2026 Best Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training Schools in California
Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 96 schools to find the best for licensed practical/vocational nurse training students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training in California
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the licensed practical/vocational nurse training degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training
Pacific College tops our 2026 ranking of the best licensed practical/vocational nurse training schools. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Costa Mesa. There were roughly 74 licensed practical/vocational nurse training students who graduated with this degree at Pacific College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their licensed practical/vocational nurse training degree from Pacific College earn around $59,213 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,125.
More information about a degree in licensed practical/vocational nurse training from Pacific College
Hartnell College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in licensed practical/vocational nurse training, ranking #2. Hartnell College is a large public school located in the city of Salinas. About 69 licensed practical/vocational nurse training degrees were awarded at Hartnell College in the most recent year. Licensed Practical/vocational Nurse Training graduates of Hartnell College earn a median of $63,321 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $6,000.
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Carrington College California Sacramento came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best licensed practical/vocational nurse training schools. Carrington College California Sacramento is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the suburb of Sacramento. Carrington College California Sacramento awarded about 122 licensed practical/vocational nurse training degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the licensed practical/vocational nurse training program make about $62,907 in their early career. Carrington College California Sacramento graduates carry a median of $25,104 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes Carrington College California San Jose one of the top schools for licensed practical/vocational nurse training. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of San Jose. Carrington College California San Jose awarded about 40 licensed practical/vocational nurse training degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, licensed practical/vocational nurse training degree recipients from Carrington College California San Jose generally make around $62,907. Students borrow a median of $25,104 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong licensed practical/vocational nurse training program will find one at Allan Hancock College, which ranked #5. Allan Hancock College is a large public school located in the city of Santa Maria. Allan Hancock College awarded about 68 licensed practical/vocational nurse training degrees in the most recent data year.
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San Joaquin Valley College Santa Maria placed #6 among the best licensed practical/vocational nurse training schools. Set in the city of Santa Maria, San Joaquin Valley College Santa Maria is a small private for-profit institution. About 45 licensed practical/vocational nurse training degrees were awarded at San Joaquin Valley College Santa Maria in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, licensed practical/vocational nurse training degree recipients from San Joaquin Valley College Santa Maria generally make around $51,744. San Joaquin Valley College Santa Maria graduates carry a median of $15,684 in student loans.
Read more about the licensed practical/vocational nurse training program at San Joaquin Valley College Santa Maria
San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield earned the #7 position for licensed practical/vocational nurse training this year. Set in the city of Bakersfield, San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield is a small private for-profit institution. About 67 licensed practical/vocational nurse training degrees were awarded at San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield in the most recent year. Graduates of the licensed practical/vocational nurse training program make about $51,744 in their early career. San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
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Riverside City College came in at #8 for licensed practical/vocational nurse training this year. Set in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public institution. About 92 licensed practical/vocational nurse training degrees were awarded at Riverside City College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, licensed practical/vocational nurse training degree recipients from Riverside City College generally make around $37,102. Riverside City College graduates carry a median of $11,424 in student loans.
Read more about the licensed practical/vocational nurse training program at Riverside City College
Imperial Valley College landed the #9 spot for licensed practical/vocational nurse training this year. Imperial Valley College is a large public school located in the rural area of Imperial. There were roughly 20 licensed practical/vocational nurse training students who graduated with this degree at Imperial Valley College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, licensed practical/vocational nurse training degree recipients from Imperial Valley College generally make around $42,617. Typical student debt for the program is $6,176.
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Mission College came in at #10 for licensed practical/vocational nurse training this year. This large public university is located in the city of Santa Clara. Mission College awarded about 64 licensed practical/vocational nurse training degrees in the most recent data year. Mission College graduates carry a median of $17,223 in student loans.
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San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Mirage earned the #11 position for licensed practical/vocational nurse training this year. Set in the suburb of Rancho Mirage, San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Mirage is a small private for-profit institution. San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Mirage awarded about 27 licensed practical/vocational nurse training degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, licensed practical/vocational nurse training degree recipients from San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Mirage generally make around $51,744. San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Mirage graduates carry a median of $15,712 in student loans.
