2027 Best Value Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in Colorado
[Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants](/majors/health-care-professions/practical-nursing-assistants/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong practical nursing & nursing assistants education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for practical nursing & nursing assistants students.
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2027 Best Value Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in Colorado
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools
Pikes Peak Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools in Colorado. Located in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,510, with out-of-state students paying around $17,110. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $16,066. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Pikes Peak Community College earn a median of $41,037 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,066 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in practical nursing & nursing assistants will find it at Colorado Mountain College, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Glenwood Springs, Colorado Mountain College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,616 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,840. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $9,450 in student loans. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Colorado Mountain College earn a median of $48,694 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Red Rocks Community College earned it the #3 place for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Red Rocks Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,859 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,459. Students borrow a median of $7,006 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $76,340. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Community College Of Aurora is a great value for students pursuing a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants, landing the #4 spot this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $17,070. Students borrow a median of $17,667 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $38,587. Set against $17,667 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Morgan Community College earned it the #5 place for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the rural area of Fort Morgan, Morgan Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,252, compared with $16,852 for out-of-state students. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $11,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Morgan Community College generally make around $64,066. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Delta Montrose Technical College placed #6 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. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Delta Montrose Technical College earn a median of $42,451 early in their careers. Set against $22,133 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lamar Community College earned the #7 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the town of Lamar, Lamar Community College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,550, while out-of-state students pay about $7,260. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $9,300 in student loans. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Lamar Community College earn a median of $25,669 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,300 median debt.
Community College Of Denver came in at #8 for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Community College Of Denver is a large public school located in the city of Denver. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,058, with out-of-state students paying around $17,658. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $12,000. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $23,614. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Trinidad State Junior College landed the #9 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Set in the town of Trinidad, Trinidad State Junior College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,608, compared with $7,318 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $7,625. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $53,086. That is a strong return on a $7,625 median debt.
Pickens Technical College came in at #10 for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Pickens Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Aurora. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,140, while out-of-state students pay about $9,250. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $53,360. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Otero Junior College placed #11 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Set in the town of La Junta, Otero Junior College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, compared with $7,270 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $24,150. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $74,405. Set against $24,150 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Emily Griffith Technical College landed the #12 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Set in the city of Denver, Emily Griffith Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students borrow a median of $13,267 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Emily Griffith Technical College generally make around $37,744. That is a strong return on a $13,267 median debt.
Aims Community College placed #13 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Aims Community College is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. In-state tuition and fees average $2,258, with out-of-state students paying around $11,786. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $10,000. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $45,909. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Arapahoe Community College came in at #14 for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,434 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,034. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $36,234. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt.
Pueblo Community College placed #15 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Set in the city of Pueblo, Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,049, while out-of-state students pay about $17,649. Students borrow a median of $9,975 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Pueblo Community College earn a median of $25,507 early in their careers. Set against $9,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Front Range Community College came in at #16 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,663, while out-of-state students pay about $17,263. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $13,107 in student loans. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Front Range Community College earn a median of $29,021 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,107 median debt.
Northeastern Junior College placed #17 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the town of Sterling, Northeastern Junior College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $5,730 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,267 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $13,156. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Northeastern Junior College generally make around $38,543. Set against $13,156 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mesa State College landed the #18 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Located in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,927, with out-of-state students paying around $25,124. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $21,675 in student loans. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Mesa State College generally make around $43,617. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Concorde Career College - Denver placed #19 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Concorde Career College - Denver is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Aurora. Students borrow a median of $17,268 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $57,339. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Intellitec College Grand Junction landed the #20 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Intellitec College Grand Junction is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Grand Junction. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $11,767 in student loans. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Intellitec College Grand Junction earn a median of $26,391 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pima Medical Institute Denver earned the #21 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Pima Medical Institute Denver is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Denver. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $8,000. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Pima Medical Institute Denver generally make around $28,834. That is a strong return on a $8,000 median debt.
Pima Medical Institute Aurora placed #22 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Pima Medical Institute Aurora is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Aurora. Students borrow a median of $11,597 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Pima Medical Institute Aurora earn a median of $54,021 early in their careers.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.
