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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants in California

43 Ranked Colleges
8,037 Degrees Awarded
Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 84,274 people earned their degree in practical nursing and nursing assistants, making the major the 187th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, practical nursing and nursing assistants graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $36,863 and had an average of $15,708 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 8,037 practical nursing and nursing assistants graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,752 and $17,707 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California” ranking, we looked at 43 colleges that offer a degree in practical nursing and nursing assistants. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their practical nursing and nursing assistants program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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The practical nursing school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants in California

1
Pacific College crest
Pacific College
Costa Mesa, California

Out of the 43 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Pacific College landed the #1 spot on the list. Pacific College is located in Costa Mesa, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 80 ’s practical nursing degrees to qualified students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Pacific College

2
Unitek College crest
Unitek College
Fremont, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Unitek College. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California. Located in Fremont, California, this small private for-profit school handed out 1,162 diplomas to qualified ’s practical nursing students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Unitek College

3
Carrington College, Sacramento crest
Carrington College, Sacramento
Sacramento, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Carrington College, Sacramento. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California. Carrington College, Sacramento is a small school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 213 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Carrington College, Sacramento

4
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts crest
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
San Mateo, California

Out of the 43 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts landed the #4 spot on the list. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is located in San Mateo, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 876 ’s practical nursing degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts

5
Platt College - Los Angeles crest
Platt College - Los Angeles
Alhambra, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Platt College - Los Angeles. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California. Platt College - Los Angeles is located in Alhambra, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 30 ’s practical nursing degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Platt College - Los Angeles

6
Lassen Community College crest
Lassen Community College
Susanville, California

Lassen Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California ranking, coming in at #6. This small school is located in Susanville, California, and it awarded 38 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Lassen Community College Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

7
CMC crest
Copper Mountain Community College
Joshua Tree, California

With a ranking of #7, Copper Mountain Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California list. Copper Mountain Community College is a public institution located in Joshua Tree, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full CMC Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

8
9

San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California list. Located in Visalia, California, this small private for-profit school handed out 28 diplomas to qualified ’s practical nursing students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia

10
Mission College crest
Mission College
Santa Clara, California

With a ranking of #10, Mission College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California list. Mission College is a medium-sized public school situated in Santa Clara, California. It awarded 64 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Mission College Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

11
College of the Redwoods crest
College of the Redwoods
Eureka, California

College of the Redwoods ranked #11 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California list. This small school is located in Eureka, California, and it awarded 42 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at College of the Redwoods

12
Hartnell College crest
Hartnell College
Salinas, California

Hartnell College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California ranking. Salinas, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s practical nursing degrees to 54 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Hartnell College

13
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College of the Desert
Palm Desert, California

College of the Desert landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California ranking. College of the Desert is a fairly large school located in Palm Desert, California that handed out 41 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at College of the Desert

14
SWC Chula Vista crest
Southwestern College
Chula Vista, California

With a ranking of #14, Southwestern College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California list. SWC Chula Vista is a public institution located in Chula Vista, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 64 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Southwestern College

15
Cerro Coso Community College crest
Cerro Coso Community College
Ridgecrest, California

With a ranking of #15, Cerro Coso Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California list. This small school is located in Ridgecrest, California, and it awarded 11 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Cerro Coso Community College Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

16
Sacramento City crest
Sacramento City College
Sacramento, California

Sacramento City College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California ranking. Located in Sacramento, California, this fairly large public school awarded 41 degrees to qualified ’s practical nursing students in 2020-2021.

Full Sacramento City Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

17
Long Beach City College crest
Long Beach City College
Long Beach, California

Long Beach City College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California ranking. Long Beach City College is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 83 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Long Beach City College

18
Citrus College crest
Citrus College
Glendora, California

With a ranking of #18, Citrus College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California list. Citrus College is located in Glendora, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 74 ’s practical nursing degrees to qualified students.

Full Citrus College Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

19
College of the Siskiyous crest
College of the Siskiyous
Weed, California

College of the Siskiyous came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California ranking. College of the Siskiyous is a small school located in Weed, California that handed out 2 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at College of the Siskiyous

20
Allan Hancock College crest
Allan Hancock College
Santa Maria, California

Allan Hancock College ranked #20 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California list. Allan Hancock College is located in Santa Maria, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 111 ’s practical nursing degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Allan Hancock College

21
Riverside City College crest
Riverside City College
Riverside, California

Riverside City College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California ranking, coming in at #21. Riverside, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s practical nursing degrees to 156 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Riverside City College

22
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Imperial Valley College
Imperial, California

Imperial Valley College ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California list. Imperial, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s practical nursing degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Imperial Valley College

23

With a ranking of #23, Feather River Community College District did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California list. Quincy, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s practical nursing degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Feather River College

24
Chaffey College crest
Chaffey College
Rancho Cucamonga, California

Chaffey College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California ranking. Chaffey College is a public institution located in Rancho Cucamonga, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 29 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Chaffey College

25
Merced Community College District crest
Merced College
Merced, California

Merced College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Practical Nursing Major in California ranking. Merced, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s practical nursing degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.

Full Merced Community College District Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

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References

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