2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in New Jersey
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which nursing program is right 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 New Jersey ranking. Our analysis looked at 15 schools in New Jersey to see which associate degree programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students. Factors related to overall quality of the school, post-graduation earnings, average student debt, and more accumulated were considered when coming up with this list.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Associate Degree Schools in New Jersey
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Union County College the best school in New Jersey for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in Cranford, New Jersey, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,519 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,937 in student loans.
Online courses are available at Union County College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 73% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means County College of Morris is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree. County College of Morris is a medium-sized public school located in Randolph, New Jersey that handed out 1,107 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $10,260 in tuition and fees if they attend County College of Morris full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $14,040. On average, associate degree students take out $10,222 in loans while pursuing their degree.
County College of Morris does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 43% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
The excellent associate degree programs at Ocean County College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in New Jersey. Located in Toms River, New Jersey, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,444 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,842 in student loans.
OCC 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. During the 2020-2021 year, about 40% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Raritan Valley Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in New Jersey list. RVCC is located in Branchburg, New Jersey and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,068 associate degrees to qualified students.
If you want to attend RVCC, expect to pay an average of $7,296 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from RVCC accumulate an average of $11,194 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Online courses are available at RVCC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 32% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Brookdale Community College is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree. This medium-sized public school is located in Lincroft, New Jersey, and it awarded 1,611 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from New Jersey who attend Brookdale Community College full time pay an average of $8,948 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,698. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,160 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Brookdale Community College does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 32% took at least some of their classes online.
Hudson County Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in New Jersey ranking. HCCC is a public institution located in Jersey City, New Jersey. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,186 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $8,390 in tuition and fees if they attend HCCC full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $11,798. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,945 in student loans.
HCCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 71% took at least some of their classes online.
Bergen Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in New Jersey ranking. Located in Paramus, New Jersey, the fairly large public school awarded 2,011 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from New Jersey pay an average of $8,438 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Bergen Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,822. Associate Degree recipients from Bergen Community College accumulate an average of $14,518 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Bergen Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 87% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Essex County College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in New Jersey ranking. Essex County College is a medium-sized public school located in Newark, New Jersey that handed out 1,102 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Essex, expect to pay an average of $9,141 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Online courses are available at Essex, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 22% took at least some of their classes online.
Salem Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in New Jersey ranking. Located in Carneys Point, New Jersey, the small public school awarded 212 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,695 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Salem County College. During the 2020-2021 year, about 64% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Rowan College of South Jersey Gloucester Campus ranked #10 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in New Jersey list. This medium-sized public school is located in Sewell, New Jersey, and it awarded 1,016 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
RCSJ does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $5,640. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,420 in student loans.
Online courses are available at RCSJ, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 78% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Middlesex County College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Middlesex County College is a medium-sized public school situated in Edison, New Jersey. It awarded 1,616 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average tuition and fees at Middlesex County College is $6,876. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $9,350 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Middlesex County College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 79% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Rowan College at Burlington County 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. This medium-sized public school is located in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, and it awarded 1,619 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Students from New Jersey who attend RCBC full time pay an average of $5,268 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,828. Associate Degree recipients from RCBC accumulate an average of $12,402 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 RCBC does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 77% took at least some of their classes online.
Passaic County 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 #13 on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Paterson, New Jersey, and it awarded 554 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at PCCC is $7,350. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,390. On average, associate degree students take out $10,578 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since PCCC does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 64% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Camden County College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in New Jersey list. Located in Blackwood, New Jersey, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,132 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $3,744 to cover tuition and fees at Camden County College. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, associate degree students take out $13,672 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Camden County College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 65% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Atlantic Cape Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in New Jersey ranking. Atlantic Cape Community College is a small public school situated in Mays Landing, New Jersey. It awarded 808 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $6,840 in tuition and fees if they attend Atlantic Cape Community College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,340. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,591 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Atlantic Cape Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 77% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 15 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.
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