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2023 Most Focused Associate Degree Colleges for Registered Nursing

1,101 Ranked Colleges
84,448 Degrees Awarded
Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major” ranking - to help you make that decision.

With 266,651 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, registered nursing is the 3rd most popular major in the United States.

At the associate degree level specifically, there were 84,448 registered nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,806 and $19,336 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major” ranking looked at 1,101 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in registered nursing. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in registered nursing.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major

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

Top 25 Most Focused Associate Degree Colleges for Registered Nursing

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St. Peter’s Hospital College of Nursing. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major list. St. Peter’s Hospital College of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution located in Albany, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 62 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at St. Peter’s Hospital College of Nursing

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St Joseph School of Nursing crest
St Joseph School of Nursing
Nashua, New Hampshire

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St Joseph School of Nursing. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major list. Located in Nashua, New Hampshire, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 40 degrees to qualified associates’s registered nursing students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full St Joseph School of Nursing Registered Nursing Report

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Montefiore School of Nursing crest
Montefiore School of Nursing
Mount-Vernon, New York

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Montefiore School of Nursing. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major list. Montefiore School of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Mount-Vernon, New York. It awarded 50 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Montefiore School of Nursing

1

Out of the 1,101 schools in the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Pomeroy College of Nursing at Crouse Hospital landed the #1 spot on the list. This small school is located in Syracuse, New York, and it awarded 104 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Pomeroy College of Nursing at Crouse Hospital

1
Cochran School of Nursing crest
Cochran School of Nursing
Yonkers, New York

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Cochran School of Nursing. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major. Yonkers, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associates’s registered nursing degrees to 42 students in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Cochran School of Nursing

1
FTI crest
Future-Tech Institute
Miami, Florida

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Future-Tech Institute. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major. FTI is a small private for-profit school situated in Miami, Florida. It awarded 32 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Registered Nursing at FTI

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Carrington College, Mesquite. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major. This small school is located in Mesquite, Texas, and it awarded 33 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Carrington College, Mesquite Registered Nursing Report

1
Belanger School of Nursing crest
Belanger School of Nursing
Schenectady, New York

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Belanger School of Nursing. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major list. Located in Schenectady, New York, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 49 degrees to qualified associates’s registered nursing students in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Belanger School of Nursing Registered Nursing Report

1

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 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major list. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 75 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Galen College of Nursing - ARH. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major list. This small school is located in Hazard, Kentucky, and it awarded 111 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Galen College of Nursing - ARH Registered Nursing Report

1
Premiere International College crest
Premiere International College
Fort-Myers, Florida

Out of the 1,101 schools in the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Premiere International College landed the #1 spot on the list. Premiere International College is a small school located in Fort-Myers, Florida that handed out 2 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Premiere International College Registered Nursing Report

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major. Geneva, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associates’s registered nursing degrees to 46 students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing Registered Nursing Report

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Saint Elizabeth College of Nursing. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major list. Saint Elizabeth College of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Utica, New York. It awarded 67 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Saint Elizabeth College of Nursing Registered Nursing Report

1
California Career College crest
California Career College
Canoga Park, California

Out of the 1,101 schools in the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major that were part of this year’s ranking, California Career College landed the #1 spot on the list. California Career College is a small school located in Canoga Park, California that handed out 36 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Registered Nursing at California Career College

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Jefferson Regional Medical Center School of Nursing. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major. Jefferson Regional Medical Center School of Nursing is a small school located in Pine Bluff, Arkansas that handed out 25 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Registered Nursing at JRMC School of Nursing

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St. Joseph’s College of Nursing. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major list. St Joseph’s College of Nursing is a small school located in Syracuse, New York that handed out 167 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.

