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Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools

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2023 Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools

1,123 Colleges
$57,601 Avg Salary
$21,889 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing Associate Degree School for You

With 322,592 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, nursing is the #3 most popular major in the United States.

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best 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.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 1,123 schools in the United States to see which ones were the most popular associate degree programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Nursing program at each school on the list.

Check out the nursing associate degree programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the United States.

#1

Excelsior College

Albany, NY

Our analysis found Excelsior College to be the most popular school for nursing students who want to pursue a associate degree in the United States. Located in the city of Albany, Excelsior College is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.

Of the 1,522 students majoring in nursing at Excelsior College, 16% are male and 84% are female.

Nursing majors at Excelsior College take out an average of $23,429 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Excelsior College

#2

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ivy Tech Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the large city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Of the 1,366 students majoring in nursing at Ivy Tech Community College, 11% are male and 89% are female.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Ivy Tech Community College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $20,860.

Full Nursing at Ivy Tech Community College Report

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Rasmussen University - Florida is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree. Rasmussen University - Florida is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Ocala.

Of the 1,084 students majoring in nursing at Rasmussen University - Florida, 11% are male and 89% are female.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Rasmussen University - Florida take out while working on their Associate Degree is $32,326. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $175.

Full Nursing at Rasmussen University - Florida Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rasmussen University - Minnesota. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a small private for-profit school located in the city of St. Cloud.

Women make up 87% of the nursing majors at the school.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Rasmussen University - Minnesota carry an average student debt load of $32,326. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $175.

Read More…

#5

Jersey College

Teterboro, NJ

Out of the 1,123 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Jersey College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the suburb of Teterboro, Jersey College is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

About 93% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 7% are male.

On average, nursing graduates from Jersey College take out $35,837 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $89.

Read More…

#6

Miami Dade College

Miami, FL

Miami Dade College ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. MDC is a very large public school located in the large city of Miami.

Of the 614 students majoring in nursing at MDC, 21% are male and 79% are female.

Nursing majors at MDC take out an average of $19,338 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Miami Dade College

#7

Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

Of the 601 students majoring in nursing at Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale, 15% are male and 85% are female.

Nursing majors at Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale take out an average of $32,396 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $139.

Full Nursing at Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale Report

#8

ECPI University

Virginia Beach, VA

ECPI University landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. ECPI University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach.

About 91% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 9% are male.

Nursing majors at ECPI University take out an average of $35,025 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $174.

Read full report on Nursing at ECPI University

Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. Located in the large city of San Antonio, Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Of the 502 students majoring in nursing at Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio, 12% are male and 88% are female.

On average, nursing graduates from Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio take out $35,636 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $111.

Read full report on Nursing at Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio

Rasmussen University - Illinois did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #10 on the list. Rasmussen University - Illinois is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Rockford.

Women make up 92% of the nursing majors at the school.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Rasmussen University - Illinois accumulate an average of around $32,326 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $175.

Read full report on Nursing at Rasmussen University - Illinois

#11

Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay

Saint Petersburg, FL

Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Saint Petersburg.

Of the 448 students majoring in nursing at Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay, 12% are male and 88% are female.

On average, nursing graduates from Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay take out $35,636 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $111.

Read More…

#12

St Petersburg College

Clearwater, FL

St Petersburg College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. Located in the large city of Clearwater, SPC is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Women make up 81% of the nursing majors at the school.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from SPC carry an average student debt load of $25,206.

Full Nursing at St Petersburg College Report

Florida State College at Jacksonville did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in the large city of Jacksonville, FSCJ is a public college with a very large student population.

Women make up 82% of the nursing majors at the school.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at FSCJ take out while working on their Associate Degree is $21,396.

Full Nursing at Florida State College at Jacksonville Report

AmeriTech College - Draper came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the large suburb of Draper, AmeriTech College - Draper is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Women make up 82% of the nursing majors at the school.

On average, nursing graduates from AmeriTech College - Draper take out $28,725 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $267.

