2023 Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
Finding the Best Nursing Associate Degree School for You
In 2020-2021, 322,592 degrees and certificates were awarded to nursing students, making the major the most popular in the country.
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which healthcare program is right for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Healthcare Degree Search has developed this Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 960 schools in the United States to see which associate degree programs offered the best value experiences for nursing students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
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2023 Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the United States
Check out the nursing associate degree programs at these schools if you want to get the best value for your educational dollar.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality for an Associate in Nursing
Our analysis found New Mexico Junior College to be the best value school for nursing students who want to pursue a associate degree in the United States. New Mexico Junior College is a small public school located in the remote town of Hobbs.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at New Mexico Junior College are $2,280 a year. Nursing majors at New Mexico Junior College take out an average of $19,434 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Coahoma Community College is a great value for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the rural area of Clarksdale, Coahoma Community College is a public school with a small student population.
Coahoma Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $3,003 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Coahoma Community College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $21,203.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Oglala Lakota College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. Oglala Lakota College is a small public school located in the remote area of Kyle.
Oglala Lakota College undergraduate students pay an average of $2,684 in tuition and fees each year. Nursing majors at Oglala Lakota College take out an average of $11,529 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
The excellent associate degree programs at Clovis Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value nursing schools in the United States. Clovis Community College is a small public school located in the town of Clovis.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Clovis Community College are $2,984 per year. After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Clovis Community College carry an average student debtload of $13,864.
The excellent associate degree programs at Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value nursing schools in the United States. L.A. County School of Nursing is a fairly small public school located in the large city of Los Angeles.
After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from L.A. County School of Nursing carry an average student debtload of $21,695.
Read full report on Nursing at Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health
Southeast Community College Area did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Southeast Community College are $3,780 a year. On average, nursing graduates from Southeast Community College take out $27,526 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
Seattle Central College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree nursing programs. Seattle Central is a small public school located in the large city of Seattle.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Seattle Central are $4,670 per year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Seattle Central take out while working on their Associate Degree is $23,418.
In addition to its great value ranking, Seattle Central is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools list.
Highline College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree nursing programs. Located in the large suburb of Des Moines, Highline is a public college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Highline are $4,813 a year. While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Highline accumulate an average of around $17,371 in student debt.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Highline also is in the top 15% of our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking.
Central Arizona College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree nursing programs. Located in the rural area of Coolidge, Pinal County Community College is a public school with a small student population.
Pinal County Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,160 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Pinal County Community College carry an average student debtload of $19,049.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Pinal County Community College also did well on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Panola College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree nursing programs. Located in the distant town of Carthage, Panola College is a public school with a small student population.
Panola College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,680 in tuition and fees each year.
Panola College also claimed a spot on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Amarillo College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree nursing programs. Amarillo College is a medium-sized public school located in the medium-sized city of Amarillo.
Amarillo College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,704 in tuition and fees each year. On average, nursing graduates from Amarillo College take out $22,468 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
Arkansas State University - Newport came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the rural area of Newport, ASUN is a public college with a small student population.
ASUN undergraduate students pay an average of $4,320 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at ASUN take out while working on their Associate Degree is $20,883.
College of the Mainland did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #13 on the list. COM is a small public school located in the midsize suburb of Texas City.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at COM are $3,873 a year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at COM take out while working on their Associate Degree is $24,607.
Neosho County Community College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree nursing programs. Neosho County Community College is a small public school located in the remote town of Chanute.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Neosho County Community College are $4,000 per year. After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Neosho County Community College carry an average student debtload of $20,150.
Read full report on Nursing at Neosho County Community College
Cloud County Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the rural area of Concordia, Cloud County Community College is a public college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Cloud County Community College are $3,570 a year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Cloud County Community College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $22,223.
SOWELA Technical Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. SOWELA is a small public school located in the small city of Lake Charles.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SOWELA are $4,265 per year. After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from SOWELA carry an average student debtload of $15,984.
Read full report on Nursing at SOWELA Technical Community College
South Plains College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the distant town of Levelland, South Plains College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at South Plains College are $4,276 per year. While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at South Plains College accumulate an average of around $19,364 in student debt.
Wayne County Community College District landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree nursing programs. WCCCD is a large public school located in the large city of Detroit.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at WCCCD are $3,998 a year. After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from WCCCD carry an average student debtload of $23,759.
With a ranking of #19, Camden County College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the large suburb of Blackwood, Camden County College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Camden County College are $3,744 a year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Camden County College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $24,067.
Rochester Community and Technical College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree nursing programs. Located in the midsize city of Rochester, Rochester Community and Technical College is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Rochester Community and Technical College are $5,372 per year. While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Rochester Community and Technical College accumulate an average of around $27,212 in student debt.
In addition to its great value ranking, Rochester Community and Technical College is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools list.
Full Nursing at Rochester Community and Technical College Report
Southern Regional Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #21 on the list. Southwest Georgia Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Thomasville.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Southwest Georgia Technical College are $5,402 a year. On average, nursing graduates from Southwest Georgia Technical College take out $13,212 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
In addition to its great value ranking, Southwest Georgia Technical College is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools list.
South Louisiana Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the midsize city of Lafayette, South Louisiana Community College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
South Louisiana Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,205 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at South Louisiana Community College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $23,640.
University of Arkansas Community College - Batesville did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #23 on the list. Located in the remote town of Batesville, UACCB is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UACCB are $3,438 a year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at UACCB take out while working on their Associate Degree is $15,732.
Read full report on Nursing at University of Arkansas Community College - Batesville
Alvin Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #24 on the list. Alvin is a small public school located in the suburb of Alvin.
Alvin undergraduate students pay an average of $4,010 in tuition and fees each year. On average, nursing graduates from Alvin take out $18,713 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
Centralia College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. Centralia College is a small public school located in the distant town of Centralia.
Centralia College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,239 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Centralia College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $12,250.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Centralia College also is in the top 15% of our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools
Additional Award Winners
This list represents the remainder of the colleges awarded a Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 960 different United States nursing schools we analyzed.
Honorable Mentions
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools award.
Nursing by Region
View the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
More Nursing Rankings
Nursing Related Majors for Nursing
One of 30 majors within the healthcare area of study, nursing has other similar majors worth exploring.
Nursing Concentrations
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Health & Medical Administrative Services | 89,359 |
| Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services | 84,492 |
| Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants | 84,274 |
| Allied Health Professions | 82,308 |
| Public Health | 40,596 |
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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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