2026 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate’s Degree Schools
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1309 schools to find the best for practical nursing & nursing assistants students.
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
Bates Technical College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants. Set in the city of Tacoma, Bates Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 105 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Bates Technical College in the most recent data year.
Read more about the practical nursing & nursing assistants program at Bates Technical College
Pacific College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Pacific College is a small private for-profit university. There were roughly 59 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Pacific College in the most recent data year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Pacific College earn a median of $59,213 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,125.
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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 #3. This large public university is located in the city of Santa Maria. Allan Hancock College awarded about 112 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year.
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Riverside City College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants, landing the #4 spot this year. Riverside City College is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. Riverside City College awarded about 240 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Riverside City College earn a median of $37,102 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,424 to complete this degree.
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Central Louisiana Technical Community 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 Alexandria, Central Louisiana Technical Community College is a small public institution. There were roughly 218 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Central Louisiana Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Central Louisiana Technical Community College earn a median of $18,707 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,500.
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Green River Community College placed #6 among the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Green River Community College is a large public school located in the city of Auburn. Green River Community College awarded about 168 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year.
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Dickinson State University placed #7 among the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Set in the town of Dickinson, Dickinson State University is a small public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. Dickinson State University awarded about 14 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees 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
Southwestern College Chula Vista came in at #8 for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the city of Chula Vista, Southwestern College Chula Vista is a very large public institution. Southwestern College Chula Vista awarded about 106 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Southwestern College Chula Vista earn a median of $49,358 early in their careers. Southwestern College Chula Vista graduates carry a median of $11,205 in student loans.
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Hartnell College landed the #9 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public university. About 23 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Hartnell College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Hartnell College generally make around $63,321. Typical student debt for the program is $6,000.
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Carrington College California Sacramento ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. This mid-sized private for-profit university is located in the suburb of Sacramento. Carrington College California Sacramento awarded about 56 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees 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. Students borrow a median of $32,832 to complete this degree.
See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Carrington College California Sacramento
Sacramento City College earned the #11 position for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 16 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Sacramento City College in the most recent data year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Sacramento City College earn a median of $46,522 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,180.
See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Sacramento City College
Sowela Technical Community College placed #12 among the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the city of Lake Charles, Sowela Technical Community College is a mid-sized public university. Sowela Technical Community College awarded about 33 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $43,365 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,000.
More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Sowela Technical Community College
San Joaquin Valley College Santa Maria placed #13 among the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. San Joaquin Valley College Santa Maria is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Santa Maria. San Joaquin Valley College Santa Maria awarded about 45 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of San Joaquin Valley College Santa Maria earn a median of $51,744 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,684.
More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from San Joaquin Valley College Santa Maria
Mission College came in at #14 for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Mission College is a large public school located in the city of Santa Clara. About 38 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.
See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Mission College
Del Mar College came in at #15 for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. This large public university is located in the city of Corpus Christi. There were roughly 107 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Del Mar College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their practical nursing & nursing assistants degree from Del Mar College earn around $40,661 in the first couple years of their career. Del Mar College graduates carry a median of $7,476 in student loans.
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San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield came in at #16 for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the city of Bakersfield, San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield is a small private for-profit university. San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield awarded about 67 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield earn a median of $51,744 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield
Imperial Valley College landed the #17 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the rural area of Imperial, Imperial Valley College is a large public institution. Imperial Valley College awarded about 19 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $42,617 in their early career. Imperial Valley College graduates carry a median of $6,176 in student loans.
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Rio Hondo College earned the #18 position for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. This very large public university is located in the rural area of Whittier. About 12 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Rio Hondo College in the most recent year. Students who receive their practical nursing & nursing assistants degree from Rio Hondo College earn around $95,666 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,510 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Rio Hondo College
Long Beach City College earned the #19 position for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Long Beach City College is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. About 35 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Long Beach City College in the most recent year. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete this degree.
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Citrus College landed the #20 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Glendora. There were roughly 24 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Citrus College in the most recent data year.
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San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Mirage earned the #21 position for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the suburb of Rancho Mirage. San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Mirage awarded about 27 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Mirage earn a median of $51,744 early in their careers. San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Mirage graduates carry a median of $15,712 in student loans.
See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Mirage
San Joaquin Valley College Visalia ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the city of Visalia, San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is a mid-sized private for-profit university. San Joaquin Valley College Visalia awarded about 47 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of San Joaquin Valley College Visalia earn a median of $51,744 early in their careers. San Joaquin Valley College Visalia graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for San Joaquin Valley College Visalia
College Of The Desert earned the #23 position for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the city of Palm Desert, College Of The Desert is a large public university. College Of The Desert awarded about 11 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their practical nursing & nursing assistants degree from College Of The Desert earn around $41,295 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,826.
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South Louisiana Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Set in the city of Lafayette, South Louisiana Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 263 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at South Louisiana Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from South Louisiana Community College generally make around $40,153. Typical student debt for the program is $20,214.
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Gavilan College came in at #25 for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the rural area of Gilroy, Gavilan College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 27 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Gavilan College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Gavilan College generally make around $28,496. Typical student debt for the program is $5,939.
More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Gavilan College
Rest of the Top 50 Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong practical nursing & nursing assistants education:
Other Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants rankings across degree levels:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 1309 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.