Read full report on Nursing at AmeriTech College - Draper

Harrisburg Area Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the city of Harrisburg, HACC is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Of the 395 students majoring in nursing at HACC, 12% are male and 88% are female.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from HACC carry an average student debt load of $31,597.

Full Nursing at Harrisburg Area Community College Report

#16

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, TX

With a ranking of #16, Lone Star College System did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the midsize city of The Woodlands, North Harris Montgomery is a public school with a very large student population.

Women make up 85% of the nursing majors at the school.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from North Harris Montgomery carry an average student debt load of $19,210.

Read full report on Nursing at Lone Star College System

Helene Fuld College of Nursing ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. HFCN is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of New York.

About 93% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 7% are male.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from HFCN carry an average student debt load of $27,942.

Read full report on Nursing at Helene Fuld College of Nursing

With a ranking of #18, Community College of Allegheny County did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. CCAC is a fairly large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh.

About 82% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 18% are male.

On average, nursing graduates from CCAC take out $24,892 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Full Nursing at Community College of Allegheny County Report

Weber State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. WSU is a very large public school located in the city of Ogden.

Women make up 81% of the nursing majors at the school.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at WSU take out while working on their Associate Degree is $19,725.

Full Nursing at Weber State University Report

#20

Union County College

Cranford, NJ

Union County College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the suburb of Cranford, Union County College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Women make up 86% of the nursing majors at the school.

On average, nursing graduates from Union County College take out $28,481 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read More…

Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. Cuyahoga Community College District is a large public school located in the city of Cleveland.

Women make up 84% of the nursing majors at the school.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Cuyahoga Community College District accumulate an average of around $21,617 in student debt.

Read More…

Delaware Technical Community College - Terry ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the city of Dover, Delaware Tech is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Of the 325 students majoring in nursing at Delaware Tech, 9% are male and 91% are female.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Delaware Tech take out while working on their Associate Degree is $18,104.

Read full report on Nursing at Delaware Technical Community College - Terry

#23

Trocaire College

Buffalo, NY

With a ranking of #23, Trocaire College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Trocaire is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Buffalo.

Women make up 86% of the nursing majors at the school.

Read full report on Nursing at Trocaire College

#23

South Texas College

McAllen, TX

South Texas College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the midsize city of McAllen.

About 79% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 21% are male.

On average, nursing graduates from South Texas College take out $11,425 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Full Nursing at South Texas College Report

#25

Hondros College of Nursing

Westerville, OH

Hondros College of Nursing did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #25 on the list. Hondros College of Nursing is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Westerville.

Women make up 93% of the nursing majors at the school.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Hondros College of Nursing carry an average student debt load of $40,873. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $125.

Read full report on Nursing at Hondros College of Nursing

#26

Broward College

Fort Lauderdale, FL
#29

Laboure College

Milton, MA
#30

Valencia College

Orlando, FL
#32

Delgado Community College

New Orleans, LA
#36

EDP University - San Juan

San Juan, PR
#37

Salt Lake Community College

Salt Lake City, UT
#39

Palm Beach State College

Lake Worth, FL
#40

Oklahoma City Community College

Oklahoma City, OK
#43

Pensacola State College

Pensacola, FL
#49

Owens Community College

Perrysburg, OH

Remaining Award Winners

This list shows the rest of the colleges awarded a Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 1123 different United States nursing schools we analyzed.

