Find Healthcare Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southwest Region

Find Schools Near

2023 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southwest Region

145 Colleges
$35,909 Avg Salary
$13,948 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.

The Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southwest Region ranking is one of many tools that Healthcare Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 145 schools in the Southwest Region to see which ones were the most popular programs 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.

The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Colleges.

Our analysis found Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio to be the most popular school for practical nursing and nursing assistants students who want to pursue a degree in the Southwest Region . Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio is a small private for-profit school located in the large 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.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio Report

#2

RGV Careers

Pharr, TX

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means RGV Careers is a great place for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the suburb of Pharr, RGV Careers is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at RGV Careers take out is $9,500.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at RGV Careers

Out of the 145 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, GateWay Community College landed the # 3 spot on the list. GateWay Community College is a small public school located in the large city of Phoenix.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from GateWay Community College carry an average student debt load of $13,728.

Read More…

#4

South Texas College

McAllen, TX

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend South Texas College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the midsize city of McAllen, South Texas College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at South Texas College accumulate an average of around $6,625 in student debt.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at South Texas College Report

Out of the 145 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Kiamichi Technology Center-McAlester landed the # 5 spot on the list. KTC McAlester is a small public school located in the remote town of McAlester.

On average, practical nursing graduates from KTC McAlester take out $9,500 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

With a ranking of #6, Tulsa Technology Center did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Tulsa Tech is a small public school located in the city of Tulsa.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Tulsa Tech carry an average student debt load of $10,919.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Tulsa Technology Center Report

Concorde Career College - Grand Prairie came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Concorde Career College - Grand Prairie is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Grand Prairie.

Practical Nursing majors at Concorde Career College - Grand Prairie take out an average of $20,875 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

#8

Tyler Junior College

Tyler, TX

With a ranking of #8, Tyler Junior College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the medium-sized city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a public college with a large student population.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Tyler Junior College take out $12,883 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

Northeast Technology Center-System Office ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the town of Pryor, Northeast Technology Center-System Office is a public college with a small student population.

Read More…

#10

Francis Tuttle Technology Center

Oklahoma City, OK

With a ranking of #10, Francis Tuttle Technology Center did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the large city of Oklahoma City, Francis Tuttle Technology Center is a public school with a small student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Francis Tuttle Technology Center accumulate an average of around $18,181 in student debt.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Francis Tuttle Technology Center

Southwest Texas Junior 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 #11 on the list. Located in the town of Uvalde, Southwest Texas Junior College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Southwest Texas Junior College accumulate an average of around $9,500 in student debt.

Read More…

#12

Arlington Career Institute

Grand Prairie, TX

Arlington Career Institute did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the suburb of Grand Prairie, Arlington Career Institute is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Read More…

#13

Coconino Community College

Flagstaff, AZ

Coconino Community College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Coconino Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Flagstaff.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Coconino Community College take out is $18,891.

Read More…

With a ranking of #14, Central New Mexico Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the large city of Albuquerque, CNM is a public school with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from CNM carry an average student debt load of $8,250.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Central New Mexico Community College

#15

Glendale Community College

Glendale, AZ

Glendale Community College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College is a public school with a large student population.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Glendale Community College Report

With a ranking of #16, Indian Capital Technology Center, Muskogee did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Indian Capital Technology Center, Muskogee is a small public school located in the rural area of Muskogee.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Indian Capital Technology Center, Muskogee accumulate an average of around $13,000 in student debt.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Indian Capital Technology Center, Muskogee Report

El Paso Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at El Paso Community College Report

#18

Yavapai College

Prescott, AZ

Yavapai 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. Yavapai College is a medium-sized public school located in the small city of Prescott.

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

With a ranking of #19, Canadian Valley Technology Center did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Canadian Valley Technology Center is a small public school located in the rural area of El Reno.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Canadian Valley Technology Center Report

Mesa Community College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the large city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a public school with a large student population.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Mesa Community College Report

Moore Norman Technology Center ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the rural area of Norman, MNTC is a public college with a small student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at MNTC accumulate an average of around $13,588 in student debt.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Moore Norman Technology Center

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southwest Region award.

Rank College Location
22 North Central Texas College Gainesville, TX
23 Texas Health School Houston, TX
24 San Jacinto Community College Pasadena, TX
25 Del Mar College Corpus Christi, TX
26 Lamar State College - Orange Orange, TX
27 St Philip’s College San Antonio, TX
28 Pima Medical Institute - East Valley Mesa, AZ
29 Metro Technology Centers Oklahoma City, OK

Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Colleges by State

Explore the best practical nursing and nursing assistants schools for a specific state in the Southwest region.

State Degrees Awarded
Texas 97
Arizona 57
Oklahoma 57
New Mexico 0

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.

Featured Schools

Find Healthcare Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited healthcare schools across the U.S.