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Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools

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2023 Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools

1,123 Colleges
$57,601 Avg Salary
$21,889 Avg Student Debt

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.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Healthcare Degree Search has created the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 1,123 schools in the United States to see which associate degree programs were the most popular for healthcare students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Nursing program at each school on the list.

Check out the nursing associate degree programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the United States.

#1

Excelsior College

Albany, NY

Our analysis found Excelsior College to be the most popular school for nursing students who want to pursue a associate degree in the United States. Excelsior College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Albany.

Of the 1,522 students majoring in nursing at Excelsior College, 16% are male and 84% are female.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Excelsior College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $23,429.

Read full report on Nursing at Excelsior College

#2

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Ivy Tech Community College is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree. Ivy Tech Community College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Indianapolis.

Of the 1,366 students majoring in nursing at Ivy Tech Community College, 11% are male and 89% are female.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Ivy Tech Community College accumulate an average of around $20,860 in student debt.

Read full report on Nursing at Ivy Tech Community College

The in-demand associate degree programs at Rasmussen University - Florida helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in the United States. Located in the city of Ocala, Rasmussen University - Florida is a private for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.

Of the 1,084 students majoring in nursing at Rasmussen University - Florida, 11% are male and 89% are female.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Rasmussen University - Florida accumulate an average of around $32,326 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $175, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Nursing at Rasmussen University - Florida Report

The in-demand associate degree programs at Rasmussen University - Minnesota helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in the United States. Located in the small city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Women make up 87% of the nursing majors at the school.

Nursing majors at Rasmussen University - Minnesota take out an average of $32,326 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $175, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

#5

Jersey College

Teterboro, NJ

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Jersey College is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree. Jersey College is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Teterboro.

About 93% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 7% are male.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Jersey College carry an average student debt load of $35,837. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $89.

Read More…

#6

Miami Dade College

Miami, FL

Miami Dade College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the city of Miami, MDC is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Of the 614 students majoring in nursing at MDC, 21% are male and 79% are female.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at MDC take out while working on their Associate Degree is $19,338.

Read More…

#7

Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale is a large private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Fort Lauderdale.

Of the 601 students majoring in nursing at Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale, 15% are male and 85% are female.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale take out while working on their Associate Degree is $32,396. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $139.

Full Nursing at Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale Report

#8

ECPI University

Virginia Beach, VA

ECPI University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, ECPI University is a private for-profit college with a large student population.

About 91% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 9% are male.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at ECPI University take out while working on their Associate Degree is $35,025. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $174, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

With a ranking of #9, Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio is a small private for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio.

Of the 502 students majoring in nursing at Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio, 12% are male and 88% are female.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio carry an average student debt load of $35,636. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $111, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Nursing at Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio Report

Rasmussen University - Illinois came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the city of Rockford, Rasmussen University - Illinois is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Women make up 92% of the nursing majors at the school.

On average, nursing graduates from Rasmussen University - Illinois take out $32,326 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $175, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Nursing at Rasmussen University - Illinois Report

#11

Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay

Saint Petersburg, FL

Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the large city of Saint Petersburg, Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Of the 448 students majoring in nursing at Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay, 12% are male and 88% are female.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay carry an average student debt load of $35,636. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $111, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Nursing at Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay

#12

St Petersburg College

Clearwater, FL

St Petersburg College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #12 on the list. SPC is a very large public school located in the city of Clearwater.

Women make up 81% of the nursing majors at the school.

Nursing majors at SPC take out an average of $25,206 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read More…

Florida State College at Jacksonville came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. FSCJ is a very large public school located in the large city of Jacksonville.

Women make up 82% of the nursing majors at the school.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at FSCJ accumulate an average of around $21,396 in student debt.

Full Nursing at Florida State College at Jacksonville Report

With a ranking of #14, AmeriTech College - Draper did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. AmeriTech College - Draper is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Draper.

Women make up 82% of the nursing majors at the school.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from AmeriTech College - Draper carry an average student debt load of $28,725. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $267.

