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2023 Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

962 Colleges
$4,436 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$36,863 Avg Salary

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.

The Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 962 schools in the United States to see which programs offered the best value experiences for practical nursing students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

2023 Best Value 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 value for your educational dollar.

Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality in Nursing & Nursing Assistants

#1

Coahoma Community College

Clarksdale, MS
$3,003 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Coahoma Community College to be the best value school for practical nursing and nursing assistants students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. Coahoma Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Clarksdale.

Coahoma Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $3,003 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Coahoma Community College carry an average student debtload of $9,250.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Coahoma Community College Report

$3,780 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Southeast Community College Area. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools list. Southeast Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the large city of Lincoln.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southeast Community College are $3,780 per year. While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Southeast Community College accumulate an average of around $18,486 in student debt.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Southeast Community College Area

$2,280 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend New Mexico Junior College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools list. Located in the remote town of Hobbs, New Mexico Junior College is a public school with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at New Mexico Junior College are $2,280 per year.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at New Mexico Junior College Report

$4,109 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools list. NLTCC is a fairly small public school located in the rural area of Minden.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NLTCC are $4,109 per year. On average, practical nursing graduates from NLTCC take out $12,125 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College Report

$2,984 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Clovis Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools list. Located in the remote town of Clovis, Clovis Community College is a public school with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Clovis Community College are $2,984 per year. The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Clovis Community College take out is $10,122.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Clovis Community College

$4,098 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #6, Central Louisiana Technical Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Central Louisiana Technical Community College is a small public school located in the city of Alexandria.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Central Louisiana Technical Community College are $4,098 per year. On average, practical nursing graduates from Central Louisiana Technical Community College take out $9,500 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

$3,570 Average Tuition & Fees

Cloud County Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #7 on the list. Cloud County Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Concordia.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cloud County Community College are $3,570 per year.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Cloud County Community College Report

$4,450 Average Tuition & Fees

Northwest Technical Institute landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the city of Springdale, NTI is a public college with a small student population.

NTI undergraduate students pay an average of $4,450 in tuition and fees each year.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Northwest Technical Institute Report

$4,205 Average Tuition & Fees

South Louisiana Community College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. South Louisiana Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Lafayette.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at South Louisiana Community College are $4,205 per year. The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at South Louisiana Community College take out is $15,761.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at South Louisiana Community College Report

$4,000 Average Tuition & Fees

Neosho County Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools ranking. Located in the town of Chanute, Neosho County Community College is a public school with a small student population.

Neosho County Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,000 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Neosho County Community College accumulate an average of around $13,137 in student debt.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Neosho County Community College

#11

Central Community College

Grand Island, NE
$4,590 Average Tuition & Fees

Central Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools ranking. Located in the city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

Central Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,590 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Central Community College carry an average student debtload of $10,322.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Central Community College Report

#12

Panola College

Carthage, TX

With a ranking of #12, Panola College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Panola College is a small public school located in the distant town of Carthage.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Panola College are $4,680 per year.

In addition to its great value ranking, Panola College is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools list.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Panola College Report

$4,320 Average Tuition & Fees

Arkansas State University - Newport ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools list. ASUN is a small public school located in the rural area of Newport.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at ASUN are $4,320 per year. On average, practical nursing graduates from ASUN take out $12,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Arkansas State University - Newport

#14

Hutchinson Community College

Hutchinson, KS
$4,470 Average Tuition & Fees

Hutchinson Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools ranking. Located in the town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Hutchinson Community College are $4,470 a year. After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Hutchinson Community College carry an average student debtload of $14,905.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Hutchinson Community College Report

Madison Area Technical College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools list. Madison College is a large public school located in the large city of Madison.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Madison College are $6,769 per year. After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Madison College carry an average student debtload of $15,173.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Madison College also is in the top 5% of our Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools ranking.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Madison Area Technical College Report

$4,826 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #16, Western Iowa Tech Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the small city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Western Iowa Tech Community College are $4,826 per year. The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Western Iowa Tech Community College take out is $13,346.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Western Iowa Tech Community College Report

#17

Amarillo College

Amarillo, TX
$4,704 Average Tuition & Fees

Amarillo College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in the midsize city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Amarillo College are $4,704 a year. Practical Nursing majors at Amarillo College take out an average of $13,682 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Amarillo College

Metropolitan Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #18 on the list. MCC is a fairly large public school located in the city of Omaha.

MCC undergraduate students pay an average of $4,680 in tuition and fees each year.

Read More…

#19

Centralia College

Centralia, WA
$5,239 Average Tuition & Fees

Centralia College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools ranking. Located in the town of Centralia, Centralia College is a public school with a small student population.

