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Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region

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2023 Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region

106 Colleges
$41,012 Avg Salary
$17,391 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants School for You

Out of all the majors we analyze each year, practical nursing and nursing assistants was ranked #21 in the country. In fact 84,274 degrees and certificates were handed out in 2020-2021.

There are so many healthcare programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Healthcare Degree Search has developed this Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 106 schools in the Far Western US Region to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for healthcare students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for practical nursing majors pursuing a .

Top 15% Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools

#1

Unitek College

South San Francisco, CA

Our 2023 rankings named Unitek College the best school in the Far Western US Region for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the small city of South San Francisco, Unitek College is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Unitek College carry an average student debtload of $17,305. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $217.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Unitek College Report

#2

Unitek College

Hayward, CA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Unitek College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in the suburb of Hayward, Unitek College is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Unitek College carry an average student debtload of $17,305. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $217.

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

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a great place for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the city of San Mateo, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts accumulate an average of around $17,317 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $152.

Read More…

#4

Blake Austin College

Vacaville, CA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Blake Austin College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in the small suburb of Vacaville, Blake Austin College is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Blake Austin College accumulate an average of around $17,900 in student debt.

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The excellent programs at Xavier College School of Nursing helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best practical nursing and nursing assistants schools in the Far Western US Region . Xavier College School of Nursing is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Stockton.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Xavier College School of Nursing carry an average student debtload of $16,757.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Xavier College School of Nursing

#6

Unitek College

Fremont, CA

Unitek College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the large suburb of Fremont, Unitek College is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Unitek College take out $19,020 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $207, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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

Marian College School of Nursing came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in the large city of Van Nuys, Marian College Van Nuys is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Marian College Van Nuys carry an average student debtload of $13,797. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $160.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Marian College School of Nursing

#8

Homestead Schools

Torrance, CA

Homestead Schools came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Homestead Schools is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Torrance.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Homestead Schools take out is $18,040.

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Marian College School of Nursing came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, Marian College Los Angeles is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Marian College Los Angeles take out $13,797 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $160.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Marian College School of Nursing

#10

Stanbridge University

Irvine, CA

Stanbridge University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Stanbridge is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Irvine.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Stanbridge carry an average student debtload of $20,000. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $176, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Stanbridge University Report

Career Development Institute Inc did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, Career Development Institute Inc is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Career Development Institute Inc carry an average student debtload of $16,873.

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With a ranking of #12, Institute of Technology did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Institute of Technology is a small private for-profit school located in the midsize suburb of Salem.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Institute of Technology take out is $15,833. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $201, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Institute of Technology Report

#13

California Career Institute

Garden Grove, CA

California Career Institute came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. California Career Institute is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Garden Grove.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at California Career Institute accumulate an average of around $17,363 in student debt.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at California Career Institute

#14

Pacific College

Costa Mesa, CA

Pacific College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #14 on the list. Pacific College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the midsize city of Costa Mesa.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Pacific College accumulate an average of around $20,000 in student debt.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Pacific College Report

#15

Sumner College

Portland, OR

Sumner College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Sumner College is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Portland.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Sumner College accumulate an average of around $16,500 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $167.

Read More…

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 in the Far Western US Region award.

Rank College Location
16 American Career College - Ontario Ontario, CA
17 CES College Burbank, CA
18 West Coast Ultrasound Institute Beverly Hills, CA
19 Merced College Merced, CA
20 Carrington College, Sacramento Sacramento, CA
21 Integrity College of Health Pasadena, CA

Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Colleges by State

Explore the best practical nursing and nursing assistants schools for a specific state in the Far Western US region.

State Degrees Awarded
California 1,055
Washington 113
Nevada 0

One of 30 majors within the healthcare area of study, practical nursing and nursing assistants has other similar majors worth exploring.

Practical Nursing Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training 44,900
Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide 34,557
Other Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants 4,817

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.

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