by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1,213 U.S. colleges awarded 110,132 degrees and certificates in Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants. Certificates are the most popular award, at 45% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1,078 schools in its 2027 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $45,614 one year after completing, rising to $56,491 after four years.
If you are interested in helping to provide medical care to others, consider majoring in Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistants.
A Nurse Assistant works under the direction of registered nurses proving basic care, monitoring patients, and reporting progress to doctors. You will take classes in clinical nursing, pharmacology, biology, anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, and chemistry to learn how to teach others how to care for family members, assist in childbirth, and collect medical samples.
Students interested in this field typically major in Licensed Practical Nurse Training, or Nursing Assistant.
Studying Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants covers Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing And Nursing Assistants.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, practical nursing & nursing assistants draws strong interest, with 110,132 degrees awarded annually. 1,213 colleges award practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees, an average of 91 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 3,241.
By level, the 110,132 awards include 49,089 certificates, 3,312 associate degrees, 17 bachelor’s degrees, 11,915 master’s degrees and 3 doctorates.
Women earned 89% of practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees and certificates in the latest year (97,644 of 110,132). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (45,274) and Black or African American (25,107), and international students earned 866.
College Factual ranks 1,078 schools in its 2027 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools ranking, including 51 for associate degrees. It also ranks practical nursing & nursing assistants schools within 14 states. In all, 1,213 colleges offer practical nursing & nursing assistants programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common practical nursing & nursing assistants credential is the certificate: 49,089 of the 110,132 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to practical nursing & nursing assistants call most for Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness and Coordination, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, English Language and Psychology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Problem Sensitivity and Oral Expression.
Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistant graduates are responsible for providing day-to-day care to patients, making strong interpersonal skills a necessity. You should enjoy working with others, but have compassion and consideration for patients who are sick and injured. It is also important to be detail oriented because you will be responsible for observing changes in patients and reporting back to registered nurses or doctors.
Graduates in this field work full time in hospitals, nursing homes, and other medical centers that require basic health services. Since patients need medical care 24/7, Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistants will be required to work nights and on weekends and holidays. Sometimes shifts may be longer than a standard 8-hour workday.
In order to become a Practical Nurse and Nursing Assistant, students must complete a certification program, and then become licensed by the state. Although some schools offer a bachelor's degree program, it is not necessary.
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How long a practical nursing & nursing assistants degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 49,089 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 3,312 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 17 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 11,915 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3 |
Some college courses is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to practical nursing & nursing assistants, at 37.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Some college courses | 37.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 34.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 15.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 10.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.2% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
| Master’s degree | 0.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants, with an average median salary of $72,934; the strongest outlook belongs to Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, at 14.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Private Duty Nurse, Radiation Oncology Nurse, Office Nurse and Clinic Licensed Practical Nurse (Clinic LPN).
Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistants work in a variety of medical locations from hospitals to nursing homes to extended care facilities. T hey are responsible for checking vitals, changing bandages, and providing basic medical care to patients. Certified and licensed students should find good job opportunities after graduation.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to practical nursing & nursing assistants, at 3,176,121.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 3,176,121 | 14.4% |
| Nursing Assistants | 87,005 | -4.1% |
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates earn a median $45,614 one year after completing their program, $56,491 after four years and $48,140 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $45,614 |
| 4 years | $56,491 |
| 5 years | $48,140 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to practical nursing & nursing assistants, with a median salary of $118,810.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $118,810 |
| Nursing Assistants | $27,058 |
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants includes 3 concentrations that together award 110,132 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training (55,090), Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide (49,489) and Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, Other (5,553). It has 30 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 927,328 degrees a year; the largest are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (318,053), Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (98,474) and Health and Medical Administrative Services (89,005). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training | 55,090 |
| Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide | 49,489 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, Other | 5,553 |
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