Centralia College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,239 in tuition and fees each year.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Centralia College Report

$4,265 Average Tuition & Fees

SOWELA Technical Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools ranking. Located in the small city of Lake Charles, SOWELA is a public school with a small student population.

SOWELA undergraduate students pay an average of $4,265 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from SOWELA carry an average student debtload of $9,000.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at SOWELA Technical Community College

$4,906 Average Tuition & Fees

Coastal Pines Technical College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools ranking. Coastal Pines Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Waycross.

Coastal Pines Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,906 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Coastal Pines Technical College accumulate an average of around $6,326 in student debt.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Coastal Pines Technical College Report

#22

Tyler Junior College

Tyler, TX
$4,440 Average Tuition & Fees

Tyler Junior College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #22 on the list. Tyler Junior College is a large public school located in the midsize city of Tyler.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Tyler Junior College are $4,440 per year. On average, practical nursing graduates from Tyler Junior College take out $12,883 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Tyler Junior College Report

#23

Universidad del Turabo

Gurabo, PR
$5,820 Average Tuition & Fees

Universidad del Turabo came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools ranking. Universidad del Turabo is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Gurabo.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Universidad del Turabo are $5,820 per year. On average, practical nursing graduates from Universidad del Turabo take out $25,401 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

#24

Moraine Park Technical College

Fond du Lac, WI

Moraine Park Technical College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools ranking. Located in the city of Fond du Lac, Moraine Park Technical College is a public college with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Moraine Park Technical College are $6,683 per year. Practical Nursing majors at Moraine Park Technical College take out an average of $6,975 in student loans while working on their egree.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Moraine Park Technical College also is in the top 15% of our Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools ranking.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Moraine Park Technical College

#25

Garden City Community College

Garden City, KS
$4,020 Average Tuition & Fees

Garden City Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #25 on the list. Located in the town of Garden City, Garden City Community College is a public school with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Garden City Community College are $4,020 a year. The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Garden City Community College take out is $12,012.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Garden City Community College Report

Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools

#26

Century College

White Bear Lake, MN
#28

Victoria College

Victoria, TX
#29

South Plains College

Levelland, TX
#35

Johnson County Community College

Overland Park, KS
#36

El Centro College

Dallas, TX
#37

Blackhawk Technical College

Janesville, WI
#42

College of the Mainland

Texas City, TX
#45

Dodge City Community College

Dodge City, KS
#46

Clarendon College

Clarendon, TX
#50

Lake Region State College

Devils Lake, ND

Remaining Award Winners

This list shows the rest of the colleges awarded a Best Value 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.

