2023 Best Value Colleges for Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
19
Ranked Colleges
9,835
Degrees Awarded
$15,100
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants is the 187th most popular major in the country with 84,274 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, practical nursing and nursing assistants graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $36,863 and had an average of $15,708 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Far Western US region, there were 9,835 practical nursing and nursing assistants graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,012 and $17,391 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 19 colleges that offer a degree in practical nursing and nursing assistants. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality practical nursing and nursing assistants programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the practical nursing and nursing assistants program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k.
Top 19 Best Value Colleges for Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Imperial Valley College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Imperial Valley College is a medium-sized public school situated in Imperial, California. It awarded 15 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.
IVC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for IVC is $1,790 for far western us region practical nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full IVC Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Sacramento City College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Sacramento City is located in Sacramento, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 41 ’s practical nursing degrees to qualified students.
Sacramento City not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $5,648 for far western us region practical nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Sacramento City.
Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Sacramento City College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Reedley College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Reedley, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 16 diplomas to qualified ’s practical nursing students in 2020-2021.
Reedley College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Reedley College is $6,936 for far western us region practical nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Reedley College
Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Mission College landed the #4 spot on the list. Mission College is a medium-sized school located in Santa Clara, California that handed out 64 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.
Mission College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $3,175 for far western us region practical nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Mission College.
Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Mission College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend College of the Redwoods. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This small school is located in Eureka, California, and it awarded 42 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.
College of the Redwoods did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for College of the Redwoods is $5,103 for far western us region practical nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full College of the Redwoods Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report
Butte College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Butte College is located in Oroville, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 78 ’s practical nursing degrees to qualified students.
Butte College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Butte College is $6,059 for far western us region practical nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Butte College Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report
Cuesta College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 58 ’s practical nursing degrees to qualified students.
Cuesta College also took the #9 spot in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cuesta College is $10,288 for Far Western US Region Practical Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Cuesta College Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report
With a ranking of #8, Santa Rosa Junior College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Santa Rosa, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s practical nursing degrees to 107 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our far western us region practical nursing students whose families make $30-$48k list, SRJC has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Santa Rosa Junior College is $5,800 for Far Western US Region Practical Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at SRJC
Merced College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Merced, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 12 diplomas to qualified ’s practical nursing students in 2020-2021.
Merced Community College District did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Merced Community College District is $11,211 for far western us region practical nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Merced Community College District Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report
Santa Barbara City College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. SBCC is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 3 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.
SBCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Santa Barbara City College is $5,834 for far western us region practical nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full SBCC Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report
Rio Hondo College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Rio Hondo College is a public institution located in Whittier, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 18 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
RHCCD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend RHCCD is $5,575 for far western us region practical nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Rio Hondo College
College of the Desert did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. College of the Desert is a public institution located in Palm Desert, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 41 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our far western us region practical nursing students whose families make $30-$48k list, College of the Desert has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $12,341 for far western us region practical nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend College of the Desert.
Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at College of the Desert
With a ranking of #13, College of the Siskiyous did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. College of the Siskiyous is a small public school situated in Weed, California. It awarded 2 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our far western us region practical nursing students whose families make $30-$48k list, College of the Siskiyous has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $7,865 for Far Western US Region Practical Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend College of the Siskiyous.
Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at College of the Siskiyous
Carrington College, Sacramento landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Sacramento, California, this small private for-profit school handed out 213 degrees to qualified ’s practical nursing students in 2020-2021.
Carrington College, Sacramento did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Carrington College, Sacramento is $34,379 for far western us region practical nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Carrington College, Sacramento Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report
Pacific College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Pacific College is a small school located in Costa Mesa, California that handed out 80 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.
Pacific College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. It costs about $30,962 for far western us region practical nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Pacific College.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Pacific College
San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Visalia, California, and it awarded 28 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.
San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia also made our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $25,746 for far western us region practical nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia.
Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a small private for-profit school situated in San Mateo, California. It awarded 876 ’s practical nursing degrees in 2020-2021.
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts also took the #7 spot in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $26,984 for Far Western US Region Practical Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
Unitek College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Unitek College is located in Fremont, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,162 ’s practical nursing degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Unitek College, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. It costs about $55,046 for Far Western US Region Practical Nursing students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Unitek College.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Unitek College
With a ranking of #19, Platt College - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools in the Far Western US Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Platt College - Los Angeles is located in Alhambra, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 30 ’s practical nursing degrees to qualified students.
Platt College - Los Angeles did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Platt College - Los Angeles is $25,341 for far western us region practical nursing students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Platt College - Los Angeles Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report
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Notes and References
References
- 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 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
