2026 Best Value Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in licensed practical/vocational nurse training, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training Schools
Hartnell College earned the #1 spot for value among licensed practical/vocational nurse training schools in California. Set in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,404, while out-of-state students pay about $10,398. Typical student debt for licensed practical/vocational nurse training graduates is $6,000. Early-career licensed practical/vocational nurse training graduates make about $63,321. Set against $6,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Imperial Valley College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in licensed practical/vocational nurse training, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Imperial, Imperial Valley College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,126 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,830 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for licensed practical/vocational nurse training graduates is $6,176. Licensed Practical/vocational Nurse Training graduates of Imperial Valley College earn a median of $42,617 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Butte College one of the best values for licensed practical/vocational nurse training. Located in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,356, compared with $9,276 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for licensed practical/vocational nurse training graduates is $13,382. Early-career licensed practical/vocational nurse training graduates make about $65,467. That is a strong return on a $13,382 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in licensed practical/vocational nurse training will find it at Gavilan College, which ranked #4. Set in the rural area of Gilroy, Gavilan College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,508 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,249. Licensed Practical/vocational Nurse Training graduates carry a median of $5,939 in student loans. Early-career licensed practical/vocational nurse training graduates make about $28,496. That is a strong return on a $5,939 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in licensed practical/vocational nurse training will find it at Santa Rosa Junior College, which ranked #5. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,318, with out-of-state students paying around $11,308. Typical student debt for licensed practical/vocational nurse training graduates is $14,692. Early-career licensed practical/vocational nurse training graduates make about $80,047. That is a strong return on a $14,692 median debt.
Riverside City College earned the #6 position for value in licensed practical/vocational nurse training this year. Located in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,498. Licensed Practical/vocational Nurse Training graduates carry a median of $11,424 in student loans. Early-career licensed practical/vocational nurse training graduates make about $37,102. Set against $11,424 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Allan Hancock College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value licensed practical/vocational nurse training schools. Set in the city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, while out-of-state students pay about $9,892. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,786 ten years after entry.
Pasadena City College earned the #8 position for value in licensed practical/vocational nurse training this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,924. Licensed Practical/vocational Nurse Training graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Licensed Practical/vocational Nurse Training graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sacramento City College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value licensed practical/vocational nurse training schools. Located in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,288, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,180 to complete the licensed practical/vocational nurse training program here. Licensed Practical/vocational Nurse Training graduates of Sacramento City College earn a median of $46,522 early in their careers. Set against $13,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Citrus College landed the #10 spot for licensed practical/vocational nurse training value this year. Set in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,204, while out-of-state students pay about $10,636. Median earnings reach $42,065 ten years out.
Shasta College came in at #11 for value in licensed practical/vocational nurse training this year. Located in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,197 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,853. Licensed Practical/vocational Nurse Training graduates carry a median of $12,275 in student loans. Licensed Practical/vocational Nurse Training graduates of Shasta College earn a median of $50,330 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Long Beach City College came in at #12 for value in licensed practical/vocational nurse training this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, Long Beach City College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,556 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,544 for out-of-state students. Licensed Practical/vocational Nurse Training graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,870 ten years after entry. Set against $6,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mission College came in at #13 for value in licensed practical/vocational nurse training this year. Mission College is a large public school located in the city of Santa Clara. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,438, with out-of-state students paying around $12,500. Licensed Practical/vocational Nurse Training graduates carry a median of $17,223 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $50,936. Set against $17,223 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Merced College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value licensed practical/vocational nurse training schools. Merced College is a large public school located in the city of Merced. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,200, with out-of-state students paying around $8,520. Typical student debt for licensed practical/vocational nurse training graduates is $6,250. Licensed Practical/vocational Nurse Training graduates of Merced College earn a median of $39,232 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,250 median debt.
Los Medanos College came in at #15 for value in licensed practical/vocational nurse training this year. Set in the suburb of Pittsburg, Los Medanos College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,312, while out-of-state students pay about $10,320. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the licensed practical/vocational nurse training program here. Licensed Practical/vocational Nurse Training graduates of Los Medanos College earn a median of $32,581 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bakersfield College placed #16 among the best values for licensed practical/vocational nurse training. Bakersfield College is a very large public school located in the city of Bakersfield. In-state tuition and fees average $1,430, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Licensed Practical/vocational Nurse Training graduates carry a median of $9,419 in student loans. Soon after graduation, licensed practical/vocational nurse training degree recipients from Bakersfield College generally make around $86,312. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chaffey College earned the #17 position for value in licensed practical/vocational nurse training this year. Set in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga, Chaffey College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,184, with out-of-state students paying around $11,120. Licensed Practical/vocational Nurse Training graduates carry a median of $6,952 in student loans. Licensed Practical/vocational Nurse Training graduates of Chaffey College earn a median of $23,532 early in their careers. Set against $6,952 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City College Of San Francisco landed the #18 spot for licensed practical/vocational nurse training value this year. City College Of San Francisco is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,696, compared with $14,656 for out-of-state students. Licensed Practical/vocational Nurse Training graduates carry a median of $10,332 in student loans. Soon after graduation, licensed practical/vocational nurse training degree recipients from City College Of San Francisco generally make around $100,031. Set against $10,332 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cerro Coso Community College came in at #19 for value in licensed practical/vocational nurse training this year. Cerro Coso Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Ridgecrest. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,384, compared with $11,254 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $34,963 ten years after entry.
Southwestern College Chula Vista came in at #20 for value in licensed practical/vocational nurse training this year. Set in the city of Chula Vista, Southwestern College Chula Vista is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,344, while out-of-state students pay about $10,640. Students borrow a median of $11,205 to complete the licensed practical/vocational nurse training program here. Soon after graduation, licensed practical/vocational nurse training degree recipients from Southwestern College Chula Vista generally make around $49,358. That is a strong return on a $11,205 median debt.
Lassen Community College earned the #21 position for value in licensed practical/vocational nurse training this year. Located in the town of Susanville, Lassen Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,144, with out-of-state students paying around $9,280. Median earnings reach $35,994 ten years out.
Copper Mountain Community College came in at #22 for value in licensed practical/vocational nurse training this year. Copper Mountain Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Joshua Tree. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,390, with out-of-state students paying around $13,590. Graduates go on to earn a median of $33,281 ten years after entry.
Rio Hondo College landed the #23 spot for licensed practical/vocational nurse training value this year. Set in the rural area of Whittier, Rio Hondo College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,388, while out-of-state students pay about $9,884. Licensed Practical/vocational Nurse Training graduates carry a median of $15,510 in student loans. Soon after graduation, licensed practical/vocational nurse training degree recipients from Rio Hondo College generally make around $95,666. That is a strong return on a $15,510 median debt.
College Of The Desert ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value licensed practical/vocational nurse training schools. Located in the city of Palm Desert, College Of The Desert is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,326, compared with $10,174 for out-of-state students. Licensed Practical/vocational Nurse Training graduates carry a median of $7,826 in student loans. Soon after graduation, licensed practical/vocational nurse training degree recipients from College Of The Desert generally make around $41,295. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Antelope Valley College landed the #25 spot for licensed practical/vocational nurse training value this year. Located in the suburb of Lancaster, Antelope Valley College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,124 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,548. Licensed Practical/vocational Nurse Training graduates carry a median of $10,729 in student loans. Early-career licensed practical/vocational nurse training graduates make about $50,744. Set against $10,729 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s licensed practical/vocational nurse training value ranking:
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 96 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training](/majors/health-care-professions/practical-nursing-assistants/licensed-practical-vocational-nurse-training/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