Rank College Location
51 St Paul’s School of Nursing - Staten Island Staten Island, NY
52 Tyler Junior College Tyler, TX
53 John C Calhoun State Community College Tanner, AL
53 St Paul’s School of Nursing - Queens Rego Park, NY
55 Santa Fe College Gainesville, FL
55 Tulsa Community College Tulsa, OK
55 Saint Louis Community College Saint Louis, MO
55 Amarillo College Amarillo, TX
59 El Centro College Dallas, TX
60 Fresno City College Fresno, CA
60 Bevill State Community College Jasper, AL
60 Goodwin College East Hartford, CT
63 Henry Ford College Dearborn, MI
64 Daytona State College Daytona Beach, FL
65 Lansing Community College Lansing, MI
66 Pima Community College Tucson, AZ
66 HCI College West Palm Beach, FL
68 San Antonio College San Antonio, TX
68 Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay, WI
70 College of Southern Nevada Las Vegas, NV
71 Trident Technical College Charleston, SC
72 Glendale Community College Glendale, AZ
72 Central Ohio Technical College Newark, OH
74 Mesa Community College Mesa, AZ
75 Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI
75 Coastal Alabama Community College Bay Minette, AL
77 Pasco-Hernando State College New Port Richey, FL
77 University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock, AR
79 Montgomery College Rockville, MD
80 Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Beach Virginia Beach, VA
81 Universal Career School Sweetwater, FL
82 Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tifton, GA
82 Community College of Baltimore County Baltimore, MD
84 Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate, TN
85 New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, NY
85 Weatherford College Weatherford, TX
87 EDP University - San Sebastian San Sebastian, PR
87 Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire, WI
89 St. Joseph’s College of Nursing Syracuse, NY
89 Schoolcraft College Livonia, MI
89 Carrington College, Reno Reno, NV
89 Howard Community College Columbia, MD
93 Baptist Health College - Little Rock Little Rock, AR
93 Riverside City College Riverside, CA
93 Mohave Community College Kingman, AZ
93 Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA
97 Delaware County Community College Media, PA
98 Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City Oklahoma City, OK
99 Polk State College Winter Haven, FL
99 Bryant & Stratton College - Wauwatosa Wauwatosa, WI
101 New England Institute of Technology East Greenwich, RI
101 Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque, NM
101 Columbus State Community College Columbus, OH
104 Houston Community College Houston, TX
104 Borough of Manhattan Community College New York, NY
104 Rasmussen University - Kansas Topeka, KS
104 Miami Regional University Miami Springs, FL
104 Gwinnett Institute Orlando, FL
109 Albany State University Albany, GA
109 Del Mar College Corpus Christi, TX
111 Clark State Community College Springfield, OH
111 Harford Community College Bel Air, MD
113 Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids, MN
114 Ocean County College Toms River, NJ
115 Vermont Technical College Randolph, VT
116 Hinds Community College Raymond, MS
117 Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs, IA
117 Lorain County Community College Elyria, OH
119 State College of Florida - Manatee - Sarasota Bradenton, FL
119 Seattle Central College Seattle, WA
119 Pueblo Community College Pueblo, CO
122 National University College Bayamon, PR
123 Midlands Technical College West Columbia, SC
123 Northwestern State University of Louisiana Natchitoches, LA
123 Meridian Community College Meridian, MS
126 Highline College Des Moines, WA
127 Delta College University Center, MI
127 City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College Chicago, IL
129 Brookdale Community College Lincroft, NJ
129 Florida National University - Main Campus Hialeah, FL
131 Navarro College Corsicana, TX
131 Morrisville State College Morrisville, NY
133 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Perkinston, MS
133 Nassau Community College Garden City, NY
133 Sinclair Community College Dayton, OH
133 El Paso Community College El Paso, TX
137 Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FL
137 Texas State Technical College Waco, TX
139 Greenville Technical College Greenville, SC
140 Southwest Baptist University Bolivar, MO
140 Mercy College of Ohio Toledo, OH
140 Bakersfield College Bakersfield, CA
140 Germanna Community College Locust Grove, VA
140 Fairmont State University Fairmont, WV
145 Scottsdale Community College Scottsdale, AZ
146 Wake Technical Community College Raleigh, NC
147 Everett Community College Everett, WA
147 Kingsborough Community College Brooklyn, NY
149 Phoenix College Phoenix, AZ
149 Collin County Community College District McKinney, TX
149 Northern Oklahoma College Tonkawa, OK
152 Crowder College Neosho, MO
153 Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WI
153 Anne Arundel Community College Arnold, MD
155 San Joaquin Delta College Stockton, CA
156 Butler Community College El Dorado, KS
157 Bergen Community College Paramus, NJ
157 Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor, MI
157 William Rainey Harper College Palatine, IL
157 Luzerne County Community College Nanticoke, PA
157 Macomb Community College Warren, MI
162 Oakland Community College Bloomfield Hills, MI
162 Capital Community College Hartford, CT
164 Lehigh Carbon Community College Schnecksville, PA
164 Rowan College at Burlington County Mount Laurel, NJ
166 University of Rio Grande Rio Grande, OH
167 Quinsigamond Community College Worcester, MA
167 Grayson College Denison, TX
167 College of Central Florida Ocala, FL
167 Naugatuck Valley Community College Waterbury, CT

