2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2019-2020, 313,362 nursing students received their degree, making the major the 3rd most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, nursing graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $67,065 and had an average of $26,282 in loans still to pay off.
At the associate degree level specifically, there were 84,795 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,082 and $17,678 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate” ranking looked at 944 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in nursing. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality nursing programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the nursing program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
Featured schools near , edit
More Ways to Rank Nursing Schools
The nursing school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate”.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate
The colleges and universities below are the best for associate degree nursing students.
Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate list. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 98 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
L.A. County School of Nursing also took the #2 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” ranking.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Nursing at L.A. County School of Nursing
Out of the 944 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate that were part of this year’s ranking, Union County College landed the #2 spot on the list. Cranford, New Jersey is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 354 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our associate degree nursing students list, Union County College has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $8,245 for Associate Degree Nursing students per year to attend Union County College.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Texas College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate list. Located in McAllen, Texas, this large public school handed out 244 degrees to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, South Texas College is in the top on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for South Texas College is $1,174 for Associate Degree Nursing students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend College of the Mainland. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate. This small school is located in Texas City, Texas, and it awarded 83 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, COM is also in the top of our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $2,036 for associate degree nursing students per year to attend COM.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Regional Technical College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate list. Southern Regional Technical College is a small public school situated in Thomasville, Georgia. It awarded 101 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, Southwest Georgia Technical College is in the top on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Southwest Georgia Technical College is $-884 for associate degree nursing students. A negative average net price may seem strange, but it generally means that financial aid will more than cover the cost to attend the school.
Read more about Nursing at Southwest Georgia Technical College
San Jacinto Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate list. Pasadena, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 220 students in 2019-2020.
San Jacinto College excels when it comes to nursing quality. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category. It costs about $8,692 for associate degree nursing students per year to attend San Jacinto Community College.
Madison Area Technical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #7. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 178 students in 2019-2020.
Madison College excels when it comes to nursing quality. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend Madison College is $9,904 for Associate Degree Nursing students.
Amarillo College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate list. Located in Amarillo, Texas, this medium-sized public school handed out 202 diplomas to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, Amarillo College is in the top on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend Amarillo College is $5,578 for Associate Degree Nursing students.
Alvin Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate list. Located in Alvin, Texas, this medium-sized public school awarded 126 diplomas to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.
Alvin also claimed a top spot on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $9,913 for associate degree nursing students per year to attend Alvin.
Lee College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #10. This medium-sized school is located in Baytown, Texas, and it awarded 62 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Lee College is also in the top of our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $7,732 for associate degree nursing students per year to attend Lee College.
Valencia College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate ranking. Valencia College is a large public school situated in Orlando, Florida. It awarded 294 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
Valencia College also made our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for Valencia College is $5,205 for associate degree nursing students.
Joliet Junior College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #12. Joliet Junior College is a fairly large school located in Joliet, Illinois that handed out 157 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Joliet Junior College is also in the top of our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Joliet Junior College is $4,693 for Associate Degree Nursing students.
Galveston College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #13. Galveston College is located in Galveston, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 59 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
Galveston College excels when it comes to nursing quality. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Galveston College is $3,446 for associate degree nursing students.
With a ranking of #14, Lone Star College System did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate list. Located in The Woodlands, Texas, this large public school awarded 383 degrees to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.
North Harris Montgomery did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for North Harris Montgomery is $8,016 for Associate Degree Nursing students.
With a ranking of #15, Del Mar College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate list. Corpus Christi, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 147 students in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, DMC also did well on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Del Mar College is $5,738 for Associate Degree Nursing students.
South Plains College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate list. South Plains College is a medium-sized school located in Levelland, Texas that handed out 68 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, South Plains College is in the top on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $7,600 for associate degree nursing students per year to attend South Plains College.
Wharton County Junior College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate ranking. Wharton County Junior College is a medium-sized public school situated in Wharton, Texas. It awarded 57 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, Wharton County Junior College is in the top on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $5,334 for associate degree nursing students per year to attend Wharton County Junior College.
Chippewa Valley Technical College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate ranking. Located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 181 diplomas to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.
CVTC also claimed a top spot on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Chippewa Valley Technical College is $10,773 for Associate Degree Nursing students.
Rochester Community and Technical College landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate ranking. Rochester Community and Technical College is located in Rochester, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 114 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Rochester Community and Technical College is also in the top of our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Rochester Community and Technical College is $14,088 for Associate Degree Nursing students.