Rank College Location
51 Anoka Technical College Anoka, MN
52 Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins, GA
53 Inver Hills Community College Inver Grove Heights, MN
54 Mid-Plains Community College North Platte, NE
55 Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WI
56 Chattahoochee Technical College Marietta, GA
57 Seward County Community College Liberal, KS
58 Lake Area Technical Institute Watertown, SD
59 Louisiana Delta Community College Monroe, LA
60 St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud, MN
61 The University of Texas at Brownsville Brownsville, TX
62 New Mexico State University - Carlsbad Carlsbad, NM
63 Southern Regional Technical College Thomasville, GA
64 Camden County College Blackwood, NJ
65 Merced College Merced, CA
66 Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay, WI
66 Del Mar College Corpus Christi, TX
68 Northeast Texas Community College Mount Pleasant, TX
69 Barton County Community College Great Bend, KS
70 Wharton County Junior College Wharton, TX
70 Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN
72 NorthWest Arkansas Community College Bentonville, AR
73 Angelina College Lufkin, TX
73 Dakota County Technical College Rosemount, MN
75 Waukesha County Technical College Pewaukee, WI
76 Georgia Northwestern Technical College Rome, GA
77 Marshalltown Community College Marshalltown, IA
78 El Paso Community College El Paso, TX
79 Galveston College Galveston, TX
80 Lee College Baytown, TX
81 Washburn Institute of Technology Topeka, KS
81 Rochester Community and Technical College Rochester, MN
83 Kansas City Kansas Community College Kansas City, KS
83 Fletcher Technical Community College Schriever, LA
85 Odessa College Odessa, TX
86 Labette Community College Parsons, KS
87 Northeast Community College Norfolk, NE
88 University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Mena, AR
89 John D Rockefeller IV Career Center New Cumberland, WV
90 South Arkansas Community College El Dorado, AR
91 Saint Paul College Saint Paul, MN
92 Gwinnett Technical College Lawrenceville, GA
92 Southeastern Community College West Burlington, IA
94 Houston Community College Houston, TX
95 Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar, IA
96 College of Eastern Idaho Idaho Falls, ID
97 Ridgewater College Willmar, MN
98 State Fair Community College Sedalia, MO
98 Southeast Technical College Sioux Falls, SD
100 Western Technical College La Crosse, WI
101 Southern Crescent Technical College Griffin, GA
102 Savannah Technical College Savannah, GA
103 Augusta Technical College Augusta, GA
104 Navarro College Corsicana, TX
104 Butte College Oroville, CA
106 Clover Park Technical College Lakewood, WA
107 Kilgore College Kilgore, TX
108 Big Bend Community College Moses Lake, WA
109 Pearl River Community College Poplarville, MS
110 Eastern Iowa Community College District Davenport, IA
111 Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN
112 McLennan Community College Waco, TX
113 McDowell Technical Community College Marion, NC
114 Northwest Iowa Community College Sheldon, IA
115 North Central Kansas Technical College Beloit, KS
116 Flint Hills Technical College Emporia, KS
117 Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Fennimore, WI
117 Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls, MN
119 Itawamba Community College Fulton, MS
120 Ozarks Technical Community College Springfield, MO
121 Laredo College Laredo, TX
121 Southeastern Technical College Vidalia, GA
123 Delta College University Center, MI
124 Lake Superior College Duluth, MN
125 Vernon College Vernon, TX
126 Minnesota State College Southeast Winona, MN
127 Lanier Technical College Oakwood, GA
128 North Central Texas College Gainesville, TX
129 Mid-State Technical College Wisconsin Rapids, WI
130 University of New Mexico - Gallup Campus Gallup, NM
131 Holmes Community College Goodman, MS
132 Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology Wichita, KS
133 Mississippi Delta Community College Moorhead, MS
134 West Georgia Technical College Waco, GA
135 Bismarck State College Bismarck, ND
136 College of the Sequoias Visalia, CA
137 Oregon Coast Community College Newport, OR
138 Howard College Big Spring, TX
139 Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas Helena, AR
140 Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis, MN
141 San Juan College Farmington, NM
142 North Shore Community College Danvers, MA
143 GateWay Community College Phoenix, AZ
143 Ogeechee Technical College Statesboro, GA
143 Arkansas State University Three Rivers Malvern, AR

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 Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools award.

Rank College Location
146 South Central College North Mankato, MN
147 Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs, IA
148 Delgado Community College New Orleans, LA
149 Colby Community College Colby, KS
150 Cuesta College San Luis Obispo, CA
151 Georgia Piedmont Technical College Clarkston, GA
152 Mount Wachusett Community College Gardner, MA
153 Bellingham Technical College Bellingham, WA
154 Kellogg Community College Battle Creek, MI
154 Cayuga Onondaga BOCES - Practical Nursing Program Auburn, NY
156 Highland Community College Freeport, IL
157 Midland College Midland, TX
157 Northwest Technical College Bemidji, MN
159 Grayson College Denison, TX
160 Temple College Temple, TX
161 Saint Michael College of Allied Health Alexandria, VA
161 Imperial Valley College Imperial, CA
163 Lone Star College System The Woodlands, TX
164 Texarkana College Texarkana, TX
165 Colorado Northwestern Community College Rangely, CO
166 Nunez Community College Chalmette, LA
166 North Iowa Area Community College Mason City, IA
168 Lakeshore Technical College Cleveland, WI
168 Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa, CA
168 St Charles Community College Cottleville, MO
171 Forsyth Technical Community College Winston-Salem, NC
172 Otero Junior College La Junta, CO
173 Central Lakes College - Brainerd Brainerd, MN
174 Napa Valley College Napa, CA
175 Trident Technical College Charleston, SC
176 University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College North Little Rock, AR
177 Southwest Texas Junior College Uvalde, TX
178 John A Logan College Carterville, IL
179 South Georgia Technical College Americus, GA
180 Santa Fe Community College Santa Fe, NM
181 North Central Missouri College Trenton, MO
182 Copiah-Lincoln Community College Wesson, MS
182 Baltimore City Community College Baltimore, MD
184 Mitchell Technical College Mitchell, SD
184 Black Hawk College Moline, IL
186 South Piedmont Community College Polkton, NC
186 Manhattan Area Technical College Manhattan, KS
186 James A Rhodes State College Lima, OH
189 Lower Columbia College Longview, WA
189 North Georgia Technical College Clarkesville, GA
189 West Shore Community College Scottville, MI
189 Arkansas State University - Mountain Home Mountain Home, AR

Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants by Region

View the Best Value Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

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.

  • 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.

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