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2023 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools

1,276 Colleges
$36,863 Avg Salary
$15,708 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants School for You

Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants is the #21 most popular major in the country with 84,274 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for healthcare students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Healthcare Degree Search has created its Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 1,276 schools in the United States to see which programs were the most popular for healthcare students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants program at each school on the list.

Check out the practical nursing programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the United States.

#1

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN

Our analysis found Ivy Tech Community College to be the most popular school for practical nursing and nursing assistants students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. Ivy Tech Community College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Indianapolis.

Practical Nursing majors at Ivy Tech Community College take out an average of $14,751 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#2

Unitek College

Fremont, CA

The excellent programs at Unitek College 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. Unitek College is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Fremont.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Unitek College take out is $19,020. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $207.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools list. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a small private for-profit school located in the city of San Mateo.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts carry an average student debt load of $17,317. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $152.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools list. NWTC is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at NWTC accumulate an average of around $15,210 in student debt.

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#5

ECPI University

Virginia Beach, VA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend ECPI University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools list. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, ECPI University is a private for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from ECPI University carry an average student debt load of $25,850. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $137.

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Bluegrass Community and Technical College ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools list. Bluegrass Community and Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the large city of Lexington.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Bluegrass Community and Technical College take out is $13,050.

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Gateway Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #7 on the list. Gateway Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Kenosha.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Gateway Technical College accumulate an average of around $12,750 in student debt.

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Fox Valley Technical College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. FVTC is a fairly large public school located in the midsize suburb of Appleton.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at FVTC take out is $14,176.

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With a ranking of #9, Waukesha County Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the large suburb of Pewaukee, WCTC is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at WCTC accumulate an average of around $11,992 in student debt.

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#10

Hondros College of Nursing

Westerville, OH

Hondros College of Nursing came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools ranking. Located in the large suburb of Westerville, Hondros College of Nursing is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Practical Nursing majors at Hondros College of Nursing take out an average of $21,651 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $110.

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Chippewa Valley Technical College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools ranking. Located in the city of Eau Claire, CVTC is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from CVTC carry an average student debt load of $14,435.

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Madison Area Technical College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the city of Madison, Madison College is a public college with a large student population.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Madison College take out is $15,173.

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#13

College of Lake County

Grayslake, IL

College of Lake County ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools list. Located in the large suburb of Grayslake, College of Lake County is a public college with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at College of Lake County take out is $12,000.

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Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. WSU Tech is a small public school located in the rural area of Wichita.

On average, practical nursing graduates from WSU Tech take out $20,266 in student loans while working on their degree.

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Columbus State Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools list. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State is a public college with a fairly large student population.

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#16

Moraine Park Technical College

Fond du Lac, WI

Moraine Park Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #16 on the list. Moraine Park Technical College is a small public school located in the small city of Fond du Lac.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Moraine Park Technical College take out is $6,975.

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Mountainland Technical College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools ranking. Located in the suburb of Lehi, Mountainland Technical College is a public college with a small student population.

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Jefferson Community and Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #18 on the list. Jefferson Community and Technical College is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Louisville.

Practical Nursing majors at Jefferson Community and Technical College take out an average of $16,579 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#19

Davis Technical College

Kaysville, UT

Davis Technical College ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools list. Davis Tech is a small public school located in the suburb of Kaysville.

Practical Nursing majors at Davis Tech take out an average of $8,367 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#20

Access Careers

Hempstead, NY

Access Careers ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools list. Access Careers is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead.

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With a ranking of #21, Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio is a small private for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio carry an average student debt load of $16,353. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $107.

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Western Iowa Tech Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools list. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Western Iowa Tech Community College take out is $13,346.

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William Rainey Harper College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools ranking. Harper College is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Palatine.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Harper College accumulate an average of around $9,400 in student debt.

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#24

Johnson County Community College

Overland Park, KS

Johnson County Community College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the medium-sized city of Overland Park, JCCC is a public college with a large student population.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at JCCC take out is $13,500.

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Milwaukee Area Technical College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. MATC is a large public school located in the city of Milwaukee.

Practical Nursing majors at MATC take out an average of $20,394 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#33

Infinity College

Lafayette, LA
#34

Hutchinson Community College

Hutchinson, KS
#35

Jersey College

Teterboro, NJ
#36

RGV Careers

Pharr, TX
#37

College of Southern Nevada

Las Vegas, NV
#39

Summit College

Colton, CA
#40

Kaskaskia College

Centralia, IL
#41

Madisonville Community College

Madisonville, KY
#42

Lincoln Land Community College

Springfield, IL
#46

Access Careers Islandia

Islandia, NY
#47

Central Georgia Technical College

Warner Robins, GA
#49

Highland Community College

Highland, KS

Additional Award Winners

This list shows the rest of the schools awarded a Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 1276 different United States practical nursing and nursing assistants schools we analyzed.