See the full licensed practical/vocational nurse training program report for San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Mirage
San Joaquin Valley College Visalia earned the #12 position for licensed practical/vocational nurse training this year. Set in the city of Visalia, San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. About 47 licensed practical/vocational nurse training degrees were awarded at San Joaquin Valley College Visalia in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, licensed practical/vocational nurse training degree recipients from San Joaquin Valley College Visalia generally make around $51,744. San Joaquin Valley College Visalia graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in licensed practical/vocational nurse training from San Joaquin Valley College Visalia
Long Beach City College landed the #13 spot for licensed practical/vocational nurse training this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, Long Beach City College is a very large public institution. Long Beach City College awarded about 79 licensed practical/vocational nurse training degrees in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the licensed practical/vocational nurse training program at Long Beach City College
Gavilan College placed #14 among the best licensed practical/vocational nurse training schools. Located in the rural area of Gilroy, Gavilan College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 28 licensed practical/vocational nurse training students who graduated with this degree at Gavilan College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their licensed practical/vocational nurse training degree from Gavilan College earn around $28,496 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,939.
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Southwestern College Chula Vista earned the #15 position for licensed practical/vocational nurse training this year. Located in the city of Chula Vista, Southwestern College Chula Vista is a very large public university. About 34 licensed practical/vocational nurse training degrees were awarded at Southwestern College Chula Vista in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, licensed practical/vocational nurse training degree recipients from Southwestern College Chula Vista generally make around $49,358. Students borrow a median of $11,205 to complete this degree.
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Sacramento City College earned the #16 position for licensed practical/vocational nurse training this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City College is a very large public university. About 33 licensed practical/vocational nurse training degrees were awarded at Sacramento City College in the most recent year. Graduates of the licensed practical/vocational nurse training program make about $46,522 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,180.
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Citrus College landed the #17 spot for licensed practical/vocational nurse training this year. Located in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a large public university. Citrus College awarded about 65 licensed practical/vocational nurse training degrees in the most recent data year.
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Rio Hondo College placed #18 among the best licensed practical/vocational nurse training schools. This very large public university is located in the rural area of Whittier. There were roughly 27 licensed practical/vocational nurse training students who graduated with this degree at Rio Hondo College in the most recent data year. Licensed Practical/vocational Nurse Training graduates of Rio Hondo College earn a median of $95,666 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,510 to complete this degree.
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Shasta College placed #19 among the best licensed practical/vocational nurse training schools. Located in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public university. About 16 licensed practical/vocational nurse training degrees were awarded at Shasta College in the most recent year. Students who receive their licensed practical/vocational nurse training degree from Shasta College earn around $50,330 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,275 to complete this degree.
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Pasadena City College placed #20 among the best licensed practical/vocational nurse training schools. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Pasadena City College awarded about 27 licensed practical/vocational nurse training degrees in the most recent data year. Licensed Practical/vocational Nurse Training graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. Pasadena City College graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans.
More information about a degree in licensed practical/vocational nurse training from Pasadena City College
City College Of San Francisco earned the #21 position for licensed practical/vocational nurse training this year. City College Of San Francisco is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. About 21 licensed practical/vocational nurse training degrees were awarded at City College Of San Francisco in the most recent year. Graduates of the licensed practical/vocational nurse training program make about $100,031 in their early career. City College Of San Francisco graduates carry a median of $10,332 in student loans.
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College Of The Desert came in at #22 for licensed practical/vocational nurse training this year. This large public university is located in the city of Palm Desert. About 27 licensed practical/vocational nurse training degrees were awarded at College Of The Desert in the most recent year. Licensed Practical/vocational Nurse Training graduates of College Of The Desert earn a median of $41,295 early in their careers. College Of The Desert graduates carry a median of $7,826 in student loans.
More information about a degree in licensed practical/vocational nurse training from College Of The Desert
Los Medanos College placed #23 among the best licensed practical/vocational nurse training schools. Set in the suburb of Pittsburg, Los Medanos College is a large public institution. About 20 licensed practical/vocational nurse training degrees were awarded at Los Medanos College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, licensed practical/vocational nurse training degree recipients from Los Medanos College generally make around $32,581. Los Medanos College graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in licensed practical/vocational nurse training from Los Medanos College
Copper Mountain Community College placed #24 among the best licensed practical/vocational nurse training schools. Copper Mountain Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Joshua Tree. Copper Mountain Community College awarded about 24 licensed practical/vocational nurse training degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full licensed practical/vocational nurse training program report for Copper Mountain Community College
Lassen Community College earned the #25 position for licensed practical/vocational nurse training this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Susanville. About 20 licensed practical/vocational nurse training degrees were awarded at Lassen Community College in the most recent year.
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Rest of the Top 50 Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s licensed practical/vocational nurse training ranking:
More Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 96 schools evaluated.
- 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.
