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Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California

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2023 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California

116 Colleges
$40,752 Avg Salary
$17,707 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants School for You

Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants is the #14 most popular major in California with 1,055 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

Today's healthcare students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

The Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California ranking is one of many tools that Healthcare Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 116 schools in California 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 California.

#1

Unitek College

Fremont, CA

Our analysis found Unitek College to be the most popular school for practical nursing and nursing assistants students who want to pursue a degree in California. Located in the large 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. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $207.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Unitek College Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California list. Located in the medium-sized city of San Mateo, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts take out $17,317 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $152, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts Report

#3

Summit College

Colton, CA

Out of the 116 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Summit College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the city of Colton, Summit College is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Summit College accumulate an average of around $17,496 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 $119.

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

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Institute of Technology. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California list. Fresno Institute of Technology is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Clovis.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Fresno Institute of Technology accumulate an average of around $16,719 in student debt.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Institute of Technology Report

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means American Career College - Ontario is a great place for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. American Career College - Ontario is a small private for-profit school located in the midsize city of Ontario.

Practical Nursing majors at American Career College - Ontario take out an average of $17,200 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $194.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at American Career College - Ontario Report

Carrington College, Sacramento did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #6 on the list. Carrington College, Sacramento is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Sacramento.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Carrington College, Sacramento take out $24,639 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

With a ranking of #7, American Career College - Los Angeles did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, American Career College - Los Angeles is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from American Career College - Los Angeles carry an average student debt load of $17,316. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $191.

Read More…

#8

Healthcare Career College

Paramount, CA

With a ranking of #8, Healthcare Career College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the suburb of Paramount, Healthcare Career College is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Healthcare Career College accumulate an average of around $18,533 in student debt.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Healthcare Career College

#9

College of the Sequoias

Visalia, CA

College of the Sequoias did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #9 on the list. College of the Sequoias is a large public school located in the city of Visalia.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at College of the Sequoias Report

#10

Riverside City College

Riverside, CA

Riverside City College ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California list. Located in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a public college with a large student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Riverside City College carry an average student debt load of $9,750.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Riverside City College Report

American Career College - Anaheim came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California ranking. American Career College - Anaheim is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Anaheim.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at American Career College - Anaheim accumulate an average of around $17,316 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $191.

Read More…

#12

High Desert Medical College

Lancaster, CA

High Desert Medical College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California ranking. High Desert Medical College is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Lancaster.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at High Desert Medical College accumulate an average of around $17,568 in student debt.

Read More…

#13

Homestead Schools

Torrance, CA

Homestead Schools did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #13 on the list. Homestead Schools is a 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.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Homestead Schools

#14

Stanbridge University

Irvine, CA

Stanbridge University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California ranking. Stanbridge is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Irvine.

Practical Nursing majors at Stanbridge take out an average of $20,000 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $176, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Stanbridge University Report

Concorde Career College - North Hollywood ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California list. Located in the city of North Hollywood, Concorde Career College - North Hollywood is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Concorde Career College - North Hollywood take out is $19,559. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $166, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

#16

Allan Hancock College

Santa Maria, CA

With a ranking of #16, Allan Hancock College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Allan Hancock College is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Santa Maria.

Read More…

Concorde Career College - San Diego ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California list. Concorde Career College - San Diego is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of San Diego.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Concorde Career College - San Diego accumulate an average of around $17,179 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $197, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Concorde Career College - San Diego

Additional Noteworthy Schools

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

Rank College Location
18 California Nurses Educational Institute Palm Springs, CA
19 Angeles College Los Angeles, CA
20 Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa, CA
21 Concorde Career College - Garden Grove Garden Grove, CA
22 Unitek College Hayward, CA
22 Concorde Career College - San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA

Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Most Popular Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
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

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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