2023 Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region
Finding the Best Nursing School for You
Nursing is the most popular major in the United States with 42,378 degrees and certificates handed out in 2021-2022.
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.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Nursing Degree Search has developed this Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 206 schools in the Southwest Region to see which 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 Schools in the Southwest Region
Check out the nursing programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the Southwest Region .
Top 25 Most Popular Southwest Region Schools in Nursing
Our 2023 rankings named Grand Canyon University the most popular school in the Southwest Region for nursing students. Located in the large city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit school with a very large student population.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Grand Canyon University carry an average student debt load of $30,788. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $249, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend The University of Texas at Arlington. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list. UT Arlington is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Arlington.
On average, nursing graduates from UT Arlington take out $37,494 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $150.
The excellent programs at Aspen University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Southwest Region . Aspen University is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix.
Nursing majors at Aspen University take out an average of $18,138 in student loans while working on their egree.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Phoenix - Arizona. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list. UOPX - Arizona is a very large private for-profit school located in the large city of Phoenix.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from UOPX - Arizona carry an average student debt load of $37,743.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list. TTUHSC is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Lubbock.
On average, nursing graduates from TTUHSC take out $31,388 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $343, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Nursing at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Report
The University of Texas at Tyler landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular nursing programs. UT Tyler is a moderately-sized public school located in the medium-sized city of Tyler.
On average, nursing graduates from UT Tyler take out $27,780 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $160, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list. UTHealth is a moderately-sized public school located in the large city of Houston.
On average, nursing graduates from UTHealth take out $38,271 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $214, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Lone Star College System landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular nursing programs. North Harris Montgomery is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of The Woodlands.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at North Harris Montgomery take out is $7,875.
Texas Woman’s University ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the city of Denton, TWU is a public school with a fairly large student population.
On average, nursing graduates from TWU take out $36,961 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $118.
Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #10 on the list. Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio is a small private for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio.
On average, nursing graduates from Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio take out $30,556 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $133.
Full Nursing at Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio Report
With a ranking of #11, The University of Texas Medical Branch did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students. UTMB Galveston is a small public school located in the town of Galveston.
On average, nursing graduates from UTMB Galveston take out $27,078 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $271.
Full Nursing at The University of Texas Medical Branch Report
Northern Arizona University ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the city of Flagstaff, NAU is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Nursing majors at NAU take out an average of $30,616 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $245, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #13, University of New Mexico - Main Campus did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students. UNM is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Albuquerque.
On average, nursing graduates from UNM take out $40,414 in student loans while working on their degree.
Full Nursing at University of New Mexico - Main Campus Report
With a ranking of #14, Arizona State University - Skysong did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students. ASU - Skysong is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of Scottsdale.
On average, nursing graduates from ASU - Skysong take out $21,892 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $300.
University of Arizona did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the city of Tucson, University of Arizona is a public school with a very large student population.
Nursing majors at University of Arizona take out an average of $45,708 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $214, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #16 on the list. UT Health San Antonio is a small public school located in the large city of San Antonio.
On average, nursing graduates from UT Health San Antonio take out $29,003 in student loans while working on their degree.
Full Nursing at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Report
The University of Texas at El Paso came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. UTEP is a fairly large public school located in the large city of El Paso.
On average, nursing graduates from UTEP take out $29,850 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $140.
Arizona State University - Tempe landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular nursing programs. ASU - Tempe is a very large public school located in the medium-sized city of Tempe.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from ASU - Tempe carry an average student debt load of $55,514. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $300.
Read full report on Nursing at Arizona State University - Tempe
With a ranking of #19, University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for nursing students. Located in the large city of Oklahoma City, UOHSC is a public school with a small student population.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from UOHSC carry an average student debt load of $28,958. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $352.
Austin Community College District did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #20 on the list. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a public college with a very large student population.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at Austin Community College District accumulate an average of around $14,162 in student debt.
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #21 on the list. Located in the large city of Corpus Christi, Texas A&M Corpus Christi is a public college with a large student population.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at Texas A&M Corpus Christi accumulate an average of around $32,750 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 $308.
Read full report on Nursing at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
Baylor University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #22 on the list. Baylor is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Waco.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Baylor carry an average student debt load of $22,362. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $770.
South Texas College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in the medium-sized city of McAllen, South Texas College is a public college with a very large student population.
West Coast University - Dallas did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #24 on the list. Located in the city of Richardson, West Coast University - Dallas is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
After completing their degree, nursing graduates from West Coast University - Dallas carry an average student debt load of $34,858. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $742.
Tarrant County College District did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for nursing students. It came in at #25 on the list. Tarrant County College is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Fort Worth.
While working on their degree, nursing majors at Tarrant County College accumulate an average of around $11,368 in student debt.
Rest of the Top Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region
Honorable Mentions
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Oklahoma City Community College | Oklahoma City, OK |
| 32 | El Paso Community College | El Paso, TX |
| 32 | Concordia University, Texas | Austin, TX |
| 34 | Baptist Health System School of Health Professions | San Antonio, TX |
| 35 | San Jacinto Community College | Pasadena, TX |
| 36 | Lamar University | Beaumont, TX |
| 37 | MSU Texas | Wichita Falls, TX |
| 38 | Texas A&M University - College Station | College Station, TX |
| 39 | Chamberlain University - Arizona | Phoenix, AZ |
| 40 | Mesa Community College | Mesa, AZ |
| 41 | Southwestern Oklahoma State University | Weatherford, OK |
Best Nursing Colleges by State
Explore the best nursing colleges 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 Related Majors
Nursing Concentrations
Majors Similar to Nursing
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants | 85,339 |
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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