2023 Best Nursing 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.
The Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 157 schools in the Southwest Region to see which ones offered the best programs for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Ottawa University - Phoenix to be the best school for nursing students in the Southwest Region .
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $31,724 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Ottawa University - Phoenix graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,260 during the early year of their career.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Texas Wesleyan University is a great place for nursing students.
On average, students take out $24,326 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Texas Wesleyan graduates make an average of $53,325 annually.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Aspen University is a great place for nursing students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $36,338 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Aspen University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $83,891 during the early year of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas A&M University - College Station. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list.
Degree recipients from Texas A&M College Station accumulate an average of $19,847 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $304, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Texas A&M College Station graduates make an average of $57,177 annually.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Texas Christian University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,581 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $664 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, TCU graduates make an average of $54,873 annually.
Texas A & M University - Central Texas came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking.
On average, students take out $25,544 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Texas A & M University - Central Texas, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,445 during the early years of their career.
The University of Texas at Austin ranked #7 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list.
Degree recipients from UT Austin accumulate an average of $20,281 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $270. During the early years of their career, UT Austin graduates make an average of $53,632 annually.
Arizona State University - Skysong landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
On average, students take out $25,869 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $304, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from ASU - Skysong, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,067 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #9, Grand Canyon University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
Degree recipients from Grand Canyon University accumulate an average of $31,746 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $174. During the early years of their career, Grand Canyon University graduates make an average of $48,396 annually.
Central Arizona College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
Degree recipients from Pinal County Community College accumulate an average of $16,406 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Pinal County Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,004 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #11, Sam Houston State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
On average, students take out $25,557 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $169, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from SHSU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,564 during the early years of their career.
Northeast Texas Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #12 on the list.
Degree recipients from NTCC accumulate an average of $18,641 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, NTCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,602 during the early year of their career.
The University of Texas at Arlington came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,737 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $163.After graduating from UT Arlington, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,602 during the early years of their career.
Hallmark University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #14 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,470 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $146, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Hallmark, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,381 during the early years of their career.
El Centro College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list.
On average, students take out $18,288 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, El Centro College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,417 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #16, Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
Degree recipients from OSU accumulate an average of $23,108 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $339. During the early years of their career, OSU graduates make an average of $47,215 annually.
Lubbock Christian University landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,138 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $102, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, LCU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $44,006 during the early year of their career.
University of Central Oklahoma ranked #18 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list.
On average, students take out $25,293 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $173. Once they receive their degree, UCO graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,113 during the early year of their career.
Northeastern State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #19 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,435 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, NSU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,444 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #20, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
On average, students take out $24,436 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $329. During the early years of their career, ASU - Tempe graduates make an average of $49,374 annually.
Weatherford College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
Degree recipients from Weatherford College accumulate an average of $14,100 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Weatherford College graduates make an average of $40,099 annually.
Lone Star College System came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking.
Degree recipients from North Harris Montgomery accumulate an average of $14,481 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, North Harris Montgomery graduates make an average of $36,839 annually.
With a ranking of #23, South Texas College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
Degree recipients from South Texas College accumulate an average of $8,601 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, South Texas College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $29,327 during the early year of their career.
Oklahoma Panhandle State University landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
Degree recipients from OPSU accumulate an average of $21,002 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, OPSU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,249 during the early year of their career.
Baylor University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #25 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,143 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $686, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Baylor graduates make an average of $42,980 annually.
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Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our best nursing schools ranking:
Rank | School | Location |
---|---|---|
26 | Panola College | Carthage, TX |
27 | Amarillo College | Amarillo, TX |
28 | Oklahoma Christian University | Edmond, OK |
29 | University of Houston | Houston, TX |
30 | Texas A&M International University | Laredo, TX |
31 | Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus | Portales, NM |
32 | East Central University | Ada, OK |
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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