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional popular schools for Nursing students that almost earned our Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools award.

Rank College Location
171 Horry-Georgetown Technical College Conway, SC
172 Forsyth Technical Community College Winston-Salem, NC
173 Wallace Community College, Dothan Dothan, AL
173 Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WI
173 Lakeland Community College Kirtland, OH
176 College of Southern Maryland La Plata, MD
176 Gulf Coast State College Panama City, FL
176 Pitt Community College Winterville, NC
176 Reynolds Community College Richmond, VA
176 Rasmussen University - Wisconsin Green Bay, WI
176 Waubonsee Community College Sugar Grove, IL
176 Butte College Oroville, CA
183 Lake Superior College Duluth, MN
183 Modesto Junior College Modesto, CA
183 Dyersburg State Community College Dyersburg, TN
183 Eastern Florida State College Cocoa, FL
183 Front Range Community College Westminster, CO
188 John Tyler Community College Chester, VA
188 County College of Morris Randolph, NJ
188 Galen College of Nursing - ARH Hazard, KY
188 Career Networks Institute Orange, CA
188 Stark State College North Canton, OH
188 Lower Columbia College Longview, WA
188 Rochester Community and Technical College Rochester, MN
195 Mt. San Antonio College Walnut, CA
196 Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA
196 Tallahassee Community College Tallahassee, FL
196 Rockland Community College Suffern, NY
196 Georgia State University-Perimeter College Atlanta, GA
196 Kellogg Community College Battle Creek, MI
201 Marshall University Huntington, WV
201 Trinity Valley Community College Athens, TX
201 Century College White Bear Lake, MN
204 Holmes Community College Goodman, MS
204 Beckfield College - Florence Florence, KY
204 Sullivan University Louisville, KY
204 Westmoreland County Community College Youngwood, PA
204 Fortis College - Columbus Westerville, OH
209 Gadsden State Community College Gadsden, AL
209 Lord Fairfax Community College Middletown, VA
209 Raritan Valley Community College Branchburg, NJ
209 Santa Monica College Santa Monica, CA
213 Allegany College of Maryland Cumberland, MD
213 Monroe Community College Rochester, NY
213 Bluegrass Community and Technical College Lexington, KY
213 Southern Regional Technical College Thomasville, GA
213 Columbia Central University - Caguas Caguas, PR
213 Regis College Weston, MA
213 Rasmussen University - North Dakota Fargo, ND
220 Walters State Community College Morristown, TN
220 St Clair County Community College Port Huron, MI
220 Purdue University Global Indianapolis, IN
220 Utah Valley University Orem, UT
220 James A Rhodes State College Lima, OH
220 Queensborough Community College Bayside, NY
220 Maria College of Albany Albany, NY
220 Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing Medford, MA
220 Tri-County Technical College Pendleton, SC
220 Pomeroy College of Nursing at Crouse Hospital Syracuse, NY

Nursing by Region

View the Most Popular Nursing Associate 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 is one of 30 different types of programs to choose from.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Health & Medical Administrative Services 89,359
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 84,492
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 84,274
Allied Health Professions 82,308
Public Health 40,596

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • 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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