Read full report on Nursing at AmeriTech College - Draper

Harrisburg Area Community College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. HACC is a large public school located in the small city of Harrisburg.

Of the 395 students majoring in nursing at HACC, 12% are male and 88% are female.

Nursing majors at HACC take out an average of $31,597 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Harrisburg Area Community College

#16

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, TX

Lone Star College System did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #16 on the list. North Harris Montgomery is a very large public school located in the midsize city of The Woodlands.

Women make up 85% of the nursing majors at the school.

Nursing majors at North Harris Montgomery take out an average of $19,210 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Full Nursing at Lone Star College System Report

Helene Fuld College of Nursing did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in the large city of New York, HFCN is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

About 93% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 7% are male.

Nursing majors at HFCN take out an average of $27,942 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Helene Fuld College of Nursing

Community College of Allegheny County landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, CCAC is a public college with a fairly large student population.

About 82% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 18% are male.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from CCAC carry an average student debt load of $24,892.

Full Nursing at Community College of Allegheny County Report

Weber State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in the city of Ogden, WSU is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Women make up 81% of the nursing majors at the school.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at WSU accumulate an average of around $19,725 in student debt.

Full Nursing at Weber State University Report

#20

Union County College

Cranford, NJ

Union County College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. Union County College is a moderately-sized public school located in the large suburb of Cranford.

Women make up 86% of the nursing majors at the school.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Union County College carry an average student debt load of $28,481.

Read full report on Nursing at Union County College

Cuyahoga Community College District ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Women make up 84% of the nursing majors at the school.

On average, nursing graduates from Cuyahoga Community College District take out $21,617 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Cuyahoga Community College District

Delaware Technical Community College - Terry did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #22 on the list. Delaware Tech is a large public school located in the small city of Dover.

Of the 325 students majoring in nursing at Delaware Tech, 9% are male and 91% are female.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Delaware Tech accumulate an average of around $18,104 in student debt.

Read More…

#23

Trocaire College

Buffalo, NY

Trocaire College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the city of Buffalo, Trocaire is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Women make up 86% of the nursing majors at the school.

Full Nursing at Trocaire College Report

#23

South Texas College

McAllen, TX

South Texas College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #23 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of McAllen, South Texas College is a public school with a very large student population.

About 79% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 21% are male.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from South Texas College carry an average student debt load of $11,425.

Read full report on Nursing at South Texas College

#25

Hondros College of Nursing

Westerville, OH

Hondros College of Nursing did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #25 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Westerville, Hondros College of Nursing is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Women make up 93% of the nursing majors at the school.

Nursing majors at Hondros College of Nursing take out an average of $40,873 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $125, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Nursing at Hondros College of Nursing

#26

Broward College

Fort Lauderdale, FL
#29

Laboure College

Milton, MA
#30

Valencia College

Orlando, FL
#32

Delgado Community College

New Orleans, LA
#36

EDP University - San Juan

San Juan, PR
#37

Salt Lake Community College

Salt Lake City, UT
#39

Palm Beach State College

Lake Worth, FL
#40

Oklahoma City Community College

Oklahoma City, OK
#43

Pensacola State College

Pensacola, FL
#49

Owens Community College

Perrysburg, OH

Additional Award Winners

This section shows the rest of the schools awarded a Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools badge. Showing in this list means the college was ranked in the top 15% of the 1123 different United States nursing schools we analyzed.

