2026 Best Nursing Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Nursing associate’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 2207 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor analyzed schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Nursing Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
No school ranked higher than Helene Fuld College Of Nursing this year in the United States. Helene Fuld College Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. In-state tuition and fees average $25,852. Students borrow a median of $27,775 to complete their Nursing program here. See the full Helene Fuld College Of Nursing profile
The strong Nursing programs at Saint Michael College Of Allied Health earned it the #2 place in the United States. This private for-profit school is set in Washington, DC. Students from in state pay about $19,405 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,260 to complete their Nursing program here. Get the full Saint Michael College Of Allied Health report
A rank of #3 makes Arnot Ogden Medical Center one of the top choices in the United States. Set in Elmira, NY, Arnot Ogden Medical Center is a private not-for-profit institution. More on Arnot Ogden Medical Center
A rank of #4 makes Gurnick Academy Of Medical Arts one of the top choices in the United States. This private for-profit school is set in San Jose, CA. Gurnick Academy Of Medical Arts Nursing students take on a median of $25,266 in debt. More on Gurnick Academy Of Medical Arts
You'll be in good company at Stanbridge College, which ranked #5 this year. Based in Irvine, CA, Stanbridge College is a private for-profit institution. Stanbridge College Nursing students take on a median of $36,666 in debt. See the full Stanbridge College profile
Los Angeles County College Of Nursing And Allied Health came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Set in Los Angeles, CA, Los Angeles County College Of Nursing And Allied Health is a public institution. Los Angeles County College Of Nursing And Allied Health Nursing students take on a median of $19,224 in debt. Read more about Los Angeles County College Of Nursing And Allied Health
Standard Healthcare Services College Of Nursing came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Based in Falls Church, VA, Standard Healthcare Services College Of Nursing is a private for-profit institution. Graduates carry a median of $22,125 in student loans. More on Standard Healthcare Services College Of Nursing
Excelsior College landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. Excelsior College is a private not-for-profit school based in Albany, NY. Excelsior College Nursing students take on a median of $23,809 in debt. See the full Excelsior College profile
Best Care College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Located in East Orange, NJ, Best Care College is a private for-profit institution. Best Care College Nursing students take on a median of $13,056 in debt. See the full Best Care College profile
Cochran School Of Nursing came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Cochran School Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school based in Yonkers, NY. Students from in state pay about $10,038 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,758 to complete their Nursing program here. See the full Cochran School Of Nursing profile
Ohio Medical Career College landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. This private for-profit school is set in Dayton, OH. Typical Nursing student debt is $26,331. Read the full report on Ohio Medical Career College
St Josephs College Of Nursing At St Josephs Hospital Health Center placed #12 among Nursing schools in the United States. Located in Syracuse, NY, St Josephs College Of Nursing At St Josephs Hospital Health Center is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $23,816. The median Nursing program debt is $19,279. See the full St Josephs College Of Nursing At St Josephs Hospital Health Center profile
St Pauls School Of Nursing Queens placed #13 among Nursing schools in the United States. Based in Rego Park, NY, St Pauls School Of Nursing Queens is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,433. Typical Nursing student debt is $32,771. More on St Pauls School Of Nursing Queens
Unitek College landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. Based in Fremont, CA, Unitek College is a private for-profit institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. Unitek College Nursing students take on a median of $27,113 in debt. See the full Unitek College profile
Baptist Health System School Of Health Professions landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. Set in San Antonio, TX, Baptist Health System School Of Health Professions is a private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $13,074 in tuition and fees. Baptist Health System School Of Health Professions Nursing students take on a median of $33,911 in debt. See the full Baptist Health System School Of Health Professions profile
Jersey College landed the #16 spot in the United States this year. This private for-profit school is set in Teterboro, NJ. Students borrow a median of $37,010 to complete their Nursing program here. See the full Jersey College profile
Delaware Technical Community College Terry landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. Based in Dover, DE, Delaware Technical Community College Terry is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,332, with out-of-state students paying around $5,763. Typical Nursing student debt is $16,125. More on Delaware Technical Community College Terry
Trident Technical College landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. Based in Charleston, SC, Trident Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,546, compared with $8,620 for out-of-state students. Typical Nursing student debt is $30,938. See the full Trident Technical College profile
Merced College landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. Merced College is a public school based in Merced, CA. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,200, compared with $8,520 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $12,750 in student loans. More on Merced College
Memorial Hospital School Of Nursing came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Set in Albany, NY, Memorial Hospital School Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,358. Graduates carry a median of $26,487 in student loans. Get the full Memorial Hospital School Of Nursing report
Rasmussen College Minnesota landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Set in St. Cloud, MN, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $12,199 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $34,866 in student loans. Read more about Rasmussen College Minnesota
Rasmussen College Florida ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Based in Ocala, FL, Rasmussen College Florida is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,256. Rasmussen College Florida Nursing students take on a median of $34,866 in debt. Read more about Rasmussen College Florida
Ambria College Of Nursing landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. Set in Hoffman Estates, IL, Ambria College Of Nursing is a private for-profit institution. Typical Nursing student debt is $36,518. More on Ambria College Of Nursing
Rasmussen College Illinois ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Based in Rockford, IL, Rasmussen College Illinois is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,581. Typical Nursing student debt is $34,866. Get the full Rasmussen College Illinois report
Columbia Gorge Community College placed #25 among Nursing schools in the United States. Based in The Dalles, OR, Columbia Gorge Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,940, with out-of-state students paying around $10,260. Graduates carry a median of $22,417 in student loans. More on Columbia Gorge Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Best Nursing Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Modesto Junior College placed #26 among Nursing schools in the United States. This public school is set in Modesto, CA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,282, compared with $9,264 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,279 to complete their Nursing program here. More on Modesto Junior College
