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2027 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate’s Degree Schools

51 Colleges in the United States
5,892 Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Degrees Awarded
$47,734 Avg Early-Career Salary

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

1

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. Get the full practical nursing & nursing assistants details for Green River Community College

2
Pacific College crest
Pacific College
Costa Mesa, CA

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. Get the full practical nursing & nursing assistants details for Pacific College

3

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. See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Riverside City College

4
Butte College crest
Butte College
Oroville, CA

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. See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Butte College

5
Allan Hancock College crest
Allan Hancock College
Santa Maria, CA

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. Get the full practical nursing & nursing assistants details for Allan Hancock College

6

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. More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Bates Technical College

7
Hartnell College crest
Hartnell College
Salinas, CA

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. More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Hartnell College

8
Santa Barbara City College crest
Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara, CA

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. More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Santa Barbara City College

9
Sacramento City College crest
Sacramento City College
Sacramento, CA

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. See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Sacramento City College

10

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. Read more about the practical nursing & nursing assistants program at Central Louisiana Technical Community College

11

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. More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Carrington College California Sacramento

12

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. See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Dickinson State University

13
Mission College crest
Mission College
Santa Clara, CA

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. Get the full practical nursing & nursing assistants details for Mission College

14

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. Get the full practical nursing & nursing assistants details for San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield

15

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. See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for College Of The Redwoods

16
Rio Hondo College crest
Rio Hondo College
Whittier, CA

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. Get the full practical nursing & nursing assistants details for Rio Hondo College

17

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. Read more about the practical nursing & nursing assistants program at Imperial Valley College

18
Del Mar College crest
Del Mar College
Corpus Christi, TX

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. See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Del Mar College

19
Merced College crest
Merced College
Merced, CA

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. Get the full practical nursing & nursing assistants details for Merced College

20

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. See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Sowela Technical Community College

21

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. See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Mirage

22
Citrus College crest
Citrus College
Glendora, CA

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. Read more about the practical nursing & nursing assistants program at Citrus College

23

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. Get the full practical nursing & nursing assistants details for South Louisiana Community College

24

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. More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from San Joaquin Valley College Visalia

25

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:

26
27
Long Beach City College crest
Long Beach City College
Long Beach, CA
28
29
30
31
Hennepin Technical College crest
Hennepin Technical College
Brooklyn Park, MN
32
33
Arkansas Tech University crest
Arkansas Tech University
Russellville, AR
34
Chaffey College crest
Chaffey College
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
Unitek College crest
Unitek College
Fremont, CA
42
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45
Pitc Institute crest
Pitc Institute
Wyncote, PA
46
47
Ata College crest
Ata College
Louisville, KY
48
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50

Other Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Degree Levels

Explore the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools at other degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants
Bachelor's Degrees in Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants

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.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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