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Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region

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2023 Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region

112 Colleges
$57,601 Avg Salary
$21,889 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing Associate Degree School for You

Nursing is the most popular major in the United States with 39,944 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021.

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which nursing program is right for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

The Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 112 schools in the Southwest Region 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.

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

Our analysis found Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio to be the most popular school for nursing students who want to pursue a associate degree in the Southwest Region . Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of San Antonio.

Women make up 88% of the nursing majors at the school.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio take out while working on their Associate Degree is $35,636. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $111.

Full Nursing at Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio Report

#2

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, TX

Out of the 112 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Lone Star College System landed the # 2 spot on the list. North Harris Montgomery is a very large public school located in the city of The Woodlands.

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 North Harris Montgomery accumulate an average of around $19,210 in student debt.

Read full report on Nursing at Lone Star College System

#3

South Texas College

McAllen, TX

The in-demand associate degree programs at South Texas College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in the Southwest Region . Located in the midsize city of McAllen, South Texas College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Of the 310 students majoring in nursing at South Texas College, 21% are male and 79% are female.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at South Texas College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $11,425.

Read full report on Nursing at South Texas College

Out of the 112 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Austin Community College District landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Of the 299 students majoring in nursing at Austin Community College District, 17% are male and 83% are female.

While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Austin Community College District accumulate an average of around $18,983 in student debt.

Read More…

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Tarrant County College District. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. Tarrant County College is a very large public school located in the large city of Fort Worth.

Of the 276 students majoring in nursing at Tarrant County College, 16% are male and 84% are female.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Tarrant County College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $20,556.

Read full report on Nursing at Tarrant County College District

#6

Oklahoma City Community College

Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City Community College ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. OCCC is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Oklahoma City.

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 OCCC accumulate an average of around $22,513 in student debt.

Read full report on Nursing at Oklahoma City Community College

With a ranking of #7, GateWay Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. GateWay Community College is a small public school located in the city of Phoenix.

Of the 233 students majoring in nursing at GateWay Community College, 17% are male and 83% are female.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from GateWay Community College carry an average student debt load of $24,675.

Read full report on Nursing at GateWay Community College

San Jacinto Community College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. Located in the suburb of Pasadena, San Jacinto College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Of the 225 students majoring in nursing at San Jacinto College, 12% are male and 88% are female.

Nursing majors at San Jacinto College take out an average of $17,670 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

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With a ranking of #9, Baptist Health System School of Health Professions did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the city of San Antonio, Baptist Health System School of Health Professions is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Women make up 83% of the nursing majors at the school.

On average, nursing graduates from Baptist Health System School of Health Professions take out $27,515 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 $110.

Full Nursing at Baptist Health System School of Health Professions Report

#10

Tyler Junior College

Tyler, TX

With a ranking of #10, Tyler Junior College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the medium-sized city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a public school with a large student population.

Women make up 83% of the nursing majors at the school.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Tyler Junior College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $20,409.

Read More…

Tulsa Community 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 #11 on the list. Located in the city of Tulsa, Tulsa Community College is a public college with a large student population.

Women make up 83% of the nursing majors at the school.

On average, nursing graduates from Tulsa Community College take out $26,621 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read More…

#11

Amarillo College

Amarillo, TX

Amarillo College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Amarillo College is a moderately-sized public school located in the medium-sized city of Amarillo.

Of the 204 students majoring in nursing at Amarillo College, 15% are male and 85% are female.

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Amarillo College carry an average student debt load of $22,468.

Full Nursing at Amarillo College Report

#13

El Centro College

Dallas, TX

El Centro College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. Located in the large city of Dallas, El Centro College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

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

After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from El Centro College carry an average student debt load of $20,883.

Read More…

#14

Pima Community College

Tucson, AZ

Pima Community College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. Pima County Community College District is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Tucson.

Women make up 80% of the nursing majors at the school.

Nursing majors at Pima County Community College District take out an average of $20,325 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Pima Community College

#15

San Antonio College

San Antonio, TX

With a ranking of #15, San Antonio College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. San Antonio College is a large public school located in the large city of San Antonio.

Women make up 80% of the nursing majors at the school.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at San Antonio College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $21,055.

Read full report on Nursing at San Antonio College

#16

Glendale Community College

Glendale, AZ

Glendale Community College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree nursing programs. Located in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Of the 189 students majoring in nursing at Glendale Community College, 14% are male and 86% are female.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Glendale Community College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $27,080.

Read More…

Honorable Mentions

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

Rank College Location
17 Mesa Community College Mesa, AZ
18 Weatherford College Weatherford, TX
19 Mohave Community College Kingman, AZ
20 Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City Oklahoma City, OK
21 Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque, NM
22 Houston Community College Houston, TX

Best Nursing Colleges by State

Explore the best nursing schools for a specific state in the Southwest region.

State Degrees Awarded
Arizona 12,966
Texas 21,862
New Mexico 1,390
Oklahoma 3,009

Nursing Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 266,651
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing 16,104
Nursing Administration 9,838
Nursing Practice 7,992
Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 5,092
Nursing Science 4,600
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing 2,287
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing 2,021
Nurse Anesthetist 1,936
Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing 1,883
Critical Care Nursing 773
Geriatric Nurse/Nursing 563
School Nursing 553
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery 509
Clinical Nurse Leader 444
Clinical Nurse Specialist 419
Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing 331
Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing 181
Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing 57
Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing 53
Palliative Care Nursing 14
Forensic Nursing 14

Majors Similar 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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