Galen College Of Nursing San Antonio did well this year, earning the #27 position. This private for-profit school is set in San Antonio, TX. Galen College Of Nursing San Antonio posts a six-year graduation rate of 50%. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,048. Typical Nursing student debt is $40,317. Get the full Galen College Of Nursing San Antonio report
Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences came in at #28 in this year's ranking. Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit school based in Concord, NC. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,550. Students borrow a median of $24,968 to complete their Nursing program here. Get the full Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences report
Glendale Career College Brightwood Teachout came in at #29 in this year's ranking. Set in San Diego, CA, Glendale Career College Brightwood Teachout is a private for-profit institution. Graduates carry a median of $33,049 in student loans. See the full Glendale Career College Brightwood Teachout profile
Samaritan Hospital School Of Nursing placed #30 among Nursing schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Troy, NY. Students from in state pay about $15,358 in tuition and fees. Samaritan Hospital School Of Nursing Nursing students take on a median of $27,625 in debt. Get the full Samaritan Hospital School Of Nursing report
Pacific Union College came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Pacific Union College is a private not-for-profit school based in Angwin, CA. Pacific Union College graduates 44% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $37,173. Pacific Union College Nursing students take on a median of $29,000 in debt. Get the full Pacific Union College report
Career Training Solutions landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. This private for-profit school is set in Fredericksburg, VA. Students borrow a median of $20,625 to complete their Nursing program here. More on Career Training Solutions
Madison Area Technical College landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. Madison Area Technical College is a public school based in Madison, WI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,977, while out-of-state students pay about $7,141. Typical Nursing student debt is $26,235. Read the full report on Madison Area Technical College
Galen School Of Nursing Tampa Bay ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. This private for-profit school is set in Saint Petersburg, FL. Roughly 100% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $17,048. Students borrow a median of $40,317 to complete their Nursing program here. Read the full report on Galen School Of Nursing Tampa Bay
Carolinas College Of Health Sciences did well this year, earning the #35 position. Based in Charlotte, NC, Carolinas College Of Health Sciences is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,882. The median Nursing program debt is $24,499. Read the full report on Carolinas College Of Health Sciences
Butte College did well this year, earning the #36 position. Set in Oroville, CA, Butte College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,356, while out-of-state students pay about $9,276. Typical Nursing student debt is $15,375. More on Butte College
Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Set in Lancaster, PA, Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences posts a six-year graduation rate of 69%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,933. Graduates carry a median of $26,812 in student loans. Read the full report on Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences
Mount St Marys College came in at #38 in this year's ranking. Based in Los Angeles, CA, Mount St Marys College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,564. Mount St Marys College Nursing students take on a median of $25,167 in debt. Read the full report on Mount St Marys College
Union County College did well this year, earning the #39 position. This public school is set in Cranford, NJ. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,280, compared with $9,500 for out-of-state students. The median Nursing program debt is $30,195. More on Union County College
San Joaquin Delta College did well this year, earning the #40 position. Based in Stockton, CA, San Joaquin Delta College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, compared with $9,772 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $6,382 in student loans. Read the full report on San Joaquin Delta College
Centra College Of Nursing landed the #41 spot in the United States this year. Set in Lynchburg, VA, Centra College Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 100% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,449. Students borrow a median of $17,598 to complete their Nursing program here. Read more about Centra College Of Nursing
Cuny Bronx Community College placed #42 among Nursing schools in the United States. Located in Bronx, NY, Cuny Bronx Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,206, compared with $8,086 for out-of-state students. The median Nursing program debt is $17,444. Read more about Cuny Bronx Community College
Cabrillo College came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Set in Aptos, CA, Cabrillo College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,270, compared with $9,862 for out-of-state students. Cabrillo College Nursing students take on a median of $15,000 in debt. Read the full report on Cabrillo College
Carrington College Reno placed #44 among Nursing schools in the United States. Carrington College Reno is a private for-profit school based in Reno, NV. Students borrow a median of $32,500 to complete their Nursing program here. More on Carrington College Reno
Northwest Technical College ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Set in Bemidji, MN, Northwest Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,254. Graduates carry a median of $31,053 in student loans. See the full Northwest Technical College profile
County College Of Morris ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. County College Of Morris is a public school based in Randolph, NJ. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,210, compared with $14,310 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,420 to complete their Nursing program here. Read the full report on County College Of Morris
Herzing University Birmingham ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Birmingham, AL. Roughly 25% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $13,450. Graduates carry a median of $31,509 in student loans. More on Herzing University Birmingham
Cuesta College came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Based in San Luis Obispo, CA, Cuesta College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,350, compared with $11,010 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $18,958 in student loans. Get the full Cuesta College report
St Joseph School Of Nursing came in at #49 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Nashua, NH. Students from in state pay about $23,438 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,167 to complete their Nursing program here. See the full St Joseph School Of Nursing profile
Rasmussen College Kansas placed #50 among Nursing schools in the United States. This private for-profit school is set in Topeka, KS. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,316. Graduates carry a median of $34,866 in student loans. Read more about Rasmussen College Kansas
Related Nursing Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Nursing Schools (All Levels)
- Best Nursing Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Nursing Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Nursing Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 2207 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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