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Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Connecticut

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2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Connecticut

7 Schools Ranked
$10,749 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$16,829 Avg Student Debt

Today's nursing students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp 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 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Connecticut ranking. Our analysis looked at 7 schools in Connecticut 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.

Top Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Connecticut

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Gateway Community College

New Haven, Connecticut
604 Total Awards
$4,740 Average Tuition & Fees
$6,908 Avg Student Debt

Our analysis found Gateway Community College to be the best school for nursing students who want to pursue a associate degree in Connecticut. This medium-sized public school is located in New Haven, Connecticut, and it awarded 604 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Gateway Community College is $4,740. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $14,140. Associate Degree recipients from Gateway Community College accumulate an average of $6,908 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Gateway 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 86% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Gateway Community College Report

#2

Sacred Heart University

Fairfield, Connecticut
127 Total Awards
$46,580 Average Tuition & Fees
$19,208 Avg Student Debt

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Sacred Heart University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Connecticut list. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Fairfield, Connecticut, and it awarded 127 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

The average tuition and fees at Sacred Heart is $46,580. 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 $19,208 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Sacred Heart. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2020-2021 academic year, around 39% took at least some of their classes online.

Full Sacred Heart University Report

#3

Capital Community College

Hartford, Connecticut
259 Total Awards
$4,820 Average Tuition & Fees
$8,588 Avg Student Debt

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Capital Community College is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in Hartford, Connecticut, the small public school awarded 259 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $4,820 in tuition and fees if they attend Capital Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $14,220. Associate Degree recipients from Capital Community College accumulate an average of $8,588 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Capital Community College is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Full Capital Community College Report

#4

Naugatuck Valley Community College

Waterbury, Connecticut
567 Total Awards
$4,740 Average Tuition & Fees
$8,768 Avg Student Debt

The excellent associate degree programs at Naugatuck Valley Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Connecticut. Naugatuck Valley Community College is located in Waterbury, Connecticut and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 567 associate degrees to qualified students.

In-state students pay an average of $4,740 in tuition and fees if they attend Naugatuck Valley Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $14,140. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,768 in student loans.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Naugatuck Valley Community College. In fact, around 71% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Naugatuck Valley Community College

#5

Norwalk Community College

Norwalk, Connecticut
485 Total Awards
$4,772 Average Tuition & Fees
$17,662 Avg Student Debt

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Norwalk Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Connecticut list. Located in Norwalk, Connecticut, the small public school handed out 485 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.

Full-time students from Connecticut pay an average of $4,772 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend NCC. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $14,172. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,662 in student loans.

One thing to take note of is that NCC does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 60% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#6

Three Rivers Community College

Norwich, Connecticut
383 Total Awards
$4,820 Average Tuition & Fees
$11,798 Avg Student Debt

Three Rivers Community College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. This small public school is located in Norwich, Connecticut, and it awarded 383 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

Students from Connecticut who attend Three Rivers Community College full time pay an average of $4,820 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $14,220. Associate Degree recipients from Three Rivers Community College accumulate an average of $11,798 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

One thing to take note of is that Three Rivers Community College does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 75% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.

Read More…

154 Total Awards
$4,772 Average Tuition & Fees
$8,747 Avg Student Debt

Northwestern Connecticut Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Connecticut ranking. This small public school is located in Winsted, Connecticut, and it awarded 154 associate degrees in 2021-2022.

In-state students pay an average of $4,772 in tuition and fees if they attend NCCC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $14,172. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $8,747 in student loans.

Some students may be able to take online classes at NCCC. During the 2020-2021 year, about 77% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the New England Region

View Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 7 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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