2026 Best Value Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide Schools in Arizona
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide Schools
Yavapai College earned the #1 spot for value among nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide schools in Arizona. Set in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,948, compared with $9,486 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,087 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 Yavapai College generally make around $52,087. That is a strong return on a $14,087 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cochise College earned it the #2 place for nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide. Set in the city of Sierra Vista, Cochise College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,280 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,120 for out-of-state students. Nursing Assistant/aide And Patient Care Assistant/aide graduates carry a median of $7,861 in student loans. Nursing Assistant/aide And Patient Care Assistant/aide graduates of Cochise College earn a median of $40,712 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide will find it at Northland Pioneer College, which ranked #3. Set in the rural area of Holbrook, Northland Pioneer College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,232, with out-of-state students paying around $10,320. Students borrow a median of $8,680 to complete the nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide program here. Early-career nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide graduates make about $44,117. That is a strong return on a $8,680 median debt.
Eastern Arizona College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide schools. Located in the town of Thatcher, Eastern Arizona College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,352, with out-of-state students paying around $9,552. Nursing Assistant/aide And Patient Care Assistant/aide graduates carry a median of $8,062 in student loans. Nursing Assistant/aide And Patient Care Assistant/aide graduates of Eastern Arizona College earn a median of $40,304 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,062 median debt.
Arizona Western College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide schools. Set in the city of Yuma, Arizona Western College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,060, compared with $9,870 for out-of-state students. Soon after graduation, nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide degree recipients from Arizona Western College generally make around $44,895.
Pima Medical Institute East Valley placed #6 among the best values for nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide. Set in the city of Mesa, Pima Medical Institute East Valley is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $8,000 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 Pima Medical Institute East Valley generally make around $28,834. That is a strong return on a $8,000 median debt.
Glendale Community College Glendale Az came in at #7 for value in nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide this year. Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glendale. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,996 to complete the nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide program here. Early-career nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide graduates make about $51,483. That is a strong return on a $15,996 median debt.
Coconino Community College came in at #8 for value in nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide this year. Coconino Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Flagstaff. In-state tuition and fees average $2,907, with out-of-state students paying around $9,987. Typical student debt for nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide graduates is $13,528. Early-career nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide graduates make about $36,719. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gateway Community College Phoenix placed #9 among the best values for nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide. Gateway Community College Phoenix is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Phoenix. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Students borrow a median of $12,898 to complete the nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide program here. Nursing Assistant/aide And Patient Care Assistant/aide graduates of Gateway Community College Phoenix earn a median of $60,620 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,898 median debt.
Mesa Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide schools. Located in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Typical student debt for nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide graduates is $13,750. Nursing Assistant/aide And Patient Care Assistant/aide graduates of Mesa Community College earn a median of $54,730 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt.
Paradise Valley Community College placed #11 among the best values for nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide. Located in the city of Phoenix, Paradise Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Students borrow a median of $14,204 to complete the nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide program here. Early-career nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide graduates make about $71,136. Set against $14,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Scottsdale Community College landed the #12 spot for nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide value this year. Scottsdale Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Scottsdale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Typical student debt for nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide graduates is $13,084. Nursing Assistant/aide And Patient Care Assistant/aide graduates of Scottsdale Community College earn a median of $48,039 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 1 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.
[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
