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2026 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region

5 Colleges in the United States
23,997 Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Degrees Awarded
$40,997 Avg Early-Career Salary

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

1

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

2

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

3

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

4
Jacksonville University crest
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville, FL

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

5
Gaston College crest
Gaston College
Dallas, NC

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

6

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

7

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

8

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

9

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

10

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

11

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

12

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

13

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

14

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

15
Ecpi University crest
Ecpi University
Virginia Beach, VA

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

16

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

17

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

18

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

19

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

20

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

21

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

22

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

23

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

24

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

25

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. Get the full practical nursing & nursing assistants details for Black River Technical 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:

26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
Gwinnett Technical College crest
Gwinnett Technical College
Lawrenceville, GA
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
Germanna Community College crest
Germanna Community College
Locust Grove, VA
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
Gulf Coast State College crest
Gulf Coast State College
Panama City, FL
48
49
50

View All Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Rankings >

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.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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