2026 Best Value Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in Arizona
[Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants](/majors/health-care-professions/practical-nursing-assistants/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 24 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 Arizona
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
Leading the list is Pima Community College, our #1 best value for practical nursing & nursing assistants in Arizona. Located in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,442, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,562 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $47,205 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Yavapai College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,948, with out-of-state students paying around $9,486. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $14,087. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Yavapai College generally make around $52,087. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Arizona College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Coolidge. Students from in state pay about $2,250 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,500. Students borrow a median of $11,635 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $48,826. That is a strong return on a $11,635 median debt.
Cochise College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Sierra Vista, Cochise College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,280 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,120. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $7,861. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Cochise College earn a median of $40,712 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Mohave Community College one of the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Set in the rural area of Kingman, Mohave Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,208, with out-of-state students paying around $7,968. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $54,785. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern Arizona College landed the #6 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Located in the town of Thatcher, Eastern Arizona College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,352, while out-of-state students pay about $9,552. Students borrow a median of $8,062 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Eastern Arizona College earn a median of $40,304 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,062 median debt.
Northland Pioneer College landed the #7 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Northland Pioneer College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Holbrook. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,232, while out-of-state students pay about $10,320. Students borrow a median of $8,680 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Northland Pioneer College earn a median of $44,117 early in their careers. Set against $8,680 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Phoenix College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $15,204 in student loans. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $51,053. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Arizona Western College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Set in the city of Yuma, Arizona Western College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,060, compared with $9,870 for out-of-state students. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Arizona Western College earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers.
Pima Medical Institute East Valley came in at #10 for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Pima Medical Institute East Valley is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Mesa. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Pima Medical Institute East Valley earn a median of $28,834 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Glendale Community College Glendale Az placed #11 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Set in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Students borrow a median of $15,996 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Glendale Community College Glendale Az generally make around $51,483. Set against $15,996 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Coconino Community College placed #12 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the rural area of Flagstaff, Coconino Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,907 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,987. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $13,528 in student loans. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Coconino Community College generally make around $36,719. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gateway Community College Phoenix ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Gateway Community College Phoenix is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Phoenix. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,898 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Gateway Community College Phoenix earn a median of $60,620 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mesa Community College landed the #14 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Mesa Community College generally make around $54,730. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Paradise Valley Community College earned the #15 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Paradise Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $14,204. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Paradise Valley Community College earn a median of $71,136 early in their careers. Set against $14,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Scottsdale Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $13,084. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Scottsdale Community College earn a median of $48,039 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,084 median debt.
East Valley Institute Of Technology earned the #17 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. East Valley Institute Of Technology is a small public school located in the city of Mesa. Students borrow a median of $14,076 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of East Valley Institute Of Technology earn a median of $53,918 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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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 · 24 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.
