2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Oregon
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. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamp 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 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Oregon ranking. Our analysis looked at 13 schools in Oregon to see which associate degree programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students. To come up with a school's ranking, we analyzed numerous factors related to post-graduation wages, the quality of education offered by the school, average accumulated student debt, and more.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Oregon
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Columbia Gorge Community College to be the best school for nursing students who want to pursue a associate degree in Oregon. Columbia Gorge Community College is a small public school situated in The Dalles, Oregon. It awarded 154 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Oregon pay an average of $5,472 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Columbia Gorge Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,008. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,352 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Columbia Gorge Community College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 51% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Oregon Coast Community College is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree. This very small public school is located in Newport, Oregon, and it awarded 62 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Oregon Coast Community College, expect to pay an average of $5,148 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
One thing to take note of is that Oregon Coast Community College does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 49% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Umpqua Community College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Oregon list. Located in Roseburg, Oregon, the small public school awarded 268 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Umpqua Community College is $5,477. Out-of-state students pay an average of $5,945. Associate Degree recipients from Umpqua Community College accumulate an average of $12,820 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Umpqua Community College. In 2020-2021 about 72% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Southwestern Oregon Community College is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in Coos Bay, Oregon, the small public school awarded 316 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at SWOCC is $6,637. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from SWOCC accumulate an average of $13,959 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since SWOCC does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 71% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lane Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Oregon list. Located in Eugene, Oregon, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,395 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $5,720 in tuition and fees if they attend Lane Community College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $12,020. On average, associate degree students take out $17,170 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Lane Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 64% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #6, Chemeketa Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Chemeketa Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Salem, Oregon that handed out 1,387 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Oregon pay an average of $6,120 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Chemeketa Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $13,815. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,815 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Chemeketa Community College. In fact, around 85% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Rogue Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Located in Grants Pass, Oregon, the small public school handed out 460 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Students from Oregon who attend Rogue Community College full time pay an average of $5,184 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,192. Associate Degree recipients from Rogue Community College accumulate an average of $15,049 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Rogue Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 71% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Clackamas Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in Oregon City, Oregon, the small public school awarded 574 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $5,850 in tuition and fees if they attend Clackamas Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $13,320.
Clackamas Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 92% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #9, Central Oregon Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. COCC is a public institution located in Bend, Oregon. The school has a small population, and it awarded 641 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $6,417 in tuition and fees if they attend COCC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $12,609. Associate Degree recipients from COCC accumulate an average of $15,559 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at COCC. In 2020-2021 about 86% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Linn-Benton Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #10 on the list. Albany, Oregon is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 691 students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $5,950 in tuition and fees if they attend LBCC full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $13,287. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,078 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at LBCC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 89% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Mt. Hood Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Located in Gresham, Oregon, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,278 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Oregon pay an average of $5,094 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend MHCC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,522. On average, associate degree students take out $14,652 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at MHCC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 40% took at least some of their classes online.
Blue Mountain Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #12 on the list. Pendleton, Oregon is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 268 students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Oregon pay an average of $6,851 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend BMCC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,416. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,611 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since BMCC does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 72% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Portland Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Oregon ranking. Located in Portland, Oregon, the fairly large public school handed out 3,267 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,810 in tuition and fees if they attend Portland Community College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,670. On average, associate degree students take out $18,690 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Portland Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 81% took at least some of their classes online.
Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 13 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.