2021 Best Nursing Associate's Degree Schools
Finding the Best Nursing Associate's Degree School for You
With 305,309 degrees and certificates handed out in 2018-2019, nursing is the #3 most popular major in the United States.
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.
The Best Nursing Associate's Degree Schools ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 870 schools in the United States to see which associate's degree programs offered the best educational experiences for students. To come up with a school's ranking, we analyzed numerous factors related to post-graduation wages, the quality of education offered by the school, average accumulated student debt, and more.
View our full ranking methodology.
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2021 Best Nursing Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
The colleges and universities below are the best for nursing majors pursuing a associate's degree.
Top 25 Top Schools for an Associate's in Nursing
Our 2021 rankings named Unitek College the best school in the United States for nursing students working on their associate’s degree. Located in the suburb of Fremont, Unitek College is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Unitek College take out while working on their Associate's Degree is $17,986. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $183.
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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Stanbridge University is a great place for nursing students working on their associate’s degree. Stanbridge is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Irvine.
Nursing majors at Stanbridge take out an average of $30,037 in student loans while working on their Associate's Degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $304.
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A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing is a great place for nursing students working on their associate’s degree. Standard College of Nursing is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Falls Church.
Nursing majors at Standard College of Nursing take out an average of $17,772 in student loans while working on their Associate's Degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $208.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Excelsior College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate’s Degree Schools list. Located in the small city of Albany, Excelsior College is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.
On average, nursing graduates from Excelsior College take out $10,346 in student loans while working on their Associate's Degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $108.
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The excellent associate’s degree programs at Mount Saint Mary’s University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the United States. MSMU is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles.
After completing their Associate's Degree, nursing graduates from MSMU carry an average student debtload of $18,577. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $190.
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Columbia Gorge Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate’s degree. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the town of The Dalles, Columbia Gorge Community College is a public college with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Columbia Gorge Community College take out while working on their Associate's Degree is $19,855. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $206, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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With a ranking of #7, Ambria College of Nursing did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate’s degree. Located in the city of Hoffman Estates, Ambria College of Nursing is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
After completing their Associate's Degree, nursing graduates from Ambria College of Nursing carry an average student debtload of $25,788. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $262.
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Jersey College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate’s degree. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the suburb of Teterboro, Jersey College is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
While working on their Associate's Degree, nursing majors at Jersey College accumulate an average of around $24,114 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $218, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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With a ranking of #9, Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate’s degree. Located in the suburb of Medford, Lawrence Memorial is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
While working on their Associate's Degree, nursing majors at Lawrence Memorial accumulate an average of around $19,259 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $208.
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Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate’s degree. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the city of San Mateo, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
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Riverside College of Health Careers landed the #11 spot in the 2021 rankings for the best associate’s degree nursing programs. Located in the city of Newport News, Riverside College of Health Careers is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
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Vermont Technical College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate’s Degree Schools ranking. Vermont Tech is a small public school located in the rural area of Randolph.
While working on their Associate's Degree, nursing majors at Vermont Tech accumulate an average of around $15,775 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $197.
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Baptist Health System School of Health Professions ranked #13 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate’s Degree Schools list. Baptist Health System School of Health Professions is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio.
On average, nursing graduates from Baptist Health System School of Health Professions take out $17,762 in student loans while working on their Associate's Degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $203.
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With a ranking of #14, Helene Fuld College of Nursing did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate’s degree. HFCN is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York.
Nursing majors at HFCN take out an average of $14,662 in student loans while working on their Associate's Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $149, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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St Joseph School of Nursing came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate’s Degree Schools ranking. St Joseph School of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashua.
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With a ranking of #16, Baptist Health College-Little Rock did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate’s degree. BHCLR is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Little Rock.
On average, nursing graduates from BHCLR take out $13,761 in student loans while working on their Associate's Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $148, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate’s degree. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in the small city of Troy, Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
While working on their Associate's Degree, nursing majors at Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing accumulate an average of around $17,154 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $189.
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Southeast Technical Institute did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate’s degree. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in the rural area of Sioux Falls, Southeast Technical Institute is a public school with a small student population.
On average, nursing graduates from Southeast Technical Institute take out $15,214 in student loans while working on their Associate's Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $146, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Saint Elizabeth College of Nursing landed the #19 spot in the 2021 rankings for the best associate’s degree nursing programs. Located in the small city of Utica, Saint Elizabeth College of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
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Rasmussen College - Minnesota landed the #20 spot in the 2021 rankings for the best associate’s degree nursing programs. Rasmussen College - Minnesota is a small private for-profit school located in the city of St. Cloud.
After completing their Associate's Degree, nursing graduates from Rasmussen College - Minnesota carry an average student debtload of $20,107. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $205.
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Rasmussen College - Florida landed the #21 spot in the 2021 rankings for the best associate’s degree nursing programs. Rasmussen College - Florida is a medium-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Ocala.
Nursing majors at Rasmussen College - Florida take out an average of $20,107 in student loans while working on their Associate's Degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $205.
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Laboure College landed the #22 spot in the 2021 rankings for the best associate’s degree nursing programs. Laboure College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Milton.
Nursing majors at Laboure College take out an average of $24,130 in student loans while working on their Associate's Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $252, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Pennsylvania College of Technology ranked #23 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate’s Degree Schools list. Located in the small city of Williamsport, Penn College is a public college with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Penn College take out while working on their Associate's Degree is $31,491. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $291.
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Maine College of Health Professions came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the small city of Lewiston, MCHP is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
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Dallas Nursing Institute landed the #25 spot in the 2021 rankings for the best associate’s degree nursing programs. Dallas Nursing Institute is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Dallas.
On average, nursing graduates from Dallas Nursing Institute take out $25,026 in student loans while working on their Associate's Degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $239.
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Remaining Award Winners
This list represents the remainder of the schools awarded a Best Nursing Associate's Degree Schools badge. Showing in this list means the college was ranked in the top 15% of the 870 different United States nursing schools we analyzed.
Additional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great schools for Nursing students that almost earned our Best Nursing Associate's Degree Schools award.
Nursing by Region
View the Best Nursing Associate's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
Nursing Related Rankings by Major
One of 34 majors within the area of study, nursing has other similar majors worth exploring.
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services | 99,641 |
| Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants | 93,192 |
| Allied Health Professions | 86,697 |
| Health & Medical Administrative Services | 82,868 |
| Public Health | 36,569 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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