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2023 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Colleges for Veterans in California

16 Ranked Colleges
8,037 Degrees Awarded
Most Veteran Friendly in California for Practical Nursing

With all of the options veterans have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Most Veteran Friendly in California for Practical Nursing” ranking - to help you make that 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.

This year’s “Most Veteran Friendly in California for Practical Nursing” ranking looked at 16 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in practical nursing and nursing assistants. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality practical nursing and nursing assistants programs as well as strong veteran support.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the practical nursing and nursing assistants program at the school, veteran affordability, and veteran satisfaction. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
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More Practical Nursing Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Veteran Friendly in California for Practical Nursing” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Most Veteran Friendly in California for Practical Nursing

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Veteran Friendly in California for Practical Nursing”.

Top 16 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Colleges for Veterans in California

1
Merced Community College District crest
Merced College
Merced, California

Out of the 16 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in California for Practical Nursing that were part of this year’s ranking, Merced College landed the #1 spot on the list. 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.

Merced Community College District did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.According to our most recent data, Merced College supports 10,645 students, and 143 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 71 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $342. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Read More…

2
RHCCD crest
Rio Hondo College
Whittier, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rio Hondo College. The school came in at #2 for the Most Veteran Friendly in California for Practical Nursing. Rio Hondo College is a fairly large school located in Whittier, California that handed out 18 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our california vets studying practical nursing list, RHCCD has also earned the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] rank in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Of the 15,692 students enrolled at RHCCD, 1 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 1 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $740. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Full RHCCD Veteran Student Life Report

3
Napa Valley College crest
Napa Valley College
Napa, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Napa Valley College. The school came in at #3 for the Most Veteran Friendly in California for Practical Nursing. This small school is located in Napa, California, and it awarded 16 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Napa Valley College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Our most recent data shows that 93 of the 4,931 students enrolled at Napa Valley College were GI Bill® students, of which 61 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $877. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Read More…

4
Cuesta College crest
Cuesta College
San Luis Obispo, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cuesta College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in California for Practical Nursing list. Cuesta College is a medium-sized public school situated in San Luis Obispo, California. It awarded 58 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cuesta College, the school also landed the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Of the 10,093 students enrolled at Cuesta College, 131 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 91 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $552. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Cuesta College]](/colleges/cuesta-college/student-life/veterans/)

5
Reedley College crest
Reedley College
Reedley, California

Out of the 16 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in California for Practical Nursing that were part of this year’s ranking, Reedley College landed the #5 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Reedley, California, and it awarded 16 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Reedley College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.According to our most recent data, Reedley College supports 6,796 students, and 111 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 58 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $3,918. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Full Reedley College Veteran Student Life Report

6
SRJC crest
Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa, California

Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in California for Practical Nursing ranking. SRJC is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Rosa, California. It awarded 107 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

SRJC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.According to our most recent data, Santa Rosa Junior College supports 16,757 students, and 289 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 223 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $578. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

[Read full report on veteran student life at SRJC]](/colleges/santa-rosa-junior-college/student-life/veterans/)

7
Sacramento City crest
Sacramento City College
Sacramento, California

With a ranking of #7, Sacramento City College did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in California for Practical Nursing list. Sacramento City College is located in Sacramento, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 41 ’s practical nursing degrees to qualified students.

Sacramento City not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Of the 20,027 students enrolled at Sacramento City College, 421 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 270 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $365. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Sacramento City College does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

Full Sacramento City Veteran Student Life Report

8
Riverside City College crest
Riverside City College
Riverside, California

Riverside City College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in California for Practical Nursing ranking. Riverside City College is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 156 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Riverside City College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Among the 20,080 students enrolled at Riverside City College, 327 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 195 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $295. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Riverside City College]](/colleges/riverside-city-college/student-life/veterans/)

9
Butte College crest
Butte College
Oroville, California

Butte College ranked #9 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in California for Practical Nursing list. Butte College is a medium-sized school located in Oroville, California that handed out 78 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our california vets studying practical nursing list, Butte College has also earned the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] rank in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Of the 9,335 students enrolled at Butte College, 250 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 154 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $487. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Read More…

10
College of the Redwoods crest
College of the Redwoods
Eureka, California

With a ranking of #10, College of the Redwoods did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in California for Practical Nursing list. Eureka, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s practical nursing degrees to 42 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at College of the Redwoods, the school also landed the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Of the 3,891 students enrolled at College of the Redwoods, 91 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 43 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $657. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Full College of the Redwoods Veteran Student Life Report

11
IVC crest
Imperial Valley College
Imperial, California

Imperial Valley College did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in California for Practical Nursing ranking, coming in at #11. IVC is a medium-sized school located in Imperial, California that handed out 15 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IVC, the school also landed the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.According to our most recent data, Imperial Valley College supports 7,123 students, and 67 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 29 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $376. During this same period, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Imperial Valley College]](/colleges/imperial-valley-college/student-life/veterans/)

12
SBCC crest
Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara City College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in California for Practical Nursing ranking. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s practical nursing degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.

SBCC also made our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list, coming in at #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS].Our most recent data shows that 154 of the 12,525 students enrolled at Santa Barbara City College were GI Bill® students, of which 102 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $645. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Full SBCC Veteran Student Life Report

13
Mission College crest
Mission College
Santa Clara, California

Mission College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in California for Practical Nursing ranking. Mission College is a public institution located in Santa Clara, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 64 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Mission College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Among the 6,504 students enrolled at Mission College, 112 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 87 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $573. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Mission College]](/colleges/mission-college/student-life/veterans/)

14
College of the Desert crest
College of the Desert
Palm Desert, California

College of the Desert landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in California for Practical Nursing ranking. This fairly large school is located in Palm Desert, California, and it awarded 41 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

College of the Desert also took the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Of the 10,932 students enrolled at College of the Desert, 203 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 128 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $436. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Full College of the Desert Veteran Student Life Report

15
College of the Siskiyous crest
College of the Siskiyous
Weed, California

With a ranking of #15, College of the Siskiyous did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in California for Practical Nursing list. Weed, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s practical nursing degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.

College of the Siskiyous did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Our most recent data shows that 47 of the 1,276 students enrolled at College of the Siskiyous were GI Bill® students, of which 29 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $930. During this same period, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

[Read full report on veteran student life at College of the Siskiyous]](/colleges/college-of-the-siskiyous/student-life/veterans/)

16
Platt College - Los Angeles crest
Platt College - Los Angeles
Alhambra, California

Platt College - Los Angeles ranked #16 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in California for Practical Nursing list. This small school is located in Alhambra, California, and it awarded 30 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Platt College - Los Angeles not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Among the 717 students enrolled at Platt College - Los Angeles, 25 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 21 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $12,978. In addition to receiving other benefits, 4 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% 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 veteran student life at Platt College - Los Angeles]](/colleges/platt-college-los-angeles/student-life/veterans/)

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References

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