2023 Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools
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.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Nursing Degree Search has developed this Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 1,123 schools in the United States to see which associate degree programs were the most popular for nursing students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Nursing program at each school on the list.
2023 Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the United States
The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Colleges.
Top 25 Most Popular Schools for an Associate in Nursing
Our 2023 rankings named Excelsior College the most popular school in the United States for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the small city of Albany, Excelsior College is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
About 84% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 16% are male.
While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Excelsior College accumulate an average of around $23,429 in student debt.
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The in-demand associate degree programs at Ivy Tech Community College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in the United States. Located in the large city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a public school with a fairly large student population.
About 89% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 11% are male.
On average, nursing graduates from Ivy Tech Community College take out $20,860 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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Out of the 1,123 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Rasmussen University - Florida landed the # 3 spot on the list. Rasmussen University - Florida is a medium-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Ocala.
About 89% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 11% are male.
On average, nursing graduates from Rasmussen University - Florida take out $32,326 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 $175.
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A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree. Rasmussen University - Minnesota is a small private for-profit school located in the small city of St. Cloud.
Of the 674 students majoring in nursing at Rasmussen University - Minnesota, 13% are male and 87% are female.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Rasmussen University - Minnesota take out while working on their Associate Degree is $32,326. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $175.
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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Jersey College is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the suburb of Teterboro, Jersey College is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Women make up 93% of the nursing majors at the school.
Nursing majors at Jersey College take out an average of $35,837 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $89, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Miami Dade College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. MDC is a fairly large public school located in the city of Miami.
About 79% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 21% are male.
While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at MDC accumulate an average of around $19,338 in student debt.
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With a ranking of #7, Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
About 85% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 15% are male.
While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale accumulate an average of around $32,396 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $139, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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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.
Women make up 91% of the nursing majors at the school.
While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at ECPI University accumulate an average of around $35,025 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 $174.
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Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the city of San Antonio, Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
About 88% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 12% are male.
Nursing majors at Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio take out an average of $35,636 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 $111.
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Rasmussen University - Illinois ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. Rasmussen University - Illinois is a small private for-profit school located in the midsize city of Rockford.
Of the 450 students majoring in nursing at Rasmussen University - Illinois, 8% are male and 92% are female.
After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Rasmussen University - Illinois carry an average student debt load of $32,326. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $175.
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Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Saint Petersburg.
About 88% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 12% are male.
Nursing majors at Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay take out an average of $35,636 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 $111.
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St Petersburg College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. Located in the city of Clearwater, SPC is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Of the 446 students majoring in nursing at SPC, 19% are male and 81% are female.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at SPC take out while working on their Associate Degree is $25,206.
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With a ranking of #13, Florida State College at Jacksonville did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the large city of Jacksonville, FSCJ is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Of the 445 students majoring in nursing at FSCJ, 18% are male and 82% are female.
On average, nursing graduates from FSCJ take out $21,396 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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AmeriTech College - Draper landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. Located in the large suburb of Draper, AmeriTech College - Draper is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
Of the 400 students majoring in nursing at AmeriTech College - Draper, 18% are male and 82% are female.
Nursing majors at AmeriTech College - Draper take out an average of $28,725 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $267, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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With a ranking of #15, Harrisburg Area Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the small city of Harrisburg, HACC is a public college with a large student population.
About 88% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 12% are male.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at HACC take out while working on their Associate Degree is $31,597.
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Lone Star College System landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. Located in the medium-sized city of The Woodlands, North Harris Montgomery is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Of the 380 students majoring in nursing at North Harris Montgomery, 15% are male and 85% are female.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at North Harris Montgomery take out while working on their Associate Degree is $19,210.
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Helene Fuld 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 #17 on the list. HFCN is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York.
Women make up 93% of the nursing majors at the school.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at HFCN take out while working on their Associate Degree is $27,942.
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Community College of Allegheny County 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 #18 on the list. CCAC is a large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh.
Women make up 82% of the nursing majors at the school.
Nursing majors at CCAC take out an average of $24,892 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
Full Nursing at Community College of Allegheny County Report
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Weber State University landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. WSU is a very large public school located in the small city of Ogden.
Of the 335 students majoring in nursing at WSU, 19% are male and 81% are female.
On average, nursing graduates from WSU take out $19,725 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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Union County College 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 #20 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Cranford, Union County College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Of the 333 students majoring in nursing at Union County College, 14% are male and 86% are female.
Nursing majors at Union County College take out an average of $28,481 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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Cuyahoga Community College District 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 #21 on the list. Cuyahoga Community College District is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Cleveland.
Of the 327 students majoring in nursing at Cuyahoga Community College District, 16% are male and 84% are female.
After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Cuyahoga Community College District carry an average student debt load of $21,617.
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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 college with a large student population.
About 91% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 9% are male.
On average, nursing graduates from Delaware Tech take out $18,104 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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Trocaire College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. Trocaire is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Buffalo.
Of the 310 students majoring in nursing at Trocaire, 14% are male and 86% are female.
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South Texas College ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the city of McAllen.
Women make up 79% of the nursing majors at the school.
Nursing majors at South Texas College take out an average of $11,425 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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Hondros College of Nursing ranked #25 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools list. Hondros College of Nursing is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Westerville.
Of the 309 students majoring in nursing at Hondros College of Nursing, 7% are male and 93% are female.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Hondros College of Nursing take out while working on their Associate Degree is $40,873. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $125.
Full Nursing at Hondros College of Nursing Report
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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 college was ranked in the top 15% of the 1123 different United States nursing schools we analyzed.
Additional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional popular schools for Nursing students that almost earned our Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools award.
Nursing by Region
View the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
Region |
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Southeast |
New England |
Rocky Mountains |
Plains States |
Middle Atlantic |
Far Western US |
Southwest |
Great Lakes |
Majors Related to Nursing
Nursing Focus Areas
Most Popular Majors Related to Nursing
Related Major | Annual Graduates |
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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.