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Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

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2023 Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

127 Colleges
$57,601 Avg Salary
$21,889 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing Associate Degree School for You

Nursing is the most popular major in the United States with 42,404 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021.

It's not easy to decide which healthcare program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Healthcare Degree Search has created the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 127 schools in the Middle Atlantic Region 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.

The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Colleges.

#1

Excelsior College

Albany, NY

Our 2023 rankings named Excelsior College the most popular school in the Middle Atlantic Region for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the small city of Albany, Excelsior College is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.

About 84% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 16% are male.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Excelsior College carry an average student debt load of $23,429.

Read full report on Nursing at Excelsior College

#2

Jersey College

Teterboro, NJ

The in-demand associate degree programs at Jersey College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in the Middle Atlantic Region . Located in the suburb of Teterboro, Jersey College is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

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

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Jersey College accumulate an average of around $35,837 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $89, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Nursing at Jersey College Report

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Harrisburg Area Community College is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the city of Harrisburg, HACC is a public college with a large student population.

About 88% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 12% are male.

On average, nursing graduates from HACC take out $31,597 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Harrisburg Area Community College

The in-demand associate degree programs at Helene Fuld College of Nursing helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in the Middle Atlantic Region . HFCN is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York.

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

On average, nursing graduates from HFCN take out $27,942 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Helene Fuld College of Nursing

Out of the 127 schools in the Middle Atlantic Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Community College of Allegheny County landed the # 5 spot on the list. CCAC is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Pittsburgh.

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

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at CCAC accumulate an average of around $24,892 in student debt.

Read full report on Nursing at Community College of Allegheny County

#6

Union County College

Cranford, NJ

Union County College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. Located in the suburb of Cranford, Union County College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

Of the 333 students majoring in nursing at Union County College, 14% are male and 86% are female.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Union County College accumulate an average of around $28,481 in student debt.

Read More…

Delaware Technical Community College - Terry came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in the small city of Dover, Delaware Tech is a public school with a large student population.

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

Nursing majors at Delaware Tech take out an average of $18,104 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read More…

#8

Trocaire College

Buffalo, NY

Trocaire College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Trocaire is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Buffalo.

Of the 310 students majoring in nursing at Trocaire, 14% are male and 86% are female.

Read full report on Nursing at Trocaire College

Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. PA College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Lancaster.

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

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from PA College carry an average student debt load of $30,149. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $324.

Read full report on Nursing at Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences

Suffolk County Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Suffolk County Community College is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Selden.

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 Suffolk County Community College carry an average student debt load of $18,184.

Read full report on Nursing at Suffolk County Community College

St Paul’s School of Nursing - Staten Island ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. St Paul's School of Nursing - Staten Island is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Staten Island.

About 84% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 16% are male.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from St Paul's School of Nursing - Staten Island carry an average student debt load of $32,512. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $200.

Read full report on Nursing at St Paul’s School of Nursing - Staten Island

St Paul’s School of Nursing - Queens came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in the city of Rego Park, St Paul's School of Nursing - Queens is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

About 72% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 28% are male.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at St Paul's School of Nursing - Queens take out while working on their Associate Degree is $32,985. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $191.

Read More…

#13

Montgomery College

Rockville, MD

Montgomery 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 #13 on the list. Located in the city of Rockville, Montgomery College is a public college with a large student population.

About 85% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 15% are male.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Montgomery College carry an average student debt load of $29,725.

Read full report on Nursing at Montgomery College

Community College of Baltimore County came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. CCBC is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Baltimore.

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

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from CCBC carry an average student debt load of $28,954.

Read More…

New York City College of Technology 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 #15 on the list. Located in the city of Brooklyn, City Tech is a public school with a large student population.

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

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at City Tech accumulate an average of around $16,776 in student debt.

Read full report on Nursing at New York City College of Technology

St. Joseph’s College of Nursing ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in the midsize city of Syracuse, St Joseph's College of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Of the 167 students majoring in nursing at St Joseph's College of Nursing, 11% are male and 89% are female.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at St Joseph's College of Nursing take out while working on their Associate Degree is $24,061. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $380.

Read full report on Nursing at St. Joseph’s College of Nursing

#16

Howard Community College

Columbia, MD

With a ranking of #16, Howard Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the medium-sized city of Columbia, HCC is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

About 84% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 16% are male.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at HCC accumulate an average of around $25,979 in student debt.

Full Nursing at Howard Community College Report

With a ranking of #18, Delaware County Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Delaware County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Media.

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

Nursing majors at Delaware County Community College take out an average of $27,872 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read More…

Borough of Manhattan Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in the large city of New York, BMCC is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Of the 154 students majoring in nursing at BMCC, 22% are male and 78% are female.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at BMCC take out while working on their Associate Degree is $15,861.

Read More…

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional popular schools for Nursing students in the Middle Atlantic Region that almost earned our Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region award.

Rank College Location
20 Harford Community College Bel Air, MD
21 Ocean County College Toms River, NJ
22 Brookdale Community College Lincroft, NJ
23 Morrisville State College Morrisville, NY
24 Nassau Community College Garden City, NY
25 Kingsborough Community College Brooklyn, NY

Best Nursing Colleges by State

Explore the best nursing schools for a specific state in the Middle Atlantic region.

State Degrees Awarded
New York 17,708
Pennsylvania 11,477
Maryland 4,104
New Jersey 5,648
District of Columbia 990
Delaware 1,267

Nursing is one of 30 different types of healthcare programs to choose from.

Nursing Focus Areas

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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