2023 Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools
It's not easy to decide which nursing program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Also there are many trade schools and bpptcamp that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Nursing Degree Search has developed this Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 297 schools in the United States to see which basic certificate programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school us, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Madison Area Technical College the best school in the United States for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
Students from Wisconsin who attend Madison College full time pay an average of $4,600 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,769.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Madison College. In 2019-2020 about 77% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Moraine Park Technical College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Moraine Park Technical College is $4,568. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,683.
One thing to take note of is that Moraine Park Technical College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 12% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Out of the 297 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Fox Valley Technical College landed the # 3 spot on the list.
In-state students pay an average of $4,746 in tuition and fees if they attend FVTC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,861.
Online courses are available at FVTC, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 42% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Ivy Tech Community College is a great place for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Ivy Tech Community College is $4,637. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,927.
Ivy Tech 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. In 2019-2020 about 81% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Out of the 297 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Oakton Community College landed the # 5 spot on the list.
In-state students pay an average of $10,446 in tuition and fees if they attend Oakton Community College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $12,462.
Online courses are available at Oakton Community 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, 91% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Chippewa Valley Technical College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate nursing programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at CVTC is $4,568. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,683.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at CVTC. During the 2019-2020 year, about 60% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Blackhawk Technical College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools ranking.
Students from Wisconsin who attend BTC full time pay an average of $4,568 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,683.
BTC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 60% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Red Rocks Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Red Rocks Community College is $4,389. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,811.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Red Rocks Community College. In 2019-2020 about 75% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #9, Jefferson Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
Full-time students from Kentucky pay an average of $4,568 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Jefferson Community and Technical College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $15,320.
Jefferson Community and Technical College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 57% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Read full report on Jefferson Community and Technical College
William Rainey Harper College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate nursing programs.
Students from Illinois who attend Harper College full time pay an average of $9,870 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,682.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Harper College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 86% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
College of Lake County ranked #11 on this year’s Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools list.
Full-time students from Illinois pay an average of $9,632 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend College of Lake County. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $12,824.
Some students may be able to take online classes at College of Lake County. In fact, around 91% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Lake Area Technical Institute landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate nursing programs.
If you want to attend LATI, expect to pay an average of $6,718 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
LATI 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 2019-2020 academic year, around 44% took at least some of their classes online.
Century College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools list.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $5,907 to cover tuition and fees at Century College. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
Century College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 91% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #14, Gateway Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Gateway Technical College is $4,688. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,803.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Gateway Technical College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 48% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #15, Oregon Coast Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
Students from Oregon who attend Oregon Coast Community College full time pay an average of $5,148 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,072.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Oregon Coast Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 76% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #16, Butte College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
Students from California who attend Butte College full time pay an average of $1,368 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,848.
Butte 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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 33% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #17, Merced College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Merced Community College District is $1,180. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,444.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Merced Community College District. In fact, around 97% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools ranking.
Full-time students from Wisconsin pay an average of $4,734 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend NWTC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,849.
NWTC 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. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 51% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #19, North Central Kansas Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $7,692 to cover tuition and fees at North Central Kansas Technical College. The school does not offer an in-state discount.
North Central Kansas Technical 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 2019-2020 academic year, around 19% took at least some of their classes online.
College of the Sequoias did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #20 on the list.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,394 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend College of the Sequoias. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,338.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at College of the Sequoias. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 35% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Santa Rosa Junior College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #21 on the list.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,328 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend SRJC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,952.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at SRJC. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 70% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #22, Centralia College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Centralia College is $4,770. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,239.
One thing to take note of is that Centralia College does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 66% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Anoka Technical College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate nursing programs.
Anoka Technical College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $6,075. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Online courses are available at Anoka Technical College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. During the 2019-2020 year, about 47% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Cuesta College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools list.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,338 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Cuesta College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,702.
Cuesta College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 96% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
North Iowa Area Community College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate nursing programs.
In-state students pay an average of $5,971 in tuition and fees if they attend North Iowa Area Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,547.
If you are interested in distance education, North Iowa Area Community College is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
Rest of the Top 15% Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the United States
Not only did these schools make the top 45 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Narrow Schools by Region
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our best nursing schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 46 | City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College | Chicago, IL |
| 47 | Wiregrass Georgia Technical College | Valdosta, GA |
| 48 | GateWay Community College | Phoenix, AZ |
| 49 | Des Moines Area Community College | Ankeny, IA |
| 50 | Western Technical College | La Crosse, WI |
| 51 | Hutchinson Community College | Hutchinson, KS |
| 52 | Central Georgia Technical College | Warner Robins, GA |
| 53 | Lewis - Clark State College | Lewiston, ID |
| 54 | Chattahoochee Technical College | Marietta, GA |
| 55 | Gavilan College | Gilroy, CA |
| 56 | Riverside City College | Riverside, CA |
| 57 | Iowa Central Community College | Fort Dodge, IA |
| 58 | Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology | Wichita, KS |
| 59 | Utah State University | Logan, UT |
| 60 | Mercyhurst University | Erie, PA |
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 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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