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2023 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k

19 Ranked Colleges
8,037 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 84,274 people earned their degree in practical nursing and nursing assistants, making the major the 187th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, practical nursing and nursing assistants graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $36,863 and had an average of $15,708 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 8,037 practical nursing and nursing assistants graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,752 and $17,707 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 19 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in practical nursing and nursing assistants. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent practical nursing and nursing assistants programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the practical nursing and nursing assistants program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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The practical nursing school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for california practical nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 19 Best Value Colleges for Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants (Income $48-$75k) in California

1
Reedley College crest
Reedley College
Reedley, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Reedley College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Reedley, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 16 degrees to qualified ’s practical nursing students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Reedley College, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California” ranking.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Reedley College

2
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Sacramento City College
Sacramento, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Sacramento City College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Sacramento, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s practical nursing degrees to 41 students in 2020-2021.

Sacramento City also took the #5 spot in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $8,205 for california practical nursing students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Sacramento City.

Full Sacramento City Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

3
IVC crest
Imperial Valley College
Imperial, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Imperial Valley College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. This medium-sized school is located in Imperial, California, and it awarded 15 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

IVC also made our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $5,004 for california practical nursing students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Imperial Valley College.

Full IVC Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

4
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Mission College
Santa Clara, California

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Mission College landed the #4 spot on the list. Mission College is a medium-sized school located in Santa Clara, California that handed out 64 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Mission College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Mission College is $6,619 for california practical nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Mission College

5
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College of the Redwoods
Eureka, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College of the Redwoods. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. College of the Redwoods is a small public school situated in Eureka, California. It awarded 42 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our california practical nursing students whose families make $48-$75k list, College of the Redwoods has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $6,900 for California Practical Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend College of the Redwoods.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at College of the Redwoods

6
Cuesta College crest
Cuesta College
San Luis Obispo, California

Cuesta College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 58 degrees to qualified ’s practical nursing students in 2020-2021.

Cuesta College also took the #9 spot in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cuesta College is $13,636 for California Practical Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Cuesta College

7
Merced Community College District crest
Merced College
Merced, California

Merced College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Merced College is a medium-sized public school situated in Merced, California. It awarded 12 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Merced Community College District not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Merced Community College District is $13,396 for California Practical Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Merced College Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

8
Butte College crest
Butte College
Oroville, California

Butte College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #8. Butte College is located in Oroville, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 78 ’s practical nursing degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california practical nursing students whose families make $48-$75k list, Butte College has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Butte College is $9,372 for California Practical Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Butte College

9
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Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa, California

Santa Rosa Junior College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #9. Santa Rosa Junior College is a fairly large school located in Santa Rosa, California that handed out 107 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

SRJC also took the #17 spot in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SRJC is $8,738 for california practical nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at SRJC

10
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Rio Hondo College
Whittier, California

Rio Hondo College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. RHCCD is a fairly large school located in Whittier, California that handed out 18 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

RHCCD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California” list. It costs about $7,491 for california practical nursing students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Rio Hondo College.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Rio Hondo College

11
College of the Desert crest
College of the Desert
Palm Desert, California

College of the Desert came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. College of the Desert is a fairly large school located in Palm Desert, California that handed out 41 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

College of the Desert did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for College of the Desert is $14,851 for California Practical Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at College of the Desert

12
SBCC crest
Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara City College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #12. Santa Barbara City College is a fairly large school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 3 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

SBCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Santa Barbara City College is $8,417 for california practical nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full SBCC Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

13
Carrington College, Sacramento crest
Carrington College, Sacramento
Sacramento, California

Carrington College, Sacramento ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Carrington College, Sacramento is a small private for-profit school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 213 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Carrington College, Sacramento did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California” list. It costs about $35,959 for California Practical Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Carrington College, Sacramento.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Carrington College, Sacramento

14
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College of the Siskiyous
Weed, California

College of the Siskiyous came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Weed, California, this small public school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified ’s practical nursing students in 2020-2021.

College of the Siskiyous did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend College of the Siskiyous is $10,039 for California Practical Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at College of the Siskiyous

15
Pacific College crest
Pacific College
Costa Mesa, California

Pacific College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Pacific College is a small private for-profit school situated in Costa Mesa, California. It awarded 80 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Pacific College, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Pacific College is $34,053 for california practical nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Pacific College

16

With a ranking of #16, San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia is located in Visalia, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 28 ’s practical nursing degrees to qualified students.

San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia also made our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California” list, coming in at #8.

Full San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

17
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts crest
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
San Mateo, California

Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. This small school is located in San Mateo, California, and it awarded 876 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is $28,280 for california practical nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

18
Platt College - Los Angeles crest
Platt College - Los Angeles
Alhambra, California

With a ranking of #18, Platt College - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Alhambra, California, this small private for-profit school awarded 30 degrees to qualified ’s practical nursing students in 2020-2021.

Platt College - Los Angeles also made our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California” list, coming in at #21. The yearly cost to attend Platt College - Los Angeles is $26,915 for California Practical Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Platt College - Los Angeles

19
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Unitek College
Fremont, California

Unitek College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Unitek College is located in Fremont, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,162 ’s practical nursing degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california practical nursing students whose families make $48-$75k list, Unitek College has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Unitek College is $55,359 for California Practical Nursing students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Unitek College

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Notes and References

References

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