing San Antonio graduates 50% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $17,048. Typical Nursing student debt is $40,317. Get the full Galen College Of Nursing San Antonio report
Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. Based in Concord, NC, Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,550. Graduates carry a median of $24,968 in student loans. See the full Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences profile
Glendale Career College Brightwood Teachout placed #29 among Nursing schools in the United States. Set in San Diego, CA, Glendale Career College Brightwood Teachout is a private for-profit institution. Graduates carry a median of $33,049 in student loans. Get the full Glendale Career College Brightwood Teachout report
Samaritan Hospital School Of Nursing did well this year, earning the #30 position. Based in Troy, NY, Samaritan Hospital School Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,358. The median Nursing program debt is $27,625. More on Samaritan Hospital School Of Nursing
Pacific Union College came in at #31 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Angwin, CA. Pacific Union College posts a six-year graduation rate of 44%. In-state tuition and fees average $37,173. Pacific Union College Nursing students take on a median of $29,000 in debt. Read more about Pacific Union College
Career Training Solutions landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. Career Training Solutions is a private for-profit school based in Fredericksburg, VA. Students borrow a median of $20,625 to complete their Nursing program here. Get the full Career Training Solutions report
Madison Area Technical College ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Located in Madison, WI, Madison Area Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,977, compared with $7,141 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,235 to complete their Nursing program here. Read more about Madison Area Technical College
Galen School Of Nursing Tampa Bay did well this year, earning the #34 position. Set in Saint Petersburg, FL, Galen School Of Nursing Tampa Bay is a private for-profit institution. Roughly 100% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,048. Graduates carry a median of $40,317 in student loans. Get the full Galen School Of Nursing Tampa Bay report
Carolinas College Of Health Sciences came in at #35 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Charlotte, NC. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,882. The median Nursing program debt is $24,499. Get the full Carolinas College Of Health Sciences report
Butte College placed #36 among Nursing schools in the United States. Based in Oroville, CA, Butte College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,356, with out-of-state students paying around $9,276. Graduates carry a median of $15,375 in student loans. Get the full Butte College report
Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lancaster, PA. About 69% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $32,933 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,812 to complete their Nursing program here. Read the full report on Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences
Mount St Marys College landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. Based in Los Angeles, CA, Mount St Marys College is a private not-for-profit institution. Mount St Marys College graduates 48% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,564. Typical Nursing student debt is $25,167. See the full Mount St Marys College profile
Union County College ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. This public school is set in Cranford, NJ. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,280, compared with $9,500 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $30,195 in student loans. Read the full report on Union County College
San Joaquin Delta College came in at #40 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Stockton, CA. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,772. Typical Nursing student debt is $6,382. Read more about San Joaquin Delta College
Centra College Of Nursing came in at #41 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lynchburg, VA. The six-year graduation rate is 100%. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,449. Typical Nursing student debt is $17,598. Read the full report on Centra College Of Nursing
Cabrillo College placed #42 among Nursing schools in the United States. Located in Aptos, CA, Cabrillo College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,270, compared with $9,862 for out-of-state students. Cabrillo College Nursing students take on a median of $15,000 in debt. Get the full Cabrillo College report
Cuny Bronx Community College placed #42 among Nursing schools in the United States. This public school is set in Bronx, NY. Students from in state pay about $5,206 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,086. Cuny Bronx Community College Nursing students take on a median of $17,444 in debt. More on Cuny Bronx Community College
Carrington College Reno placed #44 among Nursing schools in the United States. Located in Reno, NV, Carrington College Reno is a private for-profit institution. Typical Nursing student debt is $32,500. Read more about Carrington College Reno
Northwest Technical College ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Set in Bemidji, MN, Northwest Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,254. Students borrow a median of $31,053 to complete their Nursing program here. Read the full report on Northwest Technical College
County College Of Morris landed the #46 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Randolph, NJ. In-state tuition and fees average $6,210, with out-of-state students paying around $14,310. The median Nursing program debt is $9,420. Read the full report on County College Of Morris
Herzing University Birmingham did well this year, earning the #47 position. Set in Birmingham, AL, Herzing University Birmingham is a private not-for-profit institution. About 25% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,450. The median Nursing program debt is $31,509. Read the full report on Herzing University Birmingham
Cuesta College did well this year, earning the #48 position. Set in San Luis Obispo, CA, Cuesta College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,350 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,010. The median Nursing program debt is $18,958. Read the full report on Cuesta College
St Joseph School Of Nursing landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. Based in Nashua, NH, St Joseph School Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $23,438. Students borrow a median of $24,167 to complete their Nursing program here. More on St Joseph School Of Nursing
Rasmussen College Kansas did well this year, earning the #50 position. Based in Topeka, KS, Rasmussen College Kansas is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,316. The median Nursing program debt is $34,866. More on Rasmussen College Kansas
Related Nursing Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Nursing Schools (All Levels)
- Best Nursing Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Nursing Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Nursing Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Healthcare Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 2207 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
HealthcareDegreeSearch.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© HealthcareDegreeSearch.com – All Rights Reserved.