Full St Joseph’s College of Nursing Registered Nursing Report

17

Galen College of Nursing - Cincinnati did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major ranking, coming in at #17. Galen College of Nursing - Cincinnati is a small private for-profit school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 222 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Galen College of Nursing - Cincinnati

18

Helene Fuld College of Nursing ranked #18 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major list. HFCN is located in New York, New York and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 373 associates’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Helene Fuld College of Nursing Registered Nursing Report

19
Hope College of Arts and Sciences crest
Hope College of Arts and Sciences
Pompano Beach, Florida

Hope College of Arts and Sciences did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Pompano Beach, Florida, this small private for-profit school handed out 28 diplomas to qualified associates’s registered nursing students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Hope College of Arts and Sciences

19
Advance Science College crest
Advance Science College
Hialeah, Florida

With a ranking of #19, Advance Science College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major list. This small school is located in Hialeah, Florida, and it awarded 14 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Advance Science College Registered Nursing Report

21

Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major ranking, coming in at #21. Lawrence Memorial is a private not-for-profit institution located in Medford, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 104 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing Registered Nursing Report

22

Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing ranked #22 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major list. Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing is a small school located in Troy, New York that handed out 63 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing Registered Nursing Report

23

Eastern International College - Belleville did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major ranking, coming in at #23. Eastern International College - Belleville is located in Belleville, New Jersey and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 64 associates’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Eastern International College - Belleville Registered Nursing Report

24
Universal Career School crest
Universal Career School
Sweetwater, Florida

Universal Career School landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major ranking. Universal Career School is a small private for-profit school situated in Sweetwater, Florida. It awarded 175 associates’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Universal Career School Registered Nursing Report

25

St Paul’s School of Nursing - Queens did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Rego Park, New York, this small private for-profit school awarded 205 degrees to qualified associates’s registered nursing students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full St Paul’s School of Nursing - Queens Registered Nursing Report

Rest of the Best 50 in Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

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Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay crest
Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay
Saint Petersburg, Florida
31
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33
Jersey College crest
Jersey College
Teterboro, New Jersey
34
Trocaire crest
Trocaire College
Buffalo, New York
35
Laboure College crest
Laboure College
Milton, Massachusetts
36
37
Centra College of Nursing crest
Centra College of Nursing
Lynchburg, Virginia
38
Southside College of Health Sciences crest
Southside College of Health Sciences
Colonial Heights, Virginia
39
Gwinnett Institute crest
Gwinnett Institute
Orlando, Florida
40
41
Pitt Titusville crest
University of Pittsburgh - Titusville
Titusville, Pennsylvania
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Ambria College of Nursing crest
Ambria College of Nursing
Hoffman Estates, Illinois
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45
Bolivar Technical College crest
Bolivar Technical College
Bolivar, Missouri
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47
CNI College crest
Career Networks Institute
Orange, California
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49
Carolinas College of Health Sciences crest
Carolinas College of Health Sciences
Charlotte, North Carolina
50

