2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Health Professions
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate” ranking.
In 2019-2020, 934,088 health professions students received their degree, making the major the 2nd most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, health professions graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $44,506 and had an average of $32,284 in loans still to pay off.
At the associate degree level specifically, there were 176,967 health professions graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,082 and $17,678 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate” ranking looked at 1,282 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in health professions. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality health professions programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the health professions program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate.
Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Health Professions
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate list. L.A. County School of Nursing is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 98 associates’s health professions degrees to qualified students.
L.A. County School of Nursing did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” list.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Health Professions at L.A. County School of Nursing
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend American Public University System. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate list. This large school is located in Charles Town, West Virginia, and it awarded 449 associates’s health professions degrees in 2019-2020.
American Military University also took the #22 spot in our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $10,222 for Associate Degree Health Professions students per year to attend American Military University.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 98%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Health Professions at American Public University System
Out of the 1,282 schools in the Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate that were part of this year’s ranking, Union County College landed the #3 spot on the list. Union County College is a medium-sized school located in Cranford, New Jersey that handed out 481 associates’s health professions degrees in 2019-2020.
Union County College also took the #11 spot in our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Union County College is $8,245 for associate degree health professions students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Fox College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate list. Bedford Park, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s health professions degrees to 152 students in 2019-2020.
Fox College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Fox College is $13,725 for Associate Degree Health Professions students.
Out of the 1,282 schools in the Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate that were part of this year’s ranking, Wharton County Junior College landed the #5 spot on the list. Wharton County Junior College is located in Wharton, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 186 associates’s health professions degrees to qualified students.
Wharton County Junior College also claimed a top spot on our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Wharton County Junior College is $5,334 for associate degree health professions students.
Full Wharton County Junior College Health Professions Report
With a ranking of #6, San Jacinto Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate list. San Jacinto College is a public institution located in Pasadena, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 618 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, San Jacinto College is also in the top of our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend San Jacinto Community College is $8,692 for associate degree health professions students.
College of the Mainland landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate ranking. College of the Mainland is a small school located in Texas City, Texas that handed out 99 associates’s health professions degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, COM is also in the top of our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $2,036 for Associate Degree Health Professions students per year to attend College of the Mainland.
Alvin Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate ranking. Alvin Community College is a public institution located in Alvin, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 258 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Alvin also did well on our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Alvin is $9,913 for Associate Degree Health Professions students.
Southern Regional Technical College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate list. Southern Regional Technical College is a small school located in Thomasville, Georgia that handed out 144 associates’s health professions degrees in 2019-2020.
Southwest Georgia Technical College excels when it comes to health professions quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $-884 for associate degree health professions students per year to attend Southern Regional Technical College. The negative number means the student will receive more financial aid on average than it costs to attend the school.
Read full report on Health Professions at Southwest Georgia Technical College
Amarillo College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate ranking. Amarillo College is located in Amarillo, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 336 associates’s health professions degrees to qualified students.
Amarillo College also claimed a top spot on our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $5,578 for Associate Degree Health Professions students per year to attend Amarillo College.
With a ranking of #11, Lee College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate list. This medium-sized school is located in Baytown, Texas, and it awarded 72 associates’s health professions degrees in 2019-2020.
Lee College excels when it comes to health professions quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Lee College is $7,732 for associate degree health professions students.
Georgia Military College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate ranking. Georgia Military College is a medium-sized public school situated in Milledgeville, Georgia. It awarded 311 associates’s health professions degrees in 2019-2020.
Georgia Military College also claimed a top spot on our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Georgia Military College is $9,792 for Associate Degree Health Professions students.
Read more about Health Professions at Georgia Military College
Essex County College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate ranking. Essex County College is a medium-sized school located in Newark, New Jersey that handed out 226 associates’s health professions degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, Essex is in the top on our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Essex County College is $11,443 for associate degree health professions students.
South Texas College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate ranking. South Texas College is a large public school situated in McAllen, Texas. It awarded 376 associates’s health professions degrees in 2019-2020.
