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2025 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California

23 Colleges in California
1,154 Associate Degrees
$57,992 Avg Early-Career Salary
an associate degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants is more popular than many other degrees. In fact, it ranks #57 out of 328 on popularity of all such degrees in the nation. As a result, there are many college that offer the degree, making your choice of school a hard one.

For its 2025 ranking, College Factual looked at 23 schools in California to determine which ones were the best for practical nursing & nursing assistants students pursuing a associate degree. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 1,154 associate degrees in practical nursing & nursing assistants during the 2022-2023 academic year.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants School for Your Associate Degree

Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California Your choice of practical nursing & nursing assistants for getting your associate degree school matters. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.

A Great Overall School

The overall quality of a associate degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.

Early-Career Earnings

Average early-career salary of those graduating with their associate degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. That is, everyone wants their associate degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.

Other Factors We Consider

In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:

Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students working on their associate degree.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Practical Nursing Rankings Other Ranking Categories

When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California list to help you make the college decision.

Best Schools for Associate Students to Study Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants in California

Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for practical nursing & nursing assistants students seeking a an associate degree.

10 Top California Schools for an Associate in Practical Nursing

1

It is difficult to beat Carrington College, Sacramento if you wish to pursue an associate degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the large suburb of Sacramento, Carrington College, Sacramento is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants associate degree recipients from Carrington College, Sacramento receive an earnings boost of about $7,043 over the typical earnings of practical nursing & nursing assistants majors.

More information about a associate in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Carrington College, Sacramento

2
SWC Chula Vista crest
Southwestern College
Chula Vista, CA
25 Annual Graduates

It is difficult to beat Southwestern College if you wish to pursue an associate degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the city of Chula Vista, SWC Chula Vista is a public college with a fairly large student population.More information about a associate in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Southwestern College

3
30 Annual Graduates

Every student pursuing a degree in an associate degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants has to check out Riverside City College. Located in the large city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a public college with a fairly large student population.More information about a associate in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Riverside City College

4
Allan Hancock College crest
Allan Hancock College
Santa Maria, CA
30 Annual Graduates

Allan Hancock College is a wonderful option for individuals pursuing an associate degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the midsize city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a public college with a fairly large student population.More information about a associate in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Allan Hancock College

5
Butte College crest
Butte College
Oroville, CA

Located in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Those practical nursing & nursing assistants students who get their associate degree from Butte College earn $7,475 more than the standard practical nursing grad.

More information about a associate in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Butte College

6
Cuesta College crest
Cuesta College
San Luis Obispo, CA
17 Annual Graduates

Cuesta College is a large public college located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo.More information about a associate in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Cuesta College

7
Mission College crest
Mission College
Santa Clara, CA
24 Annual Graduates

Located in the midsize city of Santa Clara, Mission College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.More information about a associate in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Mission College

8
SBCC crest
Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara, CA
23 Annual Graduates

SBCC is a fairly large public college located in the small city of Santa Barbara.More information about a associate in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Santa Barbara City College

9
Sacramento City crest
Sacramento City College
Sacramento, CA
13 Annual Graduates

Sacramento City is a large public college located in the city of Sacramento.More information about a associate in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Sacramento City College

10
Pacific College crest
Pacific College
Costa Mesa, CA

Pacific College is a fairly small private for-profit college located in the midsize city of Costa Mesa.

Associate graduates who receive their degree from the practical nursing program earn around $59,213 in their early career salary.

More information about a associate in practical nursing & nursing assistants from Pacific College

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

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

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Washington 131 113

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One of 34 majors within the Health Professions area of study, Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants has other similar majors worth exploring.

Practical Nursing Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training 814
Other Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants 340

Related Major Annual Graduates
Nursing 5,712
Allied Health Professions 4,271
Health Sciences & Services 4,204
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 1,827
Dental Support Services 801
Health & Medical Administrative Services 797
Mental & Social Health Services 406
Public Health 200
Health/Medical Prep Programs 152
Communication Sciences 135

Notes and References

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