Associate Degrees in Nursing
Education Levels of Nursing Majors
During the most recent year for which data is available, 82,967 people earned their associate degree in nursing. This makes it the 2nd most popular associate degree program in the country.
The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in nursing at each degree level.
| Education Level | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 153,413 |
| Associate Degree | 82,967 |
| Master’s Degree | 49,855 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 13,058 |
| Graduate Certificate | 5,204 |
| Undergraduate Certificate | 2,434 |
| Basic Certificate | 1,183 |
Earnings of Nursing Majors With Associate Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding an associate degree in nursing is $68,379. A lot of factors can contribute to this number, such as the location of your workplace and the availability of other perks and bonuses. A better approximation of salary is to look at the typical range of salaries. In this case the low is $64,202 and the high is $73,675.
Student Debt
The median student debt for graduates holding an associate degree in nursing is $12,029. The school you go to and how long it takes you to graduate, among other things, can cause this number to vary. The chart below shows the range of accumulated debt loads. On the high side of the range, $15,425 is the debt load, and the debt load on the low side is $9,940.
The median monthly payment of a nursing graduate with a 10-year repayment plan is $143.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their associate degree in nursing. About 86.2% of graduates with this degree are female.
| Gender | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Men | 11,431 |
| Women | 71,536 |
The racial-ethnic distribution of nursing associate degree students is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 4,261 |
| Black or African American | 12,350 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 14,443 |
| White | 44,773 |
| International Students | 786 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 6,354 |
Most Popular Nursing Programs for Associate Degrees
There are 1,123 colleges that offer an associate degree in nursing. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
Excelsior University tops the list of the most popular school in the U.S. for nursing majors who are seeking their associate degree. Roughly 21,900 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 1,522 people received their associate degree in nursing from Excelsior University. About 84% of this group were women, and 44% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Excelsior University nursing graduates who receive their associate degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $68,379.
Ivy Tech Community College is the 2nd most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in nursing. Roughly 63,800 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 1,366 people received their associate degree in nursing from Ivy Tech Community College. Of these students, 88% were women and 20% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their associate degree in nursing at Ivy Tech Community College make a median salary of 68,379.
Rasmussen University - Florida is the 3rd most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in nursing. Each year, around 9,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 1,084 people received their associate degree in nursing from Rasmussen University - Florida. About 88% of this group were women, and 50% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Rasmussen University - Florida nursing graduates who receive their associate degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $68,379.
Rasmussen University - Minnesota is the 4th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in nursing. Each year, around 3,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,207 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $4,554 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 674 people received their associate degree in nursing from Rasmussen University - Minnesota. Of these students, 90% were women and 49% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their associate degree in nursing at Rasmussen University - Minnesota make a median salary of 68,379.
The 5th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their associate degree is Jersey College. Each year, around 3,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 618 people received their associate degree in nursing from Jersey College. Of these students, 90% were women and 76% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their associate degree in nursing at Jersey College make a median salary of 68,379.
The 6th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their associate degree is Miami Dade College. Roughly 46,500 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 614 people received their associate degree in nursing from MDC. Of these students, 78% were women and 88% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their associate degree in nursing at Miami Dade College make a median salary of 68,379.
Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale is the 7th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in nursing. Roughly 20,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $22,936 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $33,390 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 601 people received their associate degree in nursing from Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale. Of these students, 87% were women and 47% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Data shows that Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $68,379.
The 8th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their associate degree is ECPI University. Each year, around 14,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $17,424 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,960 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 574 people received their associate degree in nursing from ECPI University. Of these students, 91% were women and 55% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Data shows that ECPI University graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $68,379.
Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio comes in at #9 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in nursing. Roughly 2,500 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 502 people received their associate degree in nursing from Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio. About 89% of this group were women, and 73% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio nursing graduates who receive their associate degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $68,379.
Rasmussen University - Illinois comes in at #10 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in nursing. Roughly 2,400 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 450 people received their associate degree in nursing from Rasmussen University - Illinois. About 90% of this group were women, and 65% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that Rasmussen University - Illinois graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $68,379.
Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay is the 11th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in nursing. Each year, around 2,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 448 people received their associate degree in nursing from Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay. Around 42% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 87% were women. Data shows that Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $68,379.
St Petersburg College is the 12th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in nursing. Roughly 26,400 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 446 people received their associate degree in nursing from SPC. Of these students, 83% were women and 43% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. St Petersburg College nursing graduates who receive their associate degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $68,379.
Florida State College at Jacksonville is the 13th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in nursing. Each year, around 22,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 445 people received their associate degree in nursing from FSCJ. Of these students, 81% were women and 38% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Florida State College at Jacksonville nursing graduates who receive their associate degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $68,379.
AmeriTech College - Draper comes in at #14 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in nursing. Each year, around 1,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $17,609 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,947 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 400 people received their associate degree in nursing from AmeriTech College - Draper. Of these students, 88% were women and 20% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their associate degree in nursing at AmeriTech College - Draper make a median salary of 68,379.
Harrisburg Area Community College comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in nursing. Roughly 15,300 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 395 people received their associate degree in nursing from HACC. Of these students, 85% were women and 18% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Harrisburg Area Community College nursing graduates who receive their associate degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $68,379.
Lone Star College System is the 16th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in nursing. Roughly 70,100 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 380 people received their associate degree in nursing from North Harris Montgomery. Of these students, 86% were women and 60% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their associate degree in nursing at Lone Star College System make a median salary of 68,379.
The 17th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their associate degree is Helene Fuld College of Nursing. Each year, around 500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 373 people received their associate degree in nursing from HFCN. Of these students, 85% were women and 90% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Data shows that HFCN graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $68,379.
Community College of Allegheny County comes in at #18 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in nursing. Each year, around 13,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 348 people received their associate degree in nursing from CCAC. Of these students, 83% were women and 26% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their associate degree in nursing at Community College of Allegheny County make a median salary of 68,379.
The 19th most popular school in the country for nursing majors who are seeking their associate degree is Weber State University. Each year, around 29,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $5,471 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,089 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 335 people received their associate degree in nursing from WSU. Around 17% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 83% were women. Those who complete their associate degree in nursing at Weber State University make a median salary of 68,379.
Union County College is the 20th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in nursing. Roughly 8,200 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 333 people received their associate degree in nursing from Union County College. Around 72% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 87% were women. Data shows that Union County College graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $68,379.
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to nursing that offer associate degrees.
| Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Allied Health Professions | 29,240 |
| Health/Medical Admin Services | 17,166 |
| Allied Health Services | 16,805 |
| Health Sciences & Services | 10,346 |
| Dental Support Services | 7,002 |
References
*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Image Credit: By Aleksahgabrielle under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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