2027 Best Value Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in Kentucky

[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 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 Kentucky
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
For return on investment in practical nursing & nursing assistants, no school beat Hazard Community And Technical College this year. Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hazard. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $7,051. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Hazard Community And Technical College generally make around $32,626. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College one of the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Cumberland. 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 $6,500 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $27,051. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College one of the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bowling Green. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $12,523. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College earn a median of $30,338 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Henderson Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the rural area of Henderson, Henderson Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $10,387. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Henderson Community College earn a median of $31,819 early in their careers. Set against $10,387 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in practical nursing & nursing assistants will find it at Big Sandy Community And Technical College, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Prestonsburg, Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,379 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $33,956. That is a strong return on a $12,379 median debt.
Somerset Community College landed the #6 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Located in the town of Somerset, Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $9,096. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Somerset Community College generally make around $28,953. Set against $9,096 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Maysville Community And Technical College placed #7 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Maysville Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Maysville. 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 $12,858 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Maysville Community And Technical College earn a median of $31,865 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College earned the #8 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Elizabethtown. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $8,250. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Elizabethtown Community And Technical College earn a median of $25,545 early in their careers. Set against $8,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Kentucky Community And Technical College placed #9 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the city of Paducah, West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. 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 West Kentucky Community And Technical College generally make around $31,020. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Madisonville Community College earned the #10 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the town of Madisonville, Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Madisonville Community College earn a median of $26,318 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Ashland Community And Technical College earned the #11 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the city of Ashland, Ashland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,812 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Ashland Community And Technical College generally make around $26,424. That is a strong return on a $8,812 median debt.
Gateway Community And Technical College came in at #12 for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Gateway Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Florence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $9,932. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $32,936. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Owensboro Community And Technical College came in at #13 for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the rural area of Owensboro, Owensboro Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $9,098 in student loans. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Owensboro Community And Technical College earn a median of $40,462 early in their careers. Set against $9,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hopkinsville Community College placed #14 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Set in the town of Hopkinsville, Hopkinsville Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $10,898 in student loans. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Hopkinsville Community College generally make around $37,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College landed the #15 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Lexington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,808, while out-of-state students pay about $6,512. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $11,000. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Bluegrass Community And Technical College earn a median of $36,053 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jefferson Community And Technical College earned the #16 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the city of Louisville, Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,808 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,512. Students borrow a median of $14,187 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $33,594. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Galen College Of Nursing Louisville placed #17 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Galen College Of Nursing Louisville is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Louisville. Students borrow a median of $16,642 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $46,830. Set against $16,642 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sullivan University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Set in the city of Louisville, Sullivan University is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Students borrow a median of $25,959 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Sullivan University generally make around $40,909. Set against $25,959 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Medquest College came in at #19 for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the suburb of Louisville, Medquest College is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $9,443. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Medquest College generally make around $30,209.
Medical Career And Technical College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Set in the town of Richmond, Medical Career And Technical College is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $7,719. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $20,156.
Beckfield College Florence ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Set in the suburb of Florence, Beckfield College Florence is a small private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,295. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $20,502. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $48,479. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Galen Health Institutes Pikeville earned the #22 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Galen Health Institutes Pikeville is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Pikeville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,364. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $16,642 in student loans. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Galen Health Institutes Pikeville earn a median of $46,830 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ata College earned the #23 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the suburb of Louisville, Ata College is a small private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $14,200 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $30,663 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Ata College generally make around $44,410. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 23 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.