2023 Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Nursing Associate Degree School for You
Nursing is the most popular major in the United States with 322,592 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021.
There are so many nursing programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
The Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 960 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value associate degree programs for nursing students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality for an Associate in Nursing
Our analysis found New Mexico Junior College to be the best value school for nursing students who want to pursue a associate degree in the United States. Located in the remote town of Hobbs, New Mexico Junior College is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at New Mexico Junior College are $2,280 per year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at New Mexico Junior College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $19,434.
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The excellent associate degree programs at Coahoma Community College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value nursing schools in the United States. Coahoma Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Clarksdale.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Coahoma Community College are $3,003 per year. While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Coahoma Community College accumulate an average of around $21,203 in student debt.
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Out of the 960 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Oglala Lakota College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the rural area of Kyle, Oglala Lakota College is a public college with a small student population.
Oglala Lakota College undergraduate students pay an average of $2,684 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Oglala Lakota College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $11,529.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Clovis Community College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the remote town of Clovis, Clovis Community College is a public college with a small student population.
Clovis Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $2,984 in tuition and fees each year. Nursing majors at Clovis Community College take out an average of $13,864 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, L.A. County School of Nursing is a public school with a small student population.
Nursing majors at L.A. County School of Nursing take out an average of $21,695 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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With a ranking of #6, Southeast Community College Area did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Southeast Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Lincoln.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Southeast Community College are $3,780 a year. After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Southeast Community College carry an average student debtload of $27,526.
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Seattle Central College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle Central is a public college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Seattle Central are $4,670 a year. While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Seattle Central accumulate an average of around $23,418 in student debt.
Seattle Central also claimed a spot on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
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Highline College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #8 on the list. Highline is a small public school located in the large suburb of Des Moines.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Highline are $4,813 a year. On average, nursing graduates from Highline take out $17,371 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
Highline also claimed a spot on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
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Central Arizona College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. Pinal County Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Coolidge.
Pinal County Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,160 in tuition and fees each year. Nursing majors at Pinal County Community College take out an average of $19,049 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
Pinal County Community College also claimed a spot on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category.
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Panola College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. Panola College is a small public school located in the town of Carthage.
Panola College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,680 in tuition and fees each year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Panola College also did well on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Amarillo College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the midsize city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Amarillo College are $4,704 per year. After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Amarillo College carry an average student debtload of $22,468.
In addition to its great value ranking, Amarillo College is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools list.
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Arkansas State University - Newport did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #12 on the list. ASUN is a small public school located in the rural area of Newport.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at ASUN are $4,320 per year. While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at ASUN accumulate an average of around $20,883 in student debt.
ASUN excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools list.
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College of the Mainland ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the suburb of Texas City, COM is a public college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at COM are $3,873 a year. While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at COM accumulate an average of around $24,607 in student debt.
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Neosho County Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the town of Chanute, Neosho County Community College is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Neosho County Community College are $4,000 per year. Nursing majors at Neosho County Community College take out an average of $20,150 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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Cloud County Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. Cloud County Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Concordia.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Cloud County Community College are $3,570 a year. While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Cloud County Community College accumulate an average of around $22,223 in student debt.
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SOWELA Technical Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the small city of Lake Charles, SOWELA is a public college with a small student population.
SOWELA undergraduate students pay an average of $4,265 in tuition and fees each year. Nursing majors at SOWELA take out an average of $15,984 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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South Plains College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #17 on the list. South Plains College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Levelland.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at South Plains College are $4,276 per year. On average, nursing graduates from South Plains College take out $19,364 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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Wayne County Community College District came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the large city of Detroit, WCCCD is a public college with a fairly large student population.
WCCCD undergraduate students pay an average of $3,998 in tuition and fees each year. Nursing majors at WCCCD take out an average of $23,759 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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Camden County College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. Camden County College is a moderately-sized public school located in the large suburb of Blackwood.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Camden County College are $3,744 per year. While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Camden County College accumulate an average of around $24,067 in student debt.
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With a ranking of #20, Rochester Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Rochester Community and Technical College is a small public school located in the midsize city of Rochester.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Rochester Community and Technical College are $5,372 a year. On average, nursing graduates from Rochester Community and Technical College take out $27,212 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
In addition to its great value ranking, Rochester Community and Technical College is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools list.
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Southern Regional Technical College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the distant town of Thomasville, Southwest Georgia Technical College is a public college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Southwest Georgia Technical College are $5,402 a year. After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Southwest Georgia Technical College carry an average student debtload of $13,212.
In addition to its great value ranking, Southwest Georgia Technical College is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools list.
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With a ranking of #22, South Louisiana Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. South Louisiana Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the midsize city of Lafayette.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at South Louisiana Community College are $4,205 per year. While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at South Louisiana Community College accumulate an average of around $23,640 in student debt.
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University of Arkansas Community College - Batesville ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. UACCB is a small public school located in the remote town of Batesville.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UACCB are $3,438 a year. While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at UACCB accumulate an average of around $15,732 in student debt.
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Alvin Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin is a public school with a small student population.
Alvin undergraduate students pay an average of $4,010 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Alvin carry an average student debtload of $18,713.
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Centralia College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the town of Centralia, Centralia College is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Centralia College are $5,239 a year. While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Centralia College accumulate an average of around $12,250 in student debt.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Centralia College also did well on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Remaining Award Winners
This section represents the rest of the schools awarded a Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 960 different United States nursing schools we analyzed.
Additional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great value schools for Nursing students seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools award.
Nursing by Region
View the Best Value 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 |
More Nursing Rankings
Majors Related to Nursing
Nursing Focus Areas
Most Popular Majors Related to Nursing
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants | 84,274 |
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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