Rank College Location
50 Blackhawk Technical College Janesville, WI
52 John A Logan College Carterville, IL
53 Isabella Graham Hart School of Practical Nursing Rochester, NY
54 Heartland Community College Normal, IL
54 Coastal Pines Technical College Waycross, GA
56 Institute of Technology Clovis, CA
57 Saint Paul College Saint Paul, MN
58 South Texas College McAllen, TX
59 American Career College - Ontario Ontario, CA
60 Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Fennimore, WI
61 Butler Tech - D Russel Lee Career Center Hamilton, OH
61 Front Range Community College Westminster, CO
63 Kansas City Kansas Community College Kansas City, KS
64 Southern Regional Technical College Thomasville, GA
65 Washburn Institute of Technology Topeka, KS
65 Big Sandy Community and Technical College Prestonsburg, KY
67 Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Bowling Green, KY
67 Louisiana Delta Community College Monroe, LA
67 City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College Chicago, IL
67 Snow College Ephraim, UT
71 Mid-State Technical College Wisconsin Rapids, WI
72 Wallace State Community College, Hanceville Hanceville, AL
73 Carrington College, Sacramento Sacramento, CA
74 College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, IL
75 Northwest Mississippi Community College Senatobia, MS
76 Uintah Basin Technical College Roosevelt, UT
77 AMG School of Licensed Practical Nursing Brooklyn, NY
78 Neosho County Community College Chanute, KS
79 Apollo Career Center Lima, OH
80 South Florida Institute of Technology Miami, FL
81 Universidad del Turabo Gurabo, PR
82 Western Technical College La Crosse, WI
82 American Career College - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA
84 Oakton Community College Des Plaines, IL
85 Northshore Technical Community College Bogalusa, LA
86 Kiamichi Technology Center-McAlester McAlester, OK
87 Lincoln Technical Institute - Lincoln Lincoln, RI
88 Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, IL
89 New Age Training New York, NY
90 Sumner College Portland, OR
91 Healthcare Career College Paramount, CA
92 Lincoln Technical Institute - Moorestown Moorestown, NJ
92 North Central Kansas Technical College Beloit, KS
94 Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills, IL
94 Dorsey College, Woodhaven Woodhaven, MI
94 Iowa Central Community College Fort Dodge, IA
97 Salina Area Technical College Salina, KS
98 Joliet Junior College Joliet, IL
99 Tulsa Technology Center Tulsa, OK
100 Northland Community and Technical College Thief River Falls, MN
101 College of the Sequoias Visalia, CA
101 Somerset Community College Somerset, KY
103 Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs, IA
104 Anoka Technical College Anoka, MN
105 Erie 1 BOCES West Seneca, NY
106 Illinois Valley Community College Oglesby, IL
107 Parkland College Champaign, IL
107 Ogden-Weber Technical College Ogden, UT
109 Ozarka College Melbourne, AR
110 Concorde Career College - Grand Prairie Grand Prairie, TX
110 Orange Technical College - Orlando Campus Orlando, FL
112 Veeb Nassau County School of Practical Nursing Hicksville, NY
113 Tyler Junior College Tyler, TX
113 McHenry County College Crystal Lake, IL
115 University of Arkansas Community College - Morrilton Morrilton, AR
115 Southeastern Community College West Burlington, IA
117 Northeast Technology Center-System Office Pryor, OK
117 Hopkinsville Community College Hopkinsville, KY
117 Coastal Alabama Community College Bay Minette, AL
120 Riverside City College Riverside, CA
121 Rasmussen University - Florida Ocala, FL
121 American Career College - Anaheim Anaheim, CA
123 Chattahoochee Technical College Marietta, GA
124 Truckee Meadows Community College Reno, NV
125 Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College Orangeburg, SC
126 Davidson County Community College Thomasville, NC
127 Bridgerland Technical College Logan, UT
128 Vermont Technical College Randolph, VT
128 Lakeshore Technical College Cleveland, WI
130 Dodge City Community College Dodge City, KS
130 High Desert Medical College Lancaster, CA
132 Pueblo Community College Pueblo, CO
133 Prism Career Institute, Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA
133 American Institute of Alternative Medicine Columbus, OH
135 Standard Healthcare Services - College of Nursing Falls Church, VA
135 Garden City Community College Garden City, KS
137 Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis, MN
137 Francis Tuttle Technology Center Oklahoma City, OK
137 Kellogg Community College Battle Creek, MI
140 Southwest Texas Junior College Uvalde, TX
141 Lincoln Technical Institute - Paramus Paramus, NJ
142 Arlington Career Institute Grand Prairie, TX
143 Hazard Community and Technical College Hazard, KY
143 West Georgia Technical College Waco, GA
145 Rock Valley College Rockford, IL
145 Lanier Technical College Oakwood, GA
147 Central Louisiana Technical Community College Alexandria, LA
147 Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Knoxville Knoxville, TN
147 Coconino Community College Flagstaff, AZ
147 North Iowa Area Community College Mason City, IA
151 Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque, NM
151 Homestead Schools Torrance, CA
151 Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Jackson Jackson, TN
151 John C Calhoun State Community College Tanner, AL
155 Fort Scott Community College Fort Scott, KS
155 Collins Career Technical Center Chesapeake, OH
155 Eastern Suffolk BOCES Brentwood, NY
158 Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FL
158 Community College of Denver Denver, CO
160 Bevill State Community College Jasper, AL
160 Black River Technical College Pocahontas, AR
162 Oconee Fall Line Technical College Sandersville, GA
163 Glendale Community College Glendale, AZ
164 Prism Career Institute, Cherry Hill Cherry Hill, NJ
164 Sauk Valley Community College Dixon, IL
164 Southside Virginia Community College Alberta, VA
164 Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Elizabethton Elizabethton, TN
164 Orange Technical College - Winter Park Campus Winter Park, FL
169 Manhattan Area Technical College Manhattan, KS
169 Prism Career Institute, West Atlantic City West Atlantic City, NJ
171 National University College Bayamon, PR
171 Stanbridge University Irvine, CA
171 Emily Griffith Technical College Denver, CO
174 Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Dickson Dickson, TN
175 Colorado Mountain College Glenwood Springs, CO
175 Galen College of Nursing - Louisville Louisville, KY
175 Stone Academy-West Haven West Haven, CT
175 Cowley County Community College Arkansas City, KS
179 Pratt Community College Pratt, KS
180 Prairie State College Chicago Heights, IL
180 Albany BOCES - Adult Practical Nursing Program Albany, NY
180 Southeast Technical College Sioux Falls, SD
180 Indian Capital Technology Center, Muskogee Muskogee, OK
184 Aims Community College Greeley, CO
185 El Paso Community College El Paso, TX
185 Jones County Junior College Ellisville, MS
185 Concorde Career College - North Hollywood North Hollywood, CA
185 Highland Community College Freeport, IL
185 Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County Newark, OH
185 Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL
185 Dakota County Technical College Rosemount, MN

