2026 Best Value Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region
[Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants](/majors/health-care-professions/practical-nursing-assistants/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 384 schools to find the best return on investment for practical nursing & nursing assistants students.
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2026 Best Value Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast 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
Northeast Alabama Community College earned the #1 spot for value among practical nursing & nursing assistants schools in the Southeast Region. Northeast Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rainsville. In-state tuition and fees average $5,040, compared with $8,910 for out-of-state students. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $8,950 in student loans. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Northeast Alabama Community College generally make around $53,855. Set against $8,950 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Coastal Pines Technical College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Set in the town of Waycross, Coastal Pines Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,268, with out-of-state students paying around $5,836. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $40,728. Set against $7,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in practical nursing & nursing assistants will find it at Florence Darlington Technical College, which ranked #3. Florence Darlington Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Florence. Students from in state pay about $4,636 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,772 for out-of-state students. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $7,230 in student loans. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $34,948. That is a strong return on a $7,230 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Oconee Fall Line Technical College one of the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the rural area of Sandersville, Oconee Fall Line Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,380, while out-of-state students pay about $5,948. Students borrow a median of $14,104 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Oconee Fall Line Technical College generally make around $32,031. That is a strong return on a $14,104 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Georgia Northwestern Technical College one of the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Set in the city of Rome, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,300, with out-of-state students paying around $5,868. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Georgia Northwestern Technical College generally make around $44,957. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida State College At Jacksonville earned the #6 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,657, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $57,579. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Georgia Technical College earned the #7 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the town of Americus, South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,992, with out-of-state students paying around $7,202. Students borrow a median of $11,346 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from South Georgia Technical College generally make around $43,266. Set against $11,346 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chipola College placed #8 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the town of Marianna, Chipola College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,120 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,950. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $9,097. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $43,599. Set against $9,097 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Georgia Technical College earned the #9 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waco. Students from in state pay about $3,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,978 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $17,000. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of West Georgia Technical College earn a median of $42,462 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College placed #10 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the rural area of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,480 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,048. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Wiregrass Georgia Technical College generally make around $37,112. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pensacola State College earned the #11 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the city of Pensacola, Pensacola State College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,361 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,463. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $9,191. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $45,811. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gulf Coast State College placed #12 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Set in the city of Panama City, Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,370, compared with $8,635 for out-of-state students. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $8,286 in student loans. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Gulf Coast State College earn a median of $49,086 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Coahoma Community College placed #13 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the rural area of Clarksdale, Coahoma Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,490. Students borrow a median of $10,788 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $41,032. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Durham Technical Community College came in at #14 for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,240 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,531. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $22,313 in student loans. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $46,533. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida Gateway College earned the #15 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Lake City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,100, with out-of-state students paying around $11,747. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $10,605 in student loans. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Florida Gateway College earn a median of $44,489 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,605 median debt.
Southern Regional Technical College earned the #16 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the town of Thomasville, Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,007, while out-of-state students pay about $5,575. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $11,050 in student loans. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Southern Regional Technical College earn a median of $44,007 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rockingham Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the rural area of Wentworth, Rockingham Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,966, while out-of-state students pay about $6,574. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Rockingham Community College generally make around $49,931. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Trident Technical College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Set in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,546, compared with $8,620 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,750 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $50,166. Set against $27,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Carolina Community College landed the #19 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Set in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,711 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,855. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $13,500 in student loans. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Central Carolina Community College earn a median of $44,904 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,500 median debt.
Hazard Community And Technical College landed the #20 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hazard. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $7,051 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $32,626. Set against $7,051 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lurleen B Wallace Community College placed #21 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Set in the rural area of Andalusia, Lurleen B Wallace Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,190, while out-of-state students pay about $9,060. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Lurleen B Wallace Community College generally make around $36,027. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
George C Wallace State Community College Dothan landed the #22 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Set in the city of Dothan, George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,980 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,850 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $10,472. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of George C Wallace State Community College Dothan earn a median of $40,106 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,472 median debt.
Mississippi Delta Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the rural area of Moorhead, Mississippi Delta Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,540. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $16,048 in student loans. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $42,855. That is a strong return on a $16,048 median debt.
Copiah Lincoln Community College placed #24 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Set in the rural area of Wesson, Copiah Lincoln Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,200 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,200. Median earnings reach $31,241 ten years out.
Gadsden State Community College landed the #25 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Located in the city of Gadsden, Gadsden State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,272 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,368 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $9,312. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Gadsden State Community College generally make around $34,710. That is a strong return on a $9,312 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 384 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
