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2022 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California

17 Ranked Colleges
917 Degrees Awarded
$9,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 86,912 people earned their degree in practical nursing and nursing assistants, making the major the 185th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, practical nursing and nursing assistants graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,439 and had an average of $12,589 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 7,722 practical nursing and nursing assistants graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,189 and $17,054 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 917 practical nursing and nursing assistants graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,451 and $19,634 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California” ranking analyzed 17 colleges that offered a degree in practical nursing and nursing assistants. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality practical nursing and nursing assistants programs that also have a lower cost than 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California.

Top 17 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants in California

#1

Santa Barbara City College

Santa Barbara, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Santa Barbara City College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California list. This fairly large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 22 associates’s practical nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree practical nursing students list, SBCC has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SBCC is $7,556 for california associate degree practical nursing students.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at SBCC

#2

Long Beach City College

Long Beach, California
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Long Beach City College landed the #2 spot on the list. Long Beach City College is located in Long Beach, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 25 associates’s practical nursing degrees to qualified students.

Long Beach City College also made our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $3,066 for california associate degree practical nursing students per year to attend Long Beach City College.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Long Beach City College

#3

Butte College

Oroville, California
#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Butte College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California. Oroville, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s practical nursing degrees to 22 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Butte College, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $5,070 for California Associate Degree Practical Nursing students per year to attend Butte College.

Full Butte College Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

#4

Merced College

Merced, California
#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Merced College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California. Merced College is located in Merced, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 associates’s practical nursing degrees to qualified students.

Merced Community College District did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Merced College is $10,565 for California Associate Degree Practical Nursing students.

Full Merced College Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

#5

Sacramento City College

Sacramento, California
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Sacramento City College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California. Sacramento City College is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 associates’s practical nursing degrees to qualified students.

Sacramento City also took the #7 spot in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $4,835 for california associate degree practical nursing students per year to attend Sacramento City College.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Sacramento City

#5

Citrus College

Glendora, California
#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Citrus College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California list. Located in Glendora, California, this fairly large public school awarded 24 degrees to qualified associates’s practical nursing students in 2019-2020.

Citrus College also took the #10 spot in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Citrus College is $2,751 for california associate degree practical nursing students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Citrus College

#7

Riverside City College

Riverside, California
#6 in overall quality

Riverside City College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California ranking. This large school is located in Riverside, California, and it awarded 38 associates’s practical nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree practical nursing students list, Riverside City College has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Riverside City College is $4,620 for California Associate Degree Practical Nursing students.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Riverside City College

#8

Cuesta College

San Luis Obispo, California
#11 in overall quality

Cuesta College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Cuesta College is a fairly large public school situated in San Luis Obispo, California. It awarded 8 associates’s practical nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Cuesta College also made our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $7,790 for California Associate Degree Practical Nursing students per year to attend Cuesta College.

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

#9

Rio Hondo College

Whittier, California
#13 in overall quality

Rio Hondo College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Whittier, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s practical nursing degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

RHCCD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for RHCCD is $5,487 for california associate degree practical nursing students.

Full RHCCD Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

#10

College of the Redwoods

Eureka, California
#19 in overall quality

College of the Redwoods ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California list. College of the Redwoods is located in Eureka, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 associates’s practical nursing degrees to qualified students.

College of the Redwoods also took the #19 spot in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $4,773 for California Associate Degree Practical Nursing students per year to attend College of the Redwoods.

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

#11

College of the Siskiyous

Weed, California
#18 in overall quality

College of the Siskiyous did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California ranking, coming in at #11. College of the Siskiyous is a public institution located in Weed, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

College of the Siskiyous did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend College of the Siskiyous is $8,061 for California Associate Degree Practical Nursing students.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at College of the Siskiyous

#12

College of the Desert

Palm Desert, California
#14 in overall quality

College of the Desert ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California list. Located in Palm Desert, California, this fairly large public school handed out 9 degrees to qualified associates’s practical nursing students in 2019-2020.

College of the Desert not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend College of the Desert is $9,654 for California Associate Degree Practical Nursing students.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at College of the Desert

#13

Allan Hancock College

Santa Maria, California
#16 in overall quality

Allan Hancock College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California ranking. This fairly large school is located in Santa Maria, California, and it awarded 31 associates’s practical nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree practical nursing students list, Allan Hancock College has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Allan Hancock College is $3,810 for california associate degree practical nursing students.

Full Allan Hancock College Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

#14

Gavilan College

Gilroy, California
#17 in overall quality

Gavilan College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Gavilan College is a small public school situated in Gilroy, California. It awarded 17 associates’s practical nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Gavilan College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $4,784 for California Associate Degree Practical Nursing students per year to attend Gavilan College.

Full Gavilan College Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

#15

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, California
#20 in overall quality

Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California ranking. Santa Rosa, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s practical nursing degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

SRJC also took the #20 spot in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SRJC is $5,782 for California Associate Degree Practical Nursing students.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Santa Rosa Junior College

#16

Unitek College

Fremont, California

Unitek College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California list. Unitek College is a small private for-profit school situated in Fremont, California. It awarded 191 associates’s practical nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Unitek College also made our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $50,496 for california associate degree practical nursing students per year to attend Unitek College.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Unitek College Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

#17

Platt College - Los Angeles

Alhambra, California

Platt College - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Alhambra, California, this small private for-profit school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified associates’s practical nursing students in 2019-2020.

Platt College - Los Angeles also took the #23 spot in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Platt College - Los Angeles is $22,710 for california associate degree practical nursing students.

Full Platt College - Los Angeles Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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