2026 Best Value Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants](/majors/health-care-professions/practical-nursing-assistants/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong practical nursing & nursing assistants education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 57 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for practical nursing & nursing assistants students.
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2026 Best Value Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in practical nursing & nursing assistants, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools
Colorado Mountain College earned the #1 spot for value among practical nursing & nursing assistants schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in the town of Glenwood Springs, Colorado Mountain College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,616, compared with $12,840 for out-of-state students. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $9,450 in student loans. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $48,694. That is a strong return on a $9,450 median debt.
Snow College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Set in the town of Ephraim, Snow College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,338, compared with $14,288 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $11,500. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Snow College earn a median of $42,776 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,500 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in practical nursing & nursing assistants will find it at College Of Southern Idaho, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Twin Falls, College Of Southern Idaho is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,360, while out-of-state students pay about $6,840. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $10,964. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of College Of Southern Idaho earn a median of $41,598 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Laramie County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Cheyenne, Laramie County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,613, with out-of-state students paying around $10,913. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Laramie County Community College earn a median of $51,302 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Salt Lake Community College one of the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Set in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,426 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,244 for out-of-state students. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $10,855 in student loans. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Salt Lake Community College generally make around $42,031. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Morgan Community College landed the #6 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Set in the rural area of Fort Morgan, Morgan Community College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,252, with out-of-state students paying around $16,852. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $11,750. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Morgan Community College generally make around $64,066. Set against $11,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Community College Of Aurora placed #7 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Community College Of Aurora is a large public school located in the city of Aurora. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,470, while out-of-state students pay about $17,070. Students borrow a median of $17,667 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Community College Of Aurora earn a median of $38,587 early in their careers. Set against $17,667 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Casper College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Casper College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Casper. Students from in state pay about $4,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,710 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $13,000. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $49,729. That is a strong return on a $13,000 median debt.
Ogden Weber Technical College earned the #9 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the city of Ogden, Ogden Weber Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Ogden Weber Technical College earn a median of $24,690 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Wyoming Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Western Wyoming Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Rock Springs. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,230, with out-of-state students paying around $10,530. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Western Wyoming Community College generally make around $53,554. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sheridan College landed the #11 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Sheridan College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Sheridan. Students from in state pay about $4,830 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,130 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,365 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Sheridan College generally make around $49,039. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest College came in at #12 for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the town of Powell, Northwest College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,962 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,262. Students borrow a median of $12,996 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Northwest College earn a median of $40,014 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bridgerland Technical College earned the #13 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the city of Logan, Bridgerland Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Bridgerland Technical College generally make around $28,884. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Eastern Idaho Technical College placed #14 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Eastern Idaho Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Idaho Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,390, compared with $6,750 for out-of-state students. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $34,787. That is a strong return on a $17,750 median debt.
Aims Community College landed the #15 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Aims Community College is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,258, compared with $11,786 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Aims Community College generally make around $45,909. That is a strong return on a $10,000 median debt.
College Of Western Idaho earned the #16 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the rural area of Nampa, College Of Western Idaho is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,446 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,454. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $12,497 in student loans. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from College Of Western Idaho generally make around $40,963.
Delta Montrose Technical College placed #17 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Delta Montrose Technical College is a small public school located in the rural area of Delta. Students borrow a median of $22,133 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $42,451. That is a strong return on a $22,133 median debt.
Red Rocks Community College came in at #18 for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Red Rocks Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lakewood. Students from in state pay about $4,859 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,459. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $7,006 in student loans. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Red Rocks Community College earn a median of $76,340 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,006 median debt.
Community College Of Denver earned the #19 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Community College Of Denver is a large public school located in the city of Denver. Students from in state pay about $5,058 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,658. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Community College Of Denver earn a median of $23,614 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Pikes Peak Community College landed the #20 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Set in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,510, compared with $17,110 for out-of-state students. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $16,066 in student loans. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Pikes Peak Community College earn a median of $41,037 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Emily Griffith Technical College earned the #21 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the city of Denver, Emily Griffith Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $13,267 in student loans. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Emily Griffith Technical College generally make around $37,744. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Trinidad State Junior College earned the #22 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Trinidad State Junior College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Trinidad. Students from in state pay about $4,608 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,318. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $7,625 in student loans. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $53,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pickens Technical College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the city of Aurora, Pickens Technical College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,140, with out-of-state students paying around $9,250. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $11,000. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $53,360. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Front Range Community College earned the #24 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,663, with out-of-state students paying around $17,263. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $13,107 in student loans. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $29,021. Set against $13,107 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arapahoe Community College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,434, while out-of-state students pay about $17,034. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Arapahoe Community College earn a median of $36,234 early in their careers. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 43 Best Value Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s practical nursing & nursing assistants value ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 57 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.