Rank College Location
51 St Paul’s School of Nursing - Staten Island Staten Island, NY
52 Tyler Junior College Tyler, TX
53 St Paul’s School of Nursing - Queens Rego Park, NY
53 John C Calhoun State Community College Tanner, AL
55 Saint Louis Community College Saint Louis, MO
55 Tulsa Community College Tulsa, OK
55 Amarillo College Amarillo, TX
55 Santa Fe College Gainesville, FL
59 El Centro College Dallas, TX
60 Bevill State Community College Jasper, AL
60 Goodwin College East Hartford, CT
60 Fresno City College Fresno, CA
63 Henry Ford College Dearborn, MI
64 Daytona State College Daytona Beach, FL
65 Lansing Community College Lansing, MI
66 Pima Community College Tucson, AZ
66 HCI College West Palm Beach, FL
68 Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay, WI
68 San Antonio College San Antonio, TX
70 College of Southern Nevada Las Vegas, NV
71 Trident Technical College Charleston, SC
72 Glendale Community College Glendale, AZ
72 Central Ohio Technical College Newark, OH
74 Mesa Community College Mesa, AZ
75 Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI
75 Coastal Alabama Community College Bay Minette, AL
77 Pasco-Hernando State College New Port Richey, FL
77 University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock, AR
79 Montgomery College Rockville, MD
80 Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Beach Virginia Beach, VA
81 Universal Career School Sweetwater, FL
82 Community College of Baltimore County Baltimore, MD
82 Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tifton, GA
84 Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate, TN
85 Weatherford College Weatherford, TX
85 New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, NY
87 EDP University - San Sebastian San Sebastian, PR
87 Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire, WI
89 Carrington College, Reno Reno, NV
89 St. Joseph’s College of Nursing Syracuse, NY
89 Schoolcraft College Livonia, MI
89 Howard Community College Columbia, MD
93 Mohave Community College Kingman, AZ
93 Baptist Health College - Little Rock Little Rock, AR
93 Riverside City College Riverside, CA
93 Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA
97 Delaware County Community College Media, PA
98 Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City Oklahoma City, OK
99 Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa Wauwatosa, WI
99 Polk State College Winter Haven, FL
101 New England Institute of Technology East Greenwich, RI
101 Columbus State Community College Columbus, OH
101 Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque, NM
104 Houston Community College Houston, TX
104 Gwinnett Institute Orlando, FL
104 Borough of Manhattan Community College New York, NY
104 Rasmussen University - Kansas Topeka, KS
104 Miami Regional University Miami Springs, FL
109 Del Mar College Corpus Christi, TX
109 Albany State University Albany, GA
111 Clark State Community College Springfield, OH
111 Harford Community College Bel Air, MD
113 Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids, MN
114 Ocean County College Toms River, NJ
115 Vermont Technical College Randolph, VT
116 Hinds Community College Raymond, MS
117 Lorain County Community College Elyria, OH
117 Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs, IA
119 State College of Florida - Manatee - Sarasota Bradenton, FL
119 Pueblo Community College Pueblo, CO
119 Seattle Central College Seattle, WA
122 National University College Bayamon, PR
123 Meridian Community College Meridian, MS
123 Midlands Technical College West Columbia, SC
123 Northwestern State University of Louisiana Natchitoches, LA
126 Highline College Des Moines, WA
127 Delta College University Center, MI
127 City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College Chicago, IL
129 Brookdale Community College Lincroft, NJ
129 Florida National University - Main Campus Hialeah, FL
131 Morrisville State College Morrisville, NY
131 Navarro College Corsicana, TX
133 El Paso Community College El Paso, TX
133 Sinclair Community College Dayton, OH
133 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Perkinston, MS
133 Nassau Community College Garden City, NY
137 Texas State Technical College Waco, TX
137 Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FL
139 Greenville Technical College Greenville, SC
140 Mercy College of Ohio Toledo, OH
140 Germanna Community College Locust Grove, VA
140 Fairmont State University Fairmont, WV
140 Bakersfield College Bakersfield, CA
140 Southwest Baptist University Bolivar, MO
145 Scottsdale Community College Scottsdale, AZ
146 Wake Technical Community College Raleigh, NC
147 Everett Community College Everett, WA
147 Kingsborough Community College Brooklyn, NY
149 Northern Oklahoma College Tonkawa, OK
149 Collin County Community College District McKinney, TX
149 Phoenix College Phoenix, AZ
152 Crowder College Neosho, MO
153 Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WI
153 Anne Arundel Community College Arnold, MD
155 San Joaquin Delta College Stockton, CA
156 Butler Community College El Dorado, KS
157 Luzerne County Community College Nanticoke, PA
157 Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor, MI
157 Macomb Community College Warren, MI
157 William Rainey Harper College Palatine, IL
157 Bergen Community College Paramus, NJ
162 Oakland Community College Bloomfield Hills, MI
162 Capital Community College Hartford, CT
164 Rowan College at Burlington County Mount Laurel, NJ
164 Lehigh Carbon Community College Schnecksville, PA
166 University of Rio Grande Rio Grande, OH
167 Naugatuck Valley Community College Waterbury, CT
167 Grayson College Denison, TX
167 College of Central Florida Ocala, FL
167 Quinsigamond Community College Worcester, MA

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 Associate Degree Schools award.