Read more about Nursing at Rochester Community and Technical College
Schoolcraft College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #20. This medium-sized school is located in Livonia, Michigan, and it awarded 168 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Schoolcraft College also did well on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Schoolcraft College is $7,578 for Associate Degree Nursing students.
With a ranking of #21, Weatherford College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate list. Located in Weatherford, Texas, this medium-sized public school handed out 162 degrees to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Weatherford College is also in the top of our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Weatherford College is $7,863 for Associate Degree Nursing students.
Highline College landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate ranking. Highline is located in Des Moines, Washington and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 79 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
Highline also claimed a top spot on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. It costs about $7,052 for Associate Degree Nursing students per year to attend Highline College.
El Centro College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate ranking. El Centro College is located in Dallas, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 229 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
On top of its placing in this ranking, El Centro College also did well on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend El Centro College is $4,373 for associate degree nursing students.
Midland College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #24. Midland College is located in Midland, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 58 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Midland College is $4,745 for associate degree nursing students.
Delgado Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #25. Delgado Community College is a public institution located in New Orleans, Louisiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 202 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Delgado Community College also did well on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Delgado Community College is $10,017 for associate degree nursing students.
Rest of the Best 50 in Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate
While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Rasmussen University - Florida | Ocala, FL |
| 52 | Tarrant County College District | Fort Worth, TX |
| 53 | Pensacola State College | Pensacola, FL |
| 54 | Merced College | Merced, CA |
| 55 | Vernon College | Vernon, TX |
| 56 | Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh, PA |
| 56 | Central Ohio Technical College | Newark, OH |
| 58 | Western Iowa Tech Community College | Sioux City, IA |
| 58 | Palm Beach State College | Lake Worth, FL |
| 60 | Century College | White Bear Lake, MN |
| 61 | Angelina College | Lufkin, TX |
| 61 | Collin County Community College District | McKinney, TX |
| 63 | Shoreline Community College | Shoreline, WA |
| 64 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | Green Bay, WI |
| 65 | GateWay Community College | Phoenix, AZ |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 141 | St Cloud Technical and Community College | Saint Cloud, MN |
| 142 | Mesa Community College | Mesa, AZ |
Focus on a Specific Degree Level
Narrow Results by Region
Southeast
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing in the Southeast Region
Rocky Mountains
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing in the Rocky Mountains Region
Middle Atlantic
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing in the Middle Atlantic Region
Southwest
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing in the Southwest Region
New England
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing in the New England Region
Plains States
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing in the Plains States Region
Far Western US
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing in the Far Western US Region
Great Lakes
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing in the Great Lakes Region
Switch to a More General Major
Switch to a Similar Major
Health Sciences & Services
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Health Sciences & Services
Dental Support Services
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Dental Support Services
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science
Mental & Social Health Services
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Mental & Social Health Services
Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences
Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions
Medical Illustration & Informatics
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Medical Illustration & Informatics
Alternative Medicine & Systems
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Alternative Medicine & Systems
Somatic Bodywork & Therapeutic Services
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Somatic Bodywork & Therapeutic Services
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants
Communication Sciences
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Communication Sciences
Health & Medical Administrative Services
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Health & Medical Administrative Services
Allied Health Professions
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Allied Health Professions
Health/Medical Prep Programs
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Health/Medical Prep Programs
Ophthalmic & Optometric Support Services
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Ophthalmic & Optometric Support Services
Public Health
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Public Health
Health Aids/Attendants/Orderlies
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Health Aids/Attendants/Orderlies
Dietetics & Clinical Nutrition Services
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Dietetics & Clinical Nutrition Services
Alternative Medical Support Services
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Alternative Medical Support Services
Movement & Mind-Body Therapies
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Movement & Mind-Body Therapies
Other Health Professions
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Other Health Professions
Switch to a More Focused Major
Registered Nursing
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Registered Nursing
Nursing Science
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing Science
Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools
Nursing students
Most Focused Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing
Nursing students
Most Popular Associate Degree Online Nursing Schools
Nursing students
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing (Income $0-$30k)
Nursing students with family income less than $30k
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing (Income $48-$75k)
Nursing students with family income $48-$75k
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing (Income Over $110k)
Nursing students with family income exceeding $110k
Highest Paid Associate Degree Nursing Graduates
Nursing students
Most Popular Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing
Nursing students
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing (With Aid)
Nursing students getting aid
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing (Income $30-$48k)
Nursing students with family income $30-$48k
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing (Income $75-$110k)
Nursing students with family income $75-$110k
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing
Nursing students
Notes and References
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%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.
Featured Nursing Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More > |
College Factual 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.
© College Factual – All Rights Reserved.
