2023 Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee
Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
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. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
The Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 16 schools in Tennessee to see which associate degree programs offered the best value experiences for nursing students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
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Top Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Southwest Tennessee Community College to be the best value school for nursing students who want to pursue a associate degree in Tennessee. Southwest is a medium-sized public school situated in Memphis, Tennessee. It awarded 102 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Southwest undergraduate students pay an average of $17,246 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $17,440 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Southwest does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 78% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Southwest also made our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list, coming in at #1.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Jackson State Community College is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. Jackson, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 62 students in 2020-2021.
JSCC undergraduate students pay an average of $18,076 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,619 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since JSCC does offer online classes for certain majors. In fact, around 81% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
JSCC also took the #2 spot in our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee rankings.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Dyersburg State Community College is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. Located in Dyersburg, Tennessee, the small public school handed out 112 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
DSCC undergraduate students pay an average of $17,226 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,229 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at DSCC. In 2019-2020 about 55% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
DSCC also made our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list, coming in at #5.
The excellent associate degree programs at Motlow State Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value nursing schools in Tennessee. Located in Tullahoma, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school handed out 60 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Motlow are $17,232 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,423 in student loans.
Motlow does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 78% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
The excellent associate degree programs at Northeast State Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value nursing schools in Tennessee. Northeast State Technical Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Blountville, Tennessee. It awarded 73 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Northeast State Technical Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $17,238 in tuition and fees each year. On average, associate degree students take out $10,550 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Northeast State Technical Community College does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 83% took at least some of their classes online.
Chattanooga State Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Chattanooga State Community College is a public institution located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 101 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Chattanooga State Community College are $16,934 per year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $18,949 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
One thing to take note of is that Chattanooga State Community College does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 95% took at least some of their classes online.
Walters State Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Located in Morristown, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school handed out 104 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
WSCC undergraduate students pay an average of $17,215 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $10,502 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
WSCC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 61% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Columbia State Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. This medium-sized public school is located in Columbia, Tennessee, and it awarded 87 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Columbia State Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $18,124 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $17,719 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Columbia State Community College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 99% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Pellissippi State Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school handed out 84 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
Pellissippi State Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $17,272 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,973 in student loans.
Pellissippi State 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. During the 2019-2020 year, about 95% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Nashville State Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Nashville State Community College is a public institution located in Nashville, Tennessee. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 40 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Nashville State Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $17,188 in tuition and fees each year. Associate Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $21,667 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Nashville State Community College. In 2019-2020 about 63% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Roane State Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. This small public school is located in Harriman, Tennessee, and it awarded 66 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Roane State Community College are $17,540 a year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,273 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Roane State Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 52% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Cleveland State Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Cleveland State Community College is a small public school located in Cleveland, Tennessee that handed out 47 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Cleveland State Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $17,216 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,157 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Cleveland State Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 53% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Tennessee State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Tennessee State University is a medium-sized public school located in Nashville, Tennessee that handed out 4 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Tennessee State University are $21,692 per year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,463 in student loans.
Tennessee State University 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 55% took at least some of their classes online.
Remington College - Memphis Campus came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. This very small private not-for-profit school is located in Memphis, Tennessee, and it awarded 14 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Remington College - Memphis Campus are $17,468 a year. On average, associate degree students take out $24,535 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Remington College - Memphis Campus is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
With a ranking of #15, Southern Adventist University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Southern Adventist is located in Collegedale, Tennessee and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 86 associate degrees to qualified students.
Southern Adventist undergraduate students pay an average of $23,210 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,595 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Southern Adventist. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 39% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Southern Adventist did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list.
Lincoln Memorial University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. LMU is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Harrogate, Tennessee. It awarded 171 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at LMU are $24,210 per year. On average, associate degree students take out $24,167 in loans while pursuing their degree.
LMU 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 6% took at least some of their classes online.
LMU did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list.
Best Value Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 16 schools only.
References
- 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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