2026 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their practical nursing & nursing assistants programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 384 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for practical nursing & nursing assistants students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall practical nursing & nursing assistants education in the Southeast Region.
Top Schools in Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants
Northeast Alabama Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants. Northeast Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rainsville. Northeast Alabama Community College awarded about 67 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their practical nursing & nursing assistants degree from Northeast Alabama Community College earn around $53,855 in the first couple years of their career. Northeast Alabama Community College graduates carry a median of $8,950 in student loans.
More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Northeast Alabama Community College
Chattahoochee Valley Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Set in the suburb of Phenix City, Chattahoochee Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Chattahoochee Valley Community College awarded about 46 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $63,335 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,875 to complete this degree.
Read more about the practical nursing & nursing assistants program at Chattahoochee Valley Community College
Students looking for a strong practical nursing & nursing assistants program will find one at Central Louisiana Technical Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Alexandria, Central Louisiana Technical Community College is a small public institution. About 358 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Central Louisiana Technical Community College in the most recent year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Central Louisiana Technical Community College earn a median of $18,707 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the practical nursing & nursing assistants program at Central Louisiana Technical Community College
Jacksonville University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Jacksonville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. Jacksonville University awarded about 25 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Jacksonville University earn a median of $72,608 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,619.
See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Jacksonville University
Gaston College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Gaston College is a moderately-sized public institution. Gaston College awarded about 223 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Gaston College earn a median of $42,358 early in their careers. Gaston College graduates carry a median of $13,576 in student loans.
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Galen Health Institutes Gainesville earned the #6 position for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the suburb of Gainesville, Galen Health Institutes Gainesville is a small private for-profit institution. Galen Health Institutes Gainesville awarded about 30 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Galen Health Institutes Gainesville
Montgomery Community College came in at #7 for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the rural area of Troy, Montgomery Community College is a small public university. About 15 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Montgomery Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their practical nursing & nursing assistants degree from Montgomery Community College earn around $47,578 in the first couple years of their career.
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Indian River State College placed #8 among the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public university. There were roughly 117 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Indian River State College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their practical nursing & nursing assistants degree from Indian River State College earn around $44,082 in the first couple years of their career. Indian River State College graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
Read more about the practical nursing & nursing assistants program at Indian River State College
Galen Health Institutes Pikeville placed #9 among the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. This small private for-profit university is located in the town of Pikeville. Galen Health Institutes Pikeville awarded about 40 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Galen Health Institutes Pikeville
York Technical College earned the #10 position for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. York Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rock Hill. York Technical College awarded about 106 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their practical nursing & nursing assistants degree from York Technical College earn around $54,238 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,434.
See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for York Technical College
Northwest Arkansas Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. This large public university is located in the city of Bentonville. There were roughly 63 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Northwest Arkansas Community College in the most recent data year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Northwest Arkansas Community College earn a median of $40,671 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,521 to complete this degree.
Read more about the practical nursing & nursing assistants program at Northwest Arkansas Community College
Galen College Of Nursing Louisville earned the #12 position for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the city of Louisville, Galen College Of Nursing Louisville is a moderately-sized private for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 23%. About 52 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Galen College Of Nursing Louisville in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Galen College Of Nursing Louisville generally make around $46,830. Galen College Of Nursing Louisville graduates carry a median of $16,642 in student loans.
See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Galen College Of Nursing Louisville
Mcdowell Technical Community College placed #13 among the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Mcdowell Technical Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Marion. Mcdowell Technical Community College awarded about 18 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their practical nursing & nursing assistants degree from Mcdowell Technical Community College earn around $51,299 in the first couple years of their career.
Read more about the practical nursing & nursing assistants program at Mcdowell Technical Community College
Isothermal Community College landed the #14 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the town of Spindale, Isothermal Community College is a mid-sized public university. Isothermal Community College awarded about 26 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Isothermal Community College earn a median of $51,324 early in their careers. Isothermal Community College graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans.
See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Isothermal Community College
Ecpi University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Ecpi University is a large private for-profit university. Roughly 28% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 747 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Ecpi University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their practical nursing & nursing assistants degree from Ecpi University earn around $51,209 in the first couple years of their career. Ecpi University graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans.
See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Ecpi University
Miami Dade College placed #16 among the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Miami. Miami Dade College awarded about 24 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $40,267 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,967.
More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Miami Dade College
Florida State College At Jacksonville earned the #17 position for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public university. About 44 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Florida State College At Jacksonville in the most recent year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $57,579 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Florida State College At Jacksonville
Palm Beach State College came in at #18 for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a very large public university. About 37 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Palm Beach State College in the most recent year. Students who receive their practical nursing & nursing assistants degree from Palm Beach State College earn around $44,422 in the first couple years of their career. Palm Beach State College graduates carry a median of $9,834 in student loans.
More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Palm Beach State College
Savannah Technical College landed the #19 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the city of Savannah, Savannah Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. About 133 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Savannah Technical College in the most recent year. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Savannah Technical College earn a median of $43,592 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,843.
More information about a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Savannah Technical College
Richmond Community College came in at #20 for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the town of Hamlet, Richmond Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 71 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Richmond Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $42,826 in their early career. Richmond Community College graduates carry a median of $8,407 in student loans.
Read more about the practical nursing & nursing assistants program at Richmond Community College
Sowela Technical Community College landed the #21 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Lake Charles. There were roughly 96 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Sowela Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Sowela Technical Community College generally make around $43,365. Typical student debt for the program is $8,000.
See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Sowela Technical Community College
College Of The Ouachitas landed the #22 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. College Of The Ouachitas is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Malvern. College Of The Ouachitas awarded about 207 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year.
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Tri County Technical College landed the #23 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the suburb of Pendleton, Tri County Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. About 49 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees were awarded at Tri County Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the practical nursing & nursing assistants program make about $49,100 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,506 to complete this degree.
See the full practical nursing & nursing assistants program report for Tri County Technical College
Coastal Pines Technical College landed the #24 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Waycross. There were roughly 160 practical nursing & nursing assistants students who graduated with this degree at Coastal Pines Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Coastal Pines Technical College generally make around $40,728. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the practical nursing & nursing assistants program at Coastal Pines Technical College
Black River Technical College came in at #25 for practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Pocahontas. Black River Technical College awarded about 88 practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their practical nursing & nursing assistants degree from Black River Technical College earn around $30,491 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,950.
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Rest of the Top 50 Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong practical nursing & nursing assistants education:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 384 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.