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Registered Nursing Major

While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

Rank College Location
51 Riverside College of Health Careers Newport News, VA
52 Baptist Health College - Little Rock Little Rock, AR
53 Rasmussen University - Kansas Topeka, KS
54 Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio San Antonio, TX
55 Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences Lancaster, PA
56 Fortis College - Cutler Bay Cutler Bay, FL
57 Northwestern College - Bridgeview Bridgeview, IL
58 Cabarrus College of Health Sciences Concord, NC
59 Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences Cape Girardeau, MO
60 Taylor College Belleview, FL
61 Bryant & Stratton College - Parma Parma, OH
62 Beckfield College - Florence Florence, KY
63 Beal College Bangor, ME
64 Maria College of Albany Albany, NY
65 HCI College West Palm Beach, FL
Rank College Location
66 Saint Michael College of Allied Health Alexandria, VA
67 Instituto Tecnologico de Puerto Rico-Recinto de Ponce Ponce, PR
68 Ohio Medical Career College Dayton, OH
69 Rasmussen University - Illinois Rockford, IL
70 Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Beach Virginia Beach, VA
71 Trinity College of Puerto Rico Ponce, PR
72 Kent State University at East Liverpool East Liverpool, OH
73 Eastern Virginia Career College Fredericksburg, VA
74 Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa Wauwatosa, WI
75 Hondros College of Nursing Westerville, OH
76 Northwest Technical College Bemidji, MN
77 Fortis Institute - Pensacola Pensacola, FL
78 Nightingale College Salt Lake City, UT
79 Instituto Tecnologico de Puerto Rico-Recinto de San Juan San Juan, PR
80 Rasmussen University - Minnesota St. Cloud, MN
81 Mercy College of Ohio Toledo, OH
82 Capital Community College Hartford, CT
83 Dallas Nursing Institute Dallas, TX
84 Western Oklahoma State College Altus, OK
85 Fortis College - Salt Lake City Salt Lake City, UT
86 Herzing University - Akron Akron, OH
87 Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College Hayward, WI
88 Arnot Ogden Medical Center Elmira, NY
88 Standard Healthcare Services - College of Nursing Falls Church, VA
90 Rasmussen University - North Dakota Fargo, ND
Rank College Location
91 St Luke’s College Sioux City, IA
92 Rasmussen University - Wisconsin Green Bay, WI
93 West Virginia Junior College - Charleston Charleston, WV
94 Pacific Union College Angwin, CA
95 Fortis College - Cuyahoga Falls Cuyahoga Falls, OH
96 Herzing University - Winter Park Winter Park, FL
97 Oregon Coast Community College Newport, OR
98 Fortis College - Centerville Centerville, OH
99 Bluefield State College Bluefield, WV
100 Herzing University - Birmingham Birmingham, AL
101 Eastern International College - Jersey City Jersey City, NJ
102 Carrington College, Albuquerque Albuquerque, NM
103 Beckfield College - Tri-County Springdale, OH
104 University of Rio Grande Rio Grande, OH
105 Ohio University - Chillicothe Campus Chillicothe, OH
106 Ohio Valley College of Technology East Liverpool, OH
107 City College - Altamonte Springs Altamonte Springs, FL
108 ATA College Louisville, KY
109 Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tifton, GA
110 Central Ohio Technical College Newark, OH
111 Fortis College - Columbus Westerville, OH
112 North Country Community College Saranac Lake, NY
113 Ross College-Canton Canton, OH
114 Columbia-Greene Community College Hudson, NY
115 Instituto Tecnologico de Puerto Rico-Recinto de Guayama Guayama, PR
Rank College Location
116 Fortis College - Norfolk Norfolk, VA
117 Galen College of Nursing - Louisville Louisville, KY
118 Community College of Beaver County Monaca, PA
119 Excelsior College Albany, NY
120 Vermont Technical College Randolph, VT
121 Fortis College - Orange Park Orange Park, FL
122 Kent State University at Geauga Burton, OH
123 Sumner College Portland, OR
124 Rasmussen University - Florida Ocala, FL
125 Colegio Universitario de San Juan San Juan, PR
126 BridgeValley Community & Technical College South Charleston, WV
127 Glendale Career College Glendale, CA
128 Dewey University - Carolina Carolina, PR
129 Concorde Career Institute - Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL
130 Kirtland Community College Roscommon, MI
131 Morrisville State College Morrisville, NY
132 Carrington College, Boise Boise, ID
133 Murray State College Tishomingo, OK
134 Bay State College Boston, MA
135 Cambridge Institute of Allied Health & Technology Altamonte Springs, FL
136 Louisiana State University - Eunice Eunice, LA
137 Cox College Springfield, MO
138 Miami Regional University Miami Springs, FL
138 Clatsop Community College Astoria, OR
140 Northern Oklahoma College Tonkawa, OK
Rank College Location
141 Mount Aloysius College Cresson, PA
142 Clinton Community College Plattsburgh, NY
143 Carrington College-Tucson Tucson, AZ
144 Dakota College at Bottineau Bottineau, ND
145 Gogebic Community College Ironwood, MI
146 ATA Career Education Spring Hill, FL
147 Goodwin College East Hartford, CT
148 Southern University at Shreveport Shreveport, LA
149 Daytona College Ormond Beach, FL
150 North Central Missouri College Trenton, MO
151 Fortis Institute - Port Saint Lucie Port Saint Lucie, FL
152 Luzerne County Community College Nanticoke, PA
153 Hibbing Community College Hibbing, MN
154 Miles Community College Miles City, MT
155 College of Eastern Idaho Idaho Falls, ID
156 Union County College Cranford, NJ
157 Meridian Community College Meridian, MS
158 Lower Columbia College Longview, WA
159 James A Rhodes State College Lima, OH
160 Weatherford College Weatherford, TX
161 Missouri State University - West Plains West Plains, MO
162 Bay de Noc Community College Escanaba, MI
163 Fortis College - Richmond Richmond, VA
164 Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg, PA
165 Stanbridge University Irvine, CA
Rank College Location
166 Mohave Community College Kingman, AZ

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