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.
Featured schools near , edit
Top Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Ottawa University - Phoenix the best school in the Southwest Region for nursing students working on their degree. This very small private not-for-profit school is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and it awarded 389 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,121 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Ottawa University - Phoenix graduates make an average of $48,260 annually.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas Wesleyan University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list. Fort Worth, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 516 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $47,265 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. Aspen University is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in Phoenix, Arizona. It awarded 2,208 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $26,014 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Aspen University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $83,891 during the early years 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. Located in College Station, Texas, the large public school handed out 20,117 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $29,452 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $397. Once they receive their degree, Texas A&M College Station graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $57,177 during the early year of their career.
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. Located in Fort Worth, Texas, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 3,190 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,452 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $732, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from TCU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $54,873 during the early years of their career.
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. Located in Killeen, Texas, the small public school handed out 740 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Texas A & M University - Central Texas accumulate an average of $21,620 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Texas A & M University - Central Texas graduates make an average of $42,445 annually.
The University of Texas at Austin came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. The University of Texas at Austin is a large public school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 17,432 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from UT Austin accumulate an average of $33,145 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $326, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UT Austin graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $53,632 during the early year of their career.
Arizona State University - Skysong did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #8 on the list. This large public school is located in Scottsdale, Arizona, and it awarded 14,649 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $33,089 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $338, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, ASU - Skysong graduates make an average of $48,201 annually.
Grand Canyon University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #9 on the list. This large private for-profit school is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and it awarded 29,319 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $32,993 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $223 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Grand Canyon University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,396 during the early years of their career.
Central Arizona College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Coolidge, Arizona, the small public school awarded 1,048 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,533 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Pinal County Community College graduates make an average of $35,004 annually.
Sam Houston State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #11 on the list. SHSU is a public institution located in Huntsville, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5,278 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from SHSU accumulate an average of $26,700 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 $234. Once they receive their degree, SHSU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,564 during the early year of their career.
Northeast Texas Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. NTCC is located in Mount Pleasant, Texas and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 705 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,122 in student loans.After graduating from NTCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,602 during the early years of their career.
The University of Texas at Arlington landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. UT Arlington is located in Arlington, Texas and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 13,900 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,934 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $165 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UT Arlington graduates make an average of $48,602 annually.
Hallmark University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Hallmark is a very small private not-for-profit school situated in San Antonio, Texas. It awarded 356 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Hallmark accumulate an average of $25,456 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 $128. During the early years of their career, Hallmark graduates make an average of $38,381 annually.
With a ranking of #15, El Centro College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. El Centro College is a large public school situated in Dallas, Texas. It awarded 10,913 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $13,877 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from El Centro College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,417 during the early years of their career.
Oklahoma State University - Main Campus came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. OSU is a public institution located in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6,371 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $27,373 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $460, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, OSU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $47,215 during the early year of their career.
Lubbock Christian University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region list. LCU is located in Lubbock, Texas and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 411 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from LCU accumulate an average of $31,597 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from LCU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,006 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #18, University of Central Oklahoma did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. UCO is a fairly large public school situated in Edmond, Oklahoma. It awarded 2,923 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,681 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $232. Once they receive their degree, UCO graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,113 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #19, Northeastern State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,839 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $25,000 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from NSU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,444 during the early years 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. This large public school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 20,988 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $33,843 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $365. During the early years of their career, ASU - Tempe graduates make an average of $49,374 annually.
Weatherford College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #21 on the list. Weatherford College is a medium-sized public school situated in Weatherford, Texas. It awarded 1,036 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,800 in student loans.After graduating from Weatherford College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,099 during the early years of their career.
Lone Star College System landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in The Woodlands, Texas, the large public school awarded 11,449 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,174 in student loans. During the early years of their career, North Harris Montgomery graduates make an average of $36,839 annually.
South Texas College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. South Texas College is located in McAllen, Texas and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5,616 degrees to qualified students.
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 did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #24 on the list. This small public school is located in Goodwell, Oklahoma, and it awarded 430 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from OPSU accumulate an average of $15,765 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, OPSU graduates make an average of $39,249 annually.
Baylor University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Baylor is located in Waco, Texas and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5,700 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $38,321 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $830 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Baylor, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,980 during the early years of their career.
Narrow Schools by State
View Best Nursing Schools Nationwide >
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.
NursingDegreeSearch.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© NursingDegreeSearch.com – All Rights Reserved.