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional popular schools for Nursing & Nursing Assistants students that almost earned our Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools award.

Rank College Location
192 Southern Crescent Technical College Griffin, GA
193 Inver Hills Community College Inver Grove Heights, MN
193 Suncoast Technical College Sarasota, FL
193 Savannah Technical College Savannah, GA
193 Red Rocks Community College Lakewood, CO
193 Yavapai College Prescott, AZ
198 Allan Hancock College Santa Maria, CA
198 Central Ohio Technical College Newark, OH
200 Concorde Career College - San Diego San Diego, CA
200 Nicolet Area Technical College Rhinelander, WI
202 Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College Minden, LA
202 California Nurses Educational Institute Palm Springs, CA
202 Stone Academy-East Hartford East Hartford, CT
205 Wallace Community College, Dothan Dothan, AL
205 Canadian Valley Technology Center El Reno, OK
205 Angeles College Los Angeles, CA
208 Sheridan Technical College Hollywood, FL
208 Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa, CA
208 Lincoln Technical Institute - Iselin Iselin, NJ
208 Hinds Community College Raymond, MS
208 Western Nevada College Carson City, NV
213 Mesa Community College Mesa, AZ
213 Southwest Technical College Cedar City, UT
213 MDT College of Health Sciences Highland Heights, OH
216 Porter and Chester Institute of Stratford Stratford, CT
216 Arkansas State University - Mountain Home Mountain Home, AR
216 Ogeechee Technical College Statesboro, GA
216 Arkansas Tech University Russellville, AR
220 Dorsey College, Roseville Roseville, MI
220 Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Elizabethtown, KY
220 York Technical College Rock Hill, SC
220 Beckfield College - Tri-County Springdale, OH
224 Rasmussen University - Minnesota St. Cloud, MN
224 Moore Norman Technology Center Norman, OK
224 Dixie State University Saint George, UT
224 Dawn Career Institute LLC Wilmington, DE
228 North Central Texas College Gainesville, TX
229 Texas Health School Houston, TX
229 University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana Hope, AR
231 San Jacinto Community College Pasadena, TX
231 Capital Area School of Practical Nursing Springfield, IL
233 Del Mar College Corpus Christi, TX
233 Lorain County Community College Elyria, OH
233 Black Hawk College Moline, IL
233 Medical Institute of Palm Beach Greenacres, FL
233 Concorde Career College - Garden Grove Garden Grove, CA
238 Pearl River Community College Poplarville, MS
238 Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NE
238 Lake Land College Mattoon, IL
238 Lamar State College - Orange Orange, TX
238 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Perkinston, MS
243 Concorde Career College - San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA
243 Olney Central College Olney, IL
243 Richland Community College Decatur, IL
243 St Philip’s College San Antonio, TX
243 Unitek College Hayward, CA
248 South College Knoxville, TN
248 Athena Career Academy Toledo, OH
248 Holmes Community College Goodman, MS
251 Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN
251 Shawnee Community College Ullin, IL
251 Clovis Adult Education Clovis, CA
251 Dixie Technical College Saint George, UT
255 Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids, IA
255 South Louisiana Community College Lafayette, LA
255 Rappahannock Community College Glenns, VA

Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants by Region

View the Most Popular 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

Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants is one of 30 different types of healthcare programs to choose from.

Practical Nursing Focus Areas

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.

  • 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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