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Most Popular Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southwest Region

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2023 Most Popular Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southwest Region

104 Colleges
$64,238 Avg Salary
$28,730 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Nursing Bachelor's 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 Bachelor's 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. This report analyzed 104 schools in the Southwest Region to see which ones were the most popular bachelor's degree programs for nursing students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Nursing program at each school on the list.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for nursing majors pursuing a bachelor's degree.

#1

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, AZ

Our analysis found Grand Canyon University to be the most popular school for nursing students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the Southwest Region . Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit college with a very large student population.

Of the 4,530 students majoring in nursing at Grand Canyon University, 11% are male and 89% are female.

While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at Grand Canyon University accumulate an average of around $28,120 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 $198.

Full Nursing at Grand Canyon University Report

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means The University of Texas at Arlington is a great place for nursing students working on their bachelor’s degree. UT Arlington is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Arlington.

About 86% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 14% are male.

Nursing majors at UT Arlington take out an average of $28,521 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $142, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

#3

Aspen University

Denver, CO

Out of the 104 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Aspen University landed the # 3 spot on the list. Aspen University is a medium-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Denver.

About 88% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 12% are male.

Nursing majors at Aspen University take out an average of $33,836 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Aspen University

The in-demand bachelor’s degree programs at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular nursing schools in the Southwest Region . TTUHSC is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Lubbock.

About 86% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 14% are male.

On average, nursing graduates from TTUHSC take out $24,106 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $242.

Read More…

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Phoenix - Arizona. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the large city of Tempe, UOPX - Arizona is a private for-profit college with a very large student population.

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

On average, nursing graduates from UOPX - Arizona take out $30,625 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at University of Phoenix - Arizona

The University of Texas at Tyler did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #6 on the list. UT Tyler is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Tyler.

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

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at UT Tyler take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $24,673. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $164, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Nursing at The University of Texas at Tyler Report

Northern Arizona University ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the small city of Flagstaff, NAU is a public college with a very large student population.

Of the 526 students majoring in nursing at NAU, 13% are male and 87% are female.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at NAU take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $26,964. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $161.

Full Nursing at Northern Arizona University Report

Arizona State University - Skysong landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree nursing programs. ASU - Skysong is a very large public school located in the midsize city of Scottsdale.

Of the 477 students majoring in nursing at ASU - Skysong, 17% are male and 83% are female.

Nursing majors at ASU - Skysong take out an average of $28,439 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $264, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Nursing at Arizona State University - Skysong

Texas Woman’s University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in the midsize city of Denton, TWU is a public college with a fairly large student population.

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

While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at TWU accumulate an average of around $26,789 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $84, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Nursing at Texas Woman’s University

University of New Mexico - Main Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #10 on the list. UNM is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque.

Of the 442 students majoring in nursing at UNM, 14% are male and 86% are female.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from UNM carry an average student debt load of $28,077.

Full Nursing at University of New Mexico - Main Campus Report

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. UTHealth is a moderately-sized public school located in the large city of Houston.

About 85% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 15% are male.

While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at UTHealth accumulate an average of around $23,285 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $203.

Read full report on Nursing at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

The University of Texas Medical Branch ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. UTMB Galveston is a small public school located in the fringe town of Galveston.

About 90% of the students majoring in nursing at the school are women while 10% are male.

While working on their Bachelor's Degree, nursing majors at UTMB Galveston accumulate an average of around $22,804 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $215.

Read full report on Nursing at The University of Texas Medical Branch

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for nursing students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #13 on the list. UT Health San Antonio is a small public school located in the large city of San Antonio.

Of the 334 students majoring in nursing at UT Health San Antonio, 16% are male and 84% are female.

Nursing majors at UT Health San Antonio take out an average of $28,057 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.

Read full report on Nursing at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the large city of Oklahoma City, UOHSC is a public school with a small student population.

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

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, nursing graduates from UOHSC carry an average student debt load of $27,894. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $318.

Read full report on Nursing at University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center

The University of Texas at El Paso ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region list. UTEP is a very large public school located in the large city of El Paso.

Of the 297 students majoring in nursing at UTEP, 21% are male and 79% are female.

Nursing majors at UTEP take out an average of $24,272 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $67.

Full Nursing at The University of Texas at El Paso Report

Honorable Mentions

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

Rank College Location
16 West Coast University - Dallas Dallas, TX
17 Arizona State University - Tempe Tempe, AZ
18 Baylor University Waco, TX
19 Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, TX
20 Chamberlain University - Texas 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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