South Texas College also claimed a top spot on our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for South Texas College is $1,174 for Associate Degree Health Professions students.
Valencia College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Orlando, Florida, this large public school awarded 422 degrees to qualified associates’s health professions students in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Valencia College also did well on our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $5,205 for Associate Degree Health Professions students per year to attend Valencia College.
Madison Area Technical College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate ranking. Madison College is a fairly large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 331 associates’s health professions degrees in 2019-2020.
Madison College excels when it comes to health professions quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $9,904 for associate degree health professions students per year to attend Madison College.
Full Madison Area Technical College Health Professions Report
North Dakota State College of Science ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate list. North Dakota State College of Science is a small school located in Wahpeton, North Dakota that handed out 94 associates’s health professions degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, North Dakota State College of Science is also in the top of our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend North Dakota State College of Science is $10,940 for associate degree health professions students.
Read full report on Health Professions at North Dakota State College of Science
South Plains College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate ranking. South Plains College is a medium-sized public school situated in Levelland, Texas. It awarded 163 associates’s health professions degrees in 2019-2020.
South Plains College also claimed a top spot on our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for South Plains College is $7,600 for associate degree health professions students.
Century College landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate ranking. Century College is located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 357 associates’s health professions degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Century College is also in the top of our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Century College is $10,808 for associate degree health professions students.
With a ranking of #20, Galveston College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate list. Galveston College is located in Galveston, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 113 associates’s health professions degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on this list, Galveston College is in the top on our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Galveston College is $3,446 for Associate Degree Health Professions students.
Northwestern Health Sciences University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate ranking. This small school is located in Bloomington, Minnesota, and it awarded 41 associates’s health professions degrees in 2019-2020.
NWHSU also made our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #12.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Northwestern Health Sciences University Health Professions Report
Joliet Junior College landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate ranking. This fairly large school is located in Joliet, Illinois, and it awarded 219 associates’s health professions degrees in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Joliet Junior College also did well on our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $4,693 for Associate Degree Health Professions students per year to attend Joliet Junior College.
Del Mar College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate list. Del Mar College is a public institution located in Corpus Christi, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 335 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, DMC is in the top on our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for DMC is $5,738 for associate degree health professions students.
With a ranking of #24, Weatherford College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate list. Located in Weatherford, Texas, this medium-sized public school handed out 266 degrees to qualified associates’s health professions students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, Weatherford College is in the top on our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $7,863 for Associate Degree Health Professions students per year to attend Weatherford College.
With a ranking of #25, Lone Star College System did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate list. North Harris Montgomery is located in The Woodlands, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 647 associates’s health professions degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, North Harris Montgomery is also in the top of our “Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $8,016 for Associate Degree Health Professions students per year to attend Lone Star College System.
Read more about Health Professions at Lone Star College System
Rest of the Best 50 in Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Best Value Health Professions Schools for an Associate
While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Rank | College | Location |
---|---|---|
51 | Odessa College | Odessa, TX |
52 | Navarro College | Corsicana, TX |
52 | Suffolk County Community College | Selden, NY |
52 | Rasmussen University - Illinois | Rockford, IL |
55 | Saint Louis Community College | Saint Louis, MO |
56 | Kettering College | Kettering, OH |
57 | Western Technical College | La Crosse, WI |
58 | Otero Junior College | La Junta, CO |
59 | Southwest Mississippi Community College | Summit, MS |
60 | Rasmussen University - Minnesota | St. Cloud, MN |
61 | Delaware Technical Community College - Terry | Dover, DE |
62 | Hutchinson Community College | Hutchinson, KS |
63 | Hill College | Hillsboro, TX |
64 | Bellevue College | Bellevue, WA |
65 | Inver Hills Community College | Inver Grove Heights, MN |
Rank | College | Location |
---|---|---|
191 | Walla Walla Community College | Walla Walla, WA |
192 | Florida Gateway College | Lake City, FL |
193 | Naugatuck Valley Community College | Waterbury, CT |
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Notes and References
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%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
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