by our College Data Analytics Team
[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 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 112 schools to find the best return on investment for practical nursing & nursing assistants students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in practical nursing & nursing assistants, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Dodge City Community College, our #1 best value for practical nursing & nursing assistants in the The Plains States Region. Dodge City Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Dodge City. Students from in state pay about $4,650 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,850. Median earnings reach $45,427 ten years out.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Seward County Community College And Area Technical School earned it the #2 place for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the town of Liberal, Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,032, with out-of-state students paying around $5,408. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $11,350 in student loans. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $53,375. That is a strong return on a $11,350 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in practical nursing & nursing assistants will find it at Salina Area Technical College, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Salina, Salina Area Technical College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,128. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $17,124 in student loans. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Salina Area Technical College earn a median of $38,440 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Hutchinson Community College earned it the #4 place for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, compared with $4,770 for out-of-state students. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $13,210 in student loans. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $45,344. That is a strong return on a $13,210 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Coffeyville Community College earned it the #5 place for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the town of Coffeyville, Coffeyville Community College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,600, while out-of-state students pay about $4,680. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $12,838 in student loans. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Coffeyville Community College generally make around $45,342. Set against $12,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Metropolitan Community College Area came in at #6 for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,375, with out-of-state students paying around $4,950. Students borrow a median of $10,041 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Metropolitan Community College Area earn a median of $45,583 early in their careers. Set against $10,041 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Independence Community College came in at #7 for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the rural area of Independence, Independence Community College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,950. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $7,302 in student loans. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $23,620. Set against $7,302 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Garden City Community College landed the #8 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Located in the town of Garden City, Garden City Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,690 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,320 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $14,338. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $35,476. Set against $14,338 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Central Community College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Island. Students from in state pay about $3,360 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,800. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $10,277. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $43,218. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Williston State College came in at #10 for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the town of Williston, Williston State College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,114. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $19,726. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Williston State College generally make around $42,984. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fort Scott Community College placed #11 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the town of Fort Scott, Fort Scott Community College is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,390, compared with $3,840 for out-of-state students. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $12,990 in student loans. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Fort Scott Community College earn a median of $40,041 early in their careers. Set against $12,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mid Plains Community College earned the #12 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the rural area of North Platte, Mid Plains Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,600 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,530 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,596 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Mid Plains Community College earn a median of $39,396 early in their careers. Set against $14,596 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Nebraska Community College placed #13 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the town of Scottsbluff, Western Nebraska Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,840, compared with $4,410 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,765 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Western Nebraska Community College generally make around $62,413. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cowley County Community College came in at #14 for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Cowley County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Arkansas City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800, compared with $6,600 for out-of-state students. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $9,312 in student loans. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Cowley County Community College earn a median of $34,099 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,312 median debt.
Labette Community College landed the #15 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Located in the town of Parsons, Labette Community College is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,064, with out-of-state students paying around $4,864. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $12,288 in student loans. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $46,710. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Charles Community College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the suburb of Cottleville, St Charles Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,810, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $12,606 in student loans. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from St Charles Community College generally make around $47,228. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Colby Community College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Colby Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Colby. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,140, while out-of-state students pay about $5,830. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $17,504. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $40,598. That is a strong return on a $17,504 median debt.
Marshalltown Community College placed #18 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the town of Marshalltown, Marshalltown Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,496, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. Students borrow a median of $11,577 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Marshalltown Community College earn a median of $45,382 early in their careers. Set against $11,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Jefferson College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Jefferson College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Hillsboro. In-state tuition and fees average $5,250, while out-of-state students pay about $8,850. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $13,664. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Jefferson College generally make around $47,560. That is a strong return on a $13,664 median debt.
Washburn Institute Of Technology placed #20 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Washburn Institute Of Technology is a small public school located in the city of Topeka. In-state tuition and fees average $8,880. Students borrow a median of $17,283 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $43,321. Set against $17,283 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Moberly Area Community College earned the #21 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the town of Moberly, Moberly Area Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,110 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,640. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $15,112. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $44,405. That is a strong return on a $15,112 median debt.
Ozarks Technical Community College earned the #22 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,256, with out-of-state students paying around $7,040. Students borrow a median of $15,125 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Ozarks Technical Community College earn a median of $39,101 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
State Fair Community College placed #23 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. State Fair Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Sedalia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,176, with out-of-state students paying around $7,416. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from State Fair Community College generally make around $39,168. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast Community College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Set in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,840, while out-of-state students pay about $5,130. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $16,412. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Northeast Community College generally make around $40,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Allen County Community College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the town of Iola, Allen County Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,260, compared with $4,860 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $10,032. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $25,323. That is a strong return on a $10,032 median debt.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in practical nursing & nursing assistants:
The ranking above is published 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 · 112 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 112 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.