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2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region

92 Ranked Colleges
10,304 Degrees Awarded
$6,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Nursing is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 3rd of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 313,362 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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.

Across the Southwest region, there were 39,179 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $66,645 and $23,719 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 10,304 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,605 and $16,886 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region” ranking, we looked at 92 colleges that offer a degree in nursing. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great nursing programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the nursing program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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 in the Southwest Region”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. 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 in the Southwest Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region associate degree nursing students.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Nursing in the Southwest Region

#1

South Texas College

McAllen, Texas

Out of the 92 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, South Texas College landed the #1 spot on the list. South Texas College is located in McAllen, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 244 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

South Texas College also made our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for South Texas College is $1,174 for southwest region associate degree nursing students.

Read full report on Nursing at South Texas College

#2

College of the Mainland

Texas City, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College of the Mainland. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. COM is located in Texas City, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 83 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree nursing students list, COM has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for College of the Mainland is $2,036 for southwest region associate degree nursing students.

Read more about Nursing at College of the Mainland

Out of the 92 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, San Jacinto Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Pasadena, Texas, and it awarded 220 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at San Jacinto College, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $8,692 for southwest region associate degree nursing students per year to attend San Jacinto College.

Full San Jacinto Community College Nursing Report

#4

Amarillo College

Amarillo, Texas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Amarillo College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region. Amarillo College is located in Amarillo, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 202 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Amarillo College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $5,578 for southwest region associate degree nursing students per year to attend Amarillo College.

Full Amarillo College Nursing Report

Out of the 92 schools in the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Alvin Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Alvin, Texas, this medium-sized public school awarded 126 diplomas to qualified associates’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Alvin, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Alvin is $9,913 for southwest region associate degree nursing students.

Read full report on Nursing at Alvin Community College

#6

Lee College

Baytown, Texas

Lee College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. Lee College is a public institution located in Baytown, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 62 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Lee College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $7,732 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Nursing students per year to attend Lee College.

Full Lee College Nursing Report

#7

Galveston College

Galveston, Texas

Galveston College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #7. 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.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree nursing students list, Galveston College has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Galveston College is $3,446 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Nursing students.

Read more about Nursing at Galveston College

#8

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, Texas

With a ranking of #8, Lone Star College System did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. This large school is located in The Woodlands, Texas, and it awarded 383 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

North Harris Montgomery not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for North Harris Montgomery is $8,016 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Nursing students.

Full Lone Star College System Nursing Report

#9

Del Mar College

Corpus Christi, Texas

Del Mar College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. DMC is a fairly large school located in Corpus Christi, Texas that handed out 147 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

DMC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $5,738 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Nursing students per year to attend DMC.

Full Del Mar College Nursing Report

#10

South Plains College

Levelland, Texas

South Plains College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. South Plains College is a public institution located in Levelland, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 68 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend South Plains College is $7,600 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Nursing students.

Read full report on Nursing at South Plains College

Wharton County Junior College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. Wharton County Junior College is a public institution located in Wharton, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 57 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree nursing students list, Wharton County Junior College has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wharton County Junior College is $5,334 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Nursing students.

Full Wharton County Junior College Nursing Report

#12

Weatherford College

Weatherford, Texas

Weatherford College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. Weatherford College is located in Weatherford, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 162 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Weatherford College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $7,863 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Nursing students per year to attend Weatherford College.

Full Weatherford College Nursing Report

#13

El Centro College

Dallas, Texas

El Centro College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #13. 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.

El Centro College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend El Centro College is $4,373 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Nursing students.

Full El Centro College Nursing Report

#14

Midland College

Midland, Texas

Midland College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. Midland College is a small public school situated in Midland, Texas. It awarded 58 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Midland College is $4,745 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Nursing students.

Read full report on Nursing at Midland College

#15

Victoria College

Victoria, Texas

Victoria College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. Victoria College is a small school located in Victoria, Texas that handed out 88 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Victoria College also made our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #21. It costs about $5,629 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Nursing students per year to attend Victoria College.

Read more about Nursing at Victoria College

#16

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Central New Mexico Community College landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. CNM is a large school located in Albuquerque, New Mexico that handed out 278 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

CNM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $3,429 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Nursing students per year to attend Central New Mexico Community College.

Read full report on Nursing at Central New Mexico Community College

#17

Houston Community College

Houston, Texas

Houston Community College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 147 students in 2019-2020.

Houston Community College also took the #18 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $5,272 for southwest region associate degree nursing students per year to attend Houston Community College.

Full Houston Community College Nursing Report

#18

Grayson College

Denison, Texas

Grayson College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. Grayson College is located in Denison, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 133 associates’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Grayson College is $7,877 for southwest region associate degree nursing students.

Full Grayson College Nursing Report

#19

Howard College

Big Spring, Texas

Howard College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. This small school is located in Big Spring, Texas, and it awarded 73 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Howard College is $5,644 for southwest region associate degree nursing students.

Read full report on Nursing at Howard County Junior College

#20

Tarrant County College District

Fort Worth, Texas

Tarrant County College District came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. Tarrant County College is a large school located in Fort Worth, Texas that handed out 245 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tarrant County College, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Tarrant County College District is $5,434 for southwest region associate degree nursing students.

Read full report on Nursing at Tarrant County College

#21

Vernon College

Vernon, Texas

Vernon College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. Vernon Regional Junior College is a public institution located in Vernon, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 90 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Vernon College is $5,604 for southwest region associate degree nursing students.

Read full report on Nursing at Vernon Regional Junior College

With a ranking of #22, Collin County Community College District did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. McKinney, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s nursing degrees to 190 students in 2019-2020.

Collin County Community College District not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Collin County Community College District is $6,293 for southwest region associate degree nursing students.

Read full report on Nursing at Collin County Community College District

#22

Angelina College

Lufkin, Texas

With a ranking of #22, Angelina College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. AC is a small school located in Lufkin, Texas that handed out 64 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,478 for southwest region associate degree nursing students per year to attend Angelina College.

Full Angelina College Nursing Report

#24

GateWay Community College

Phoenix, Arizona

GateWay Community College landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. GateWay Community College is a public institution located in Phoenix, Arizona. The school has a small population, and it awarded 219 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

GateWay Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $10,315 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Nursing students per year to attend GateWay Community College.

Read full report on Nursing at GateWay Community College

#25

Odessa College

Odessa, Texas

Odessa College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Odessa, Texas, and it awarded 61 associates’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Odessa College is $5,963 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Nursing students.

Full Odessa College Nursing Report

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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.

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