2023 Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools
Finding the Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants School for You
In 2020-2021, 84,274 people earned a degree or certificate in practical nursing and nursing assistants, making the major the #187 most popular in the United States.
With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools ranking. This report analyzed 962 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best programs for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
2023 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the United States
Check out the practical nursing programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.
Top 25 Top Schools in Nursing & Nursing Assistants
Our 2023 rankings named Eastern Center for Arts and Technology the best school in the United States for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the large suburb of Willow Grove, Eastern Center for Arts and Technology is a public college with a fairly small student population.
On average, practical nursing graduates from Eastern Center for Arts and Technology take out $15,050 in student loans while working on their degree.
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The excellent programs at Harmony Health Care Institute helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best practical nursing and nursing assistants schools in the United States. Located in the suburb of Merrimack, Harmony Health Care Institute is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
On average, practical nursing graduates from Harmony Health Care Institute take out $12,685 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Out of the 962 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Unitek College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the small city of South San Francisco, Unitek College is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Unitek College take out is $17,305. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $217, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Out of the 962 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Shawsheen Valley School of Practical Nursing landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the suburb of Billerica, Shawsheen Valley School of Practical Nursing is a public school with a small student population.
After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Shawsheen Valley School of Practical Nursing carry an average student debtload of $9,500.
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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Greater Lowell Technical School is a great place for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Greater Lowell Technical School is a small public school located in the large suburb of Tyngsboro.
On average, practical nursing graduates from Greater Lowell Technical School take out $8,500 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Dutchess BOCES-Practical Nursing Program landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Dutchess BOCES-Practical Nursing Program is a fairly small public school located in the large suburb of Poughkeepsie.
After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Dutchess BOCES-Practical Nursing Program carry an average student debtload of $9,525.
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Unitek College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the suburb of Hayward, Unitek College is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Unitek College take out is $17,305. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $217, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Cass Career Center landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Cass RIX School District is a fairly small public school located in the fringe town of Harrisonville.
Practical Nursing majors at Cass RIX School District take out an average of $13,850 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools ranking. Located in the medium-sized city of San Mateo, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts carry an average student debtload of $17,317. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $152.
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Veeb Nassau County School of Practical Nursing landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Veeb Nassau County School of Practical Nursing is a small public school located in the large suburb of Hicksville.
After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Veeb Nassau County School of Practical Nursing carry an average student debtload of $12,104. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $85, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Southeastern Technical Institute landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the rural area of South Easton, Southeastern Technical Institute is a public school with a small student population.
On average, practical nursing graduates from Southeastern Technical Institute take out $15,340 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Saint Michael College of Allied Health did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #12 on the list. Saint Michael College of Allied Health is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Alexandria.
On average, practical nursing graduates from Saint Michael College of Allied Health take out $17,713 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Verve College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the large suburb of Oak Brook, Verve College is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
Practical Nursing majors at Verve College take out an average of $15,151 in student loans while working on their egree.
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With a ranking of #14, Franklin County Career and Technology Center did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the rural area of Chambersburg, Franklin County Career and Technology Center is a public school with a fairly small student population.
While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Franklin County Career and Technology Center accumulate an average of around $15,829 in student debt.
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Blake Austin College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools ranking. Located in the small suburb of Vacaville, Blake Austin College is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Blake Austin College carry an average student debtload of $17,900.
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Southern Worcester County Regional Voc School District did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #16 on the list. Southern Worcester County Regional Voc School District is a small public school located in the rural area of Charlton.
Practical Nursing majors at Southern Worcester County Regional Voc School District take out an average of $10,187 in student loans while working on their egree.
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With a ranking of #17, Monty Tech did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the suburb of Fitchburg, Monty Tech is a public college with a fairly small student population.
The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Monty Tech take out is $9,532.
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With a ranking of #18, Xavier College School of Nursing did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Xavier College School of Nursing is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Stockton.
The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Xavier College School of Nursing take out is $16,757.
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With a ranking of #19, PITC Institute did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the suburb of Wyncote, PITC Institute is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at PITC Institute take out is $18,300.
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Lex La-Ray Technical Center came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools ranking. Located in the town of Lexington, LLRTC is a public college with a small student population.
While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at LLRTC accumulate an average of around $15,881 in student debt.
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With a ranking of #21, Unitek College did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the suburb of Fremont, Unitek College is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Practical Nursing majors at Unitek College take out an average of $19,020 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $207, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Marian College School of Nursing did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #22 on the list. Located in the large city of Van Nuys, Marian College Van Nuys is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Marian College Van Nuys take out is $13,797. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $160, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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With a ranking of #23, Western Area Career & Technology Center did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the rural area of Canonsburg, Western Area Career & Technology Center is a public school with a fairly small student population.
Practical Nursing majors at Western Area Career & Technology Center take out an average of $16,500 in student loans while working on their egree.
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AMG School of Licensed Practical Nursing ranked #24 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools list. AMG School of Licensed Practical Nursing is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn.
After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from AMG School of Licensed Practical Nursing carry an average student debtload of $16,066.
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Homestead Schools landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Homestead Schools is a small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Torrance.
On average, practical nursing graduates from Homestead Schools take out $18,040 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Request InformationRest of the Top 50 Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools
Remaining Award Winners
This list shows the rest of the colleges awarded a Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 962 different United States practical nursing and nursing assistants schools we analyzed.
Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools award.
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants by Region
View the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
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| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
More Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Rankings
Rankings in Majors Related to Practical Nursing
One of 30 majors within the area of study, practical nursing and nursing assistants has other similar majors worth exploring.
Majors Similar to Practical Nursing
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Nursing | 322,592 |
| Health & Medical Administrative Services | 89,359 |
| Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services | 84,492 |
| Allied Health Professions | 82,308 |
| Public Health | 40,596 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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 the rest 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.