2027 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate’s Degree Schools
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 51 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants in the United States
See the highest-ranked practical nursing & nursing assistants schools offering a associate’s degree below.
Top Schools in Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants
Leading the list is Green River Community College, our #1 school for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Green River Community College is a large public school located in the city of Auburn. About 188 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Green River Community College in the most recent year.
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Pacific College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants, landing the #2 spot this year. Pacific College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Costa Mesa. About 68 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Pacific College in the most recent year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Pacific College earn a median of $59,213 early in their careers. Pacific College graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans.
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A rank of #3 makes Riverside City College one of the top schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants. This very large public university is located in the city of Riverside. Riverside City College awarded about 390 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their practical nursing & nursing assistants degree from Riverside City College earn around $37,102 in the first couple years of their career. Riverside City College graduates carry a median of $11,424 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong practical nursing & nursing assistants program will find one at Butte College, which ranked #4. Butte College is a large public school located in the rural area of Oroville. About 131 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Butte College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Butte College generally make around $65,467. Typical student debt for the program is $13,382.
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Allan Hancock College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants, ranking #5. Set in the city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a large public institution. Allan Hancock College awarded about 94 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year.
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Bates Technical College landed the #6 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the city of Tacoma, Bates Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. About 26 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Bates Technical College in the most recent year.
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Hartnell College earned the #7 position for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Hartnell College is a large public school located in the city of Salinas. About 27 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Hartnell College in the most recent year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $63,321 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,000.
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Santa Barbara City College landed the #8 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. This large public university is located in the city of Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara City College awarded about 20 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Santa Barbara City College generally make around $68,184. Santa Barbara City College graduates carry a median of $21,090 in student loans.
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Sacramento City College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. There were roughly 33 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Sacramento City College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Sacramento City College generally make around $46,522. Sacramento City College graduates carry a median of $13,180 in student loans.
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Central Louisiana Technical Community College earned the #10 position for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. This small public university is located in the city of Alexandria. About 260 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Central Louisiana Technical Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $18,707 in their early career. Central Louisiana Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans.
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Carrington College California Sacramento landed the #11 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the suburb of Sacramento, Carrington College California Sacramento is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. There were roughly 52 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Carrington College California Sacramento in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Carrington College California Sacramento generally make around $65,035. Carrington College California Sacramento graduates carry a median of $32,832 in student loans.
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Dickinson State University landed the #12 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the town of Dickinson, Dickinson State University is a small public university. About 48% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Dickinson State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their practical nursing & nursing assistants degree from Dickinson State University earn around $51,049 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,807.
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Mission College came in at #13 for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. This large public university is located in the city of Santa Clara. About 37 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Mission College in the most recent year. Students borrow a median of $17,223 to complete this degree.
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San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield earned the #14 position for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the city of Bakersfield, San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield is a small private for-profit institution. San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield awarded about 60 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $51,744 in their early career. San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
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College Of The Redwoods placed #15 among the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the rural area of Eureka, College Of The Redwoods is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 20 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Redwoods in the most recent data year. Students who receive their practical nursing & nursing assistants degree from College Of The Redwoods earn around $98,703 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
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Rio Hondo College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Set in the rural area of Whittier, Rio Hondo College is a very large public institution. About 13 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Rio Hondo College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Rio Hondo College generally make around $95,666. Typical student debt for the program is $15,510.
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Imperial Valley College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Set in the rural area of Imperial, Imperial Valley College is a large public institution. About 23 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Imperial Valley College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Imperial Valley College generally make around $42,617. Imperial Valley College graduates carry a median of $6,176 in student loans.
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Del Mar College came in at #18 for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Del Mar College is a large public school located in the city of Corpus Christi. Del Mar College awarded about 92 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Del Mar College generally make around $40,661. Del Mar College graduates carry a median of $7,476 in student loans.
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Merced College earned the #19 position for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the city of Merced, Merced College is a large public university. Merced College awarded about 212 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $47,114 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,250.
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Sowela Technical Community College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the city of Lake Charles, Sowela Technical Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 24 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Sowela Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $43,365 in their early career. Sowela Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $8,000 in student loans.
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San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Mirage earned the #21 position for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the suburb of Rancho Mirage, San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Mirage is a small private for-profit university. San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Mirage awarded about 29 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Mirage generally make around $51,744. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
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Citrus College placed #22 among the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a large public university. About 23 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Citrus College in the most recent year.
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South Louisiana Community College came in at #23 for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. South Louisiana Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Lafayette. There were roughly 170 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at South Louisiana Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their practical nursing & nursing assistants degree from South Louisiana Community College earn around $40,153 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,214.
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San Joaquin Valley College Visalia landed the #24 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the city of Visalia, San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. There were roughly 16 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at San Joaquin Valley College Visalia in the most recent data year. Students who receive their practical nursing & nursing assistants degree from San Joaquin Valley College Visalia earn around $51,744 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
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San Joaquin Valley College Santa Maria placed #25 among the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the city of Santa Maria, San Joaquin Valley College Santa Maria is a small private for-profit university. About 21 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at San Joaquin Valley College Santa Maria in the most recent year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $51,744 in their early career. San Joaquin Valley College Santa Maria graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from San Joaquin Valley College Santa Maria
Rest of the Top 50 Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools
These schools also placed among the best for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year:
Other Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Degree Levels
Explore the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools at other degree levels:
View All Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 51 schools evaluated.
- 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.