by our College Data Analytics TeamNursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide was the 712th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 34,557 degrees in this year alone. This 1,792 less than the prior year, a decrease of 5.2%.
Our 2023 Best Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide Schools ranking analyzes 4 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide students. Explore this or one of our many other custom nursing assistant rankings further below.
Actively looking for ways to help people is a required skill for nursing assistant majors. Required skills include being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most nursing assistant degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional nursing assistant certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are many different nursing assistant degree levels. You can spend many years getting as high as a in nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide to something that takes less time like a . Depending on the nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
Want a job when you graduate with your nursing assistant degree? Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide careers are expected to grow 11.5% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing Assistants | 1,683,700 | 11.5% |
As you might expect, salaries for nursing assistant graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers nursing assistant grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Nursing Assistants | $29,580 |
With over 704 different nursing assistant degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased nursing assistant school rankings to help you with this.
One of 2 majors within the Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants area of study, Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training | 44,900 |
| Other Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | 4,817 |
