2023 Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region
Today's nursing students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
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 in the Southwest Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 26 schools in the Southwest Region to see which basic certificate 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 Basic Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Lone Star College System to be the best school for nursing students who want to pursue a basic certificate in the Southwest Region .
Students from Texas who attend North Harris Montgomery full time pay an average of $4,848 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,168.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at North Harris Montgomery. During the 2019-2020 year, about 72% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Northeast Texas Community College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at NTCC is $5,009. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,449.
Some students may be able to take online classes at NTCC. During the 2019-2020 year, about 67% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend GateWay Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region list.
Students from Arizona who attend GateWay Community College full time pay an average of $2,070 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,854.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since GateWay Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 74% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Eastern Arizona College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region list.
One thing to take note of is that Eastern Arizona College does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 29% took at least some of their classes online.
The excellent basic certificate programs at South Texas College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Southwest Region .
Students from Texas who attend South Texas College full time pay an average of $4,530 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,920.
Some students may be able to take online classes at South Texas College. In fact, around 94% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Alvin Community 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 #6 on the list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Alvin is $2,834. Out-of-state students pay an average of $4,010.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Alvin. In 2019-2020 about 44% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Pima Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region list.
Students from Arizona who attend Pima County Community College District full time pay an average of $2,250 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,566.
Online courses are available at Pima County Community College District, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 52% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
El Paso Community 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 #8 on the list.
In-state students pay an average of $3,274 in tuition and fees if they attend El Paso Community College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,314.
El Paso 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 2019-2020 academic year, around 97% took at least some of their classes online.
Mesa Community College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate nursing programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Mesa Community College is $2,070. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,854.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Mesa Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 71% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
St Philip’s College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate nursing programs.
Full-time students from Texas pay an average of $6,592 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend St Philip’s College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $14,122.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at St Philip’s College. 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.
Southwest Texas Junior College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate nursing programs.
In-state students pay an average of $4,062 in tuition and fees if they attend Southwest Texas Junior College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $5,886.
Southwest Texas Junior 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, 66% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Arizona Western College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region list.
Online courses are available at AWC, 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 2019-2020 academic year, around 61% took at least some of their classes online.
Cochise County Community College District landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate nursing programs.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Cochise College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 76% took at least some of their classes online.
Clovis Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region list.
Students from New Mexico who attend Clovis Community College full time pay an average of $1,616 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $2,984.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Clovis Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 63% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Yavapai College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region list.
One thing to take note of is that Yavapai College does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 74% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
University of New Mexico - Gallup Campus came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region ranking.
In-state students pay an average of $1,932 in tuition and fees if they attend UNM Gallup full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $4,708.
UNM Gallup does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 64% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Kilgore College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate nursing programs.
Students from Texas who attend Kilgore College full time pay an average of $4,056 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $5,256.
Kilgore 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. During the 2019-2020 year, about 45% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Santa Fe Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region ranking.
Full-time students from New Mexico pay an average of $2,505 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend SFCC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $4,995.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at SFCC. In fact, around 90% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
San Juan College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate nursing programs.
Full-time students from New Mexico pay an average of $1,618 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend SJC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $4,546.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since SJC does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 84% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Glendale Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region ranking.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Glendale Community College is $2,070. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,854.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Glendale Community College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 74% took at least some of their classes online.
Trinity Valley Community 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.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at TVCC is $4,920. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $5,970.
TVCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 55% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Central New Mexico Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at CNM is $1,684. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,540.
CNM 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 2019-2020 year, about 90% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Brookline College - Albuquerque ranked #23 on this year’s Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region list.
Brookline College - Albuquerque is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
Central Texas College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Basic Certificate Schools in the Southwest Region ranking.
One thing to take note of is that Central Texas College does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 74% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #25, Lamar State College - Port Arthur did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their basic certificate.
Full-time students from Texas pay an average of $1,770 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Lamar State College - Port Arthur. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,890.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Lamar State College - Port Arthur. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 88% took at least some of their classes online.
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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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