Rank College Location
171 Horry-Georgetown Technical College Conway, SC
172 Forsyth Technical Community College Winston-Salem, NC
173 Lakeland Community College Kirtland, OH
173 Wallace Community College, Dothan Dothan, AL
173 Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WI
176 Reynolds Community College Richmond, VA
176 College of Southern Maryland La Plata, MD
176 Waubonsee Community College Sugar Grove, IL
176 Pitt Community College Winterville, NC
176 Butte College Oroville, CA
176 Rasmussen University - Wisconsin Green Bay, WI
176 Gulf Coast State College Panama City, FL
183 Modesto Junior College Modesto, CA
183 Dyersburg State Community College Dyersburg, TN
183 Lake Superior College Duluth, MN
183 Front Range Community College Westminster, CO
183 Eastern Florida State College Cocoa, FL
188 Lower Columbia College Longview, WA
188 County College of Morris Randolph, NJ
188 Stark State College North Canton, OH
188 John Tyler Community College Chester, VA
188 Career Networks Institute Orange, CA
188 Rochester Community and Technical College Rochester, MN
188 Galen College of Nursing - ARH Hazard, KY
195 Mt. San Antonio College Walnut, CA
196 Kellogg Community College Battle Creek, MI
196 Georgia State University-Perimeter College Atlanta, GA
196 Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA
196 Tallahassee Community College Tallahassee, FL
196 Rockland Community College Suffern, NY
201 Marshall University Huntington, WV
201 Trinity Valley Community College Athens, TX
201 Century College White Bear Lake, MN
204 Beckfield College - Florence Florence, KY
204 Fortis College - Columbus Westerville, OH
204 Sullivan University Louisville, KY
204 Holmes Community College Goodman, MS
204 Westmoreland County Community College Youngwood, PA
209 Gadsden State Community College Gadsden, AL
209 Raritan Valley Community College Branchburg, NJ
209 Lord Fairfax Community College Middletown, VA
209 Santa Monica College Santa Monica, CA
213 Bluegrass Community and Technical College Lexington, KY
213 Monroe Community College Rochester, NY
213 Rasmussen University - North Dakota Fargo, ND
213 Regis College Weston, MA
213 Columbia Central University - Caguas Caguas, PR
213 Allegany College of Maryland Cumberland, MD
213 Southern Regional Technical College Thomasville, GA
220 Walters State Community College Morristown, TN
220 Maria College of Albany Albany, NY
220 Queensborough Community College Bayside, NY
220 St Clair County Community College Port Huron, MI
220 Purdue University Global Indianapolis, IN
220 James A Rhodes State College Lima, OH
220 Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing Medford, MA
220 Pomeroy College of Nursing at Crouse Hospital Syracuse, NY
220 Tri-County Technical College Pendleton, SC
220 Utah Valley University Orem, UT

Nursing by Region

View the Most Popular 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

One of 30 majors within the healthcare area of study, nursing has other similar majors worth exploring.

Nursing Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 266,651
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 16,104
Nursing Administration 9,838
Nursing Practice 7,992
Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 5,092
Nursing Science 4,600
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 2,287
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing 2,021
Nurse Anesthetist 1,936
Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing 1,883
Critical Care Nursing 773
Geriatric Nurse/Nursing 563
School Nursing 553
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery 509
Clinical Nurse Leader 444
Clinical Nurse Specialist 419
Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing 331
Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing 181
Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing 57
Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing 53
Palliative Care Nursing 14
Forensic Nursing 14

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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