by our College Data Analytics Team
[Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide](/majors/health-care-professions/practical-nursing-assistants/nursing-assistant-aide-and-patient-care-assistant-aide/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide, balancing cost against outcomes.
Allan Hancock College earned the #1 spot for value among nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide schools in the United States. Located in the city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, compared with $9,892 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,786 ten years after entry.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Butte College earned it the #2 place for nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide. Located in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,356, while out-of-state students pay about $9,276. Students borrow a median of $13,382 to complete the nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide program here. Nursing Assistant/aide And Patient Care Assistant/aide graduates of Butte College earn a median of $65,467 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mission College earned it the #3 place for nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide. 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. Nursing Assistant/aide And Patient Care Assistant/aide 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.
Students looking for strong value in nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide will find it at Merced College, which ranked #4. Merced College is a large public school located in the city of Merced. In-state tuition and fees average $1,200, while out-of-state students pay about $8,520. Students borrow a median of $6,250 to complete the nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide program here. Soon after graduation, nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide degree recipients from Merced College generally make around $47,114. Set against $6,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Louisiana Technical Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide schools. Central Louisiana Technical Community College is a small public school located in the city of Alexandria. In-state tuition and fees average $4,098, compared with $4,363 for out-of-state students. Nursing Assistant/aide And Patient Care Assistant/aide graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Early-career nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide graduates make about $18,707. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bates Technical College came in at #6 for value in nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide this year. Bates Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. Students from in state pay about $6,027 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,165 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,051 ten years after entry.
Chaffey College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide schools. 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, compared with $11,120 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide graduates is $6,952. Soon after graduation, nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide degree recipients from Chaffey College generally make around $23,532. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Riverside City College earned the #8 position for value in nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide this year. Set in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,498 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide graduates is $11,424. Nursing Assistant/aide And Patient Care Assistant/aide graduates of Riverside City College earn a median of $37,102 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,424 median debt.
Hennepin Technical College placed #9 among the best values for nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide. Set in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,940. Nursing Assistant/aide And Patient Care Assistant/aide graduates carry a median of $24,682 in student loans. Nursing Assistant/aide And Patient Care Assistant/aide graduates of Hennepin Technical College earn a median of $54,376 early in their careers. Set against $24,682 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bossier Parish Community College landed the #10 spot for nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide value this year. Set in the city of Bossier City, Bossier Parish Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,268. Nursing Assistant/aide And Patient Care Assistant/aide graduates carry a median of $20,593 in student loans. Nursing Assistant/aide And Patient Care Assistant/aide graduates of Bossier Parish Community College earn a median of $43,661 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest Louisiana Technical College placed #11 among the best values for nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide. Set in the rural area of Minden, Northwest Louisiana Technical College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,109. Nursing Assistant/aide And Patient Care Assistant/aide graduates carry a median of $14,354 in student loans. Nursing Assistant/aide And Patient Care Assistant/aide graduates of Northwest Louisiana Technical College earn a median of $43,922 early in their careers. Set against $14,354 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Louisiana Community College placed #12 among the best values for nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide. Set in the city of Lafayette, South Louisiana Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,210. Typical student debt for nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide graduates is $20,214. Nursing Assistant/aide And Patient Care Assistant/aide graduates of South Louisiana Community College earn a median of $40,153 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,214 median debt.
Green River Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide schools. Set in the city of Auburn, Green River Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,711, with out-of-state students paying around $5,263. Median earnings reach $50,712 ten years out.
Arkansas Tech University earned the #14 position for value in nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide this year. Arkansas Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Russellville. Students from in state pay about $8,674 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,668 for out-of-state students. Nursing Assistant/aide And Patient Care Assistant/aide graduates carry a median of $23,983 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide degree recipients from Arkansas Tech University generally make around $47,902. That is a strong return on a $23,983 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Coconino Community College came in at #15 for value in nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide this year. Located in the rural area of Flagstaff, Coconino Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,907 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,987. Nursing Assistant/aide And Patient Care Assistant/aide graduates carry a median of $14,487 in student loans. Early-career nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide graduates make about $36,719. That is a strong return on a $14,487 median debt.
Platt College Tulsa earned the #16 position for value in nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide this year. Set in the city of Tulsa, Platt College Tulsa is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide graduates is $21,879. Nursing Assistant/aide And Patient Care Assistant/aide graduates of Platt College Tulsa earn a median of $45,301 early in their careers. Set against $21,879 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
High Desert Medical College landed the #17 spot for nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide value this year. Set in the suburb of Lancaster, High Desert Medical College is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $17,608 to complete the nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide program here. Nursing Assistant/aide And Patient Care Assistant/aide graduates of High Desert Medical College earn a median of $49,021 early in their careers.
Explore the best-value nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide schools at other degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.