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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants in California (With Aid)

24 Ranked Colleges
917 Degrees Awarded
$12,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants is the 185th most popular major in the country with 86,912 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, practical nursing and nursing assistants graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,439 and had an average of $12,589 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 7,722 practical nursing and nursing assistants graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,189 and $17,054 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 917 practical nursing and nursing assistants graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,451 and $19,634 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 24 colleges that offered a degree in practical nursing and nursing assistants. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great practical nursing and nursing assistants programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the practical nursing and nursing assistants program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid.

Top 24 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants in California (With Aid)

#1

Long Beach City College

Long Beach, California
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Long Beach City College landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 25 associates’s practical nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Long Beach City College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Long Beach City College is $3,066 for California Associate Degree Practical Nursing students with aid.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Long Beach City College

#2

Citrus College

Glendora, California
#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Citrus College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Citrus College is located in Glendora, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 24 associates’s practical nursing degrees to qualified students.

Citrus College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Citrus College is $2,751 for California Associate Degree Practical Nursing students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

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

#3

Sacramento City College

Sacramento, California
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Sacramento City College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid. Located in Sacramento, California, this large public school awarded 20 degrees to qualified associates’s practical nursing students in 2019-2020.

Sacramento City did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Sacramento City College is $4,835 for california associate degree practical nursing students with aid.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Sacramento City College

#4

Riverside City College

Riverside, California
#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Riverside City College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Riverside, California, and it awarded 38 associates’s practical nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Riverside City College also took the #6 spot in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Riverside City College is $4,620 for California Associate Degree Practical Nursing students with aid.

Full Riverside City College Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

#5

Santa Barbara City College

Santa Barbara, California

Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Santa Barbara City College landed the #5 spot on the list. Santa Barbara City College is a fairly large school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 22 associates’s practical nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

SBCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend SBCC is $7,556 for california associate degree practical nursing students with aid.

Full Santa Barbara City College Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

#6

Butte College

Oroville, California
#8 in overall quality

Butte College landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Oroville, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s practical nursing degrees to 22 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree practical nursing students with aid list, Butte College has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $5,070 for california associate degree practical nursing students with aid per year to attend Butte College.

Full Butte College Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

#7

Rio Hondo College

Whittier, California
#13 in overall quality

Rio Hondo College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Rio Hondo College is a public institution located in Whittier, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

RHCCD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $5,487 for California Associate Degree Practical Nursing students with aid per year to attend RHCCD.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at RHCCD

#8

Allan Hancock College

Santa Maria, California
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Allan Hancock College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Allan Hancock College is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Maria, California. It awarded 31 associates’s practical nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Allan Hancock College, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Allan Hancock College is $3,810 for California Associate Degree Practical Nursing students with aid.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Allan Hancock College

#9

Merced College

Merced, California
#9 in overall quality

Merced College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Merced, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s practical nursing degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

Merced Community College District did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Merced Community College District is $10,565 for california associate degree practical nursing students with aid.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Merced Community College District

#10

Gavilan College

Gilroy, California
#17 in overall quality

Gavilan College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Gilroy, California, this small public school awarded 17 diplomas to qualified associates’s practical nursing students in 2019-2020.

Gavilan College also made our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #17. The yearly cost to attend Gavilan College is $4,784 for California Associate Degree Practical Nursing students with aid.

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

#11

College of the Redwoods

Eureka, California
#19 in overall quality

College of the Redwoods did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. College of the Redwoods is located in Eureka, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 associates’s practical nursing degrees to qualified students.

College of the Redwoods did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $4,773 for California Associate Degree Practical Nursing students with aid per year to attend College of the Redwoods.

Full College of the Redwoods Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

#12

Cuesta College

San Luis Obispo, California
#11 in overall quality

Cuesta College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. This fairly large school is located in San Luis Obispo, California, and it awarded 8 associates’s practical nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree practical nursing students with aid list, Cuesta College has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $7,790 for california associate degree practical nursing students with aid per year to attend Cuesta College.

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

#13

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, California
#20 in overall quality

Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. SRJC is a public institution located in Santa Rosa, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SRJC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Santa Rosa Junior College is $5,782 for California Associate Degree Practical Nursing students with aid.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Santa Rosa Junior College

#14

College of the Siskiyous

Weed, California
#18 in overall quality

College of the Siskiyous ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Weed, California, and it awarded 9 associates’s practical nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

College of the Siskiyous also made our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $8,061 for California Associate Degree Practical Nursing students with aid per year to attend College of the Siskiyous.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at College of the Siskiyous

#15

College of the Desert

Palm Desert, California
#14 in overall quality

College of the Desert landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. College of the Desert is a fairly large public school situated in Palm Desert, California. It awarded 9 associates’s practical nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

College of the Desert also took the #14 spot in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend College of the Desert is $9,654 for california associate degree practical nursing students with aid.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at College of the Desert

#16

Pacific College

Costa Mesa, California

Pacific College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. Pacific College is located in Costa Mesa, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 101 associates’s practical nursing degrees to qualified students.

Pacific College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Pacific College is $28,147 for california associate degree practical nursing students with aid.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Pacific College Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

#17

San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia

Visalia, California

With a ranking of #17, San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia is located in Visalia, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 52 associates’s practical nursing degrees to qualified students.

San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia is $26,415 for California Associate Degree Practical Nursing students with aid.

Full San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Report

#18

Carrington College, Sacramento

Sacramento, California

Carrington College, Sacramento did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Sacramento, California, this small private for-profit school awarded 106 degrees to qualified associates’s practical nursing students in 2019-2020.

Carrington College, Sacramento did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Carrington College, Sacramento is $22,257 for California Associate Degree Practical Nursing students with aid.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Carrington College, Sacramento

#19

Hacienda La Puente Adult Education

La Puente, California
#24 in overall quality

Hacienda La Puente Adult Education landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in La Puente, California, and it awarded 4 associates’s practical nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Hacienda La Puente Adult Education, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $3,294 for California Associate Degree Practical Nursing students with aid per year to attend Hacienda La Puente Adult Education.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Hacienda La Puente Adult Education

#20

Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts

San Mateo, California
#15 in overall quality

Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. San Mateo, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s practical nursing degrees to 71 students in 2019-2020.

Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts also took the #15 spot in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is $27,200 for california associate degree practical nursing students with aid.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts

#21

University of Antelope Valley

Lancaster, California
#21 in overall quality

University of Antelope Valley ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Lancaster, California, this small private for-profit school awarded 2 degrees to qualified associates’s practical nursing students in 2019-2020.

UAV also made our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #21.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at UAV

#23

Unitek College

Fremont, California

Unitek College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Fremont, California, this small private for-profit school handed out 191 degrees to qualified associates’s practical nursing students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california associate degree practical nursing students with aid list, Unitek College has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Unitek College is $50,496 for California Associate Degree Practical Nursing students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Unitek College

#24

Platt College - Los Angeles

Alhambra, California

With a ranking of #24, Platt College - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Practical Nursing Schools for an Associate in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Alhambra, California, this small private for-profit school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified associates’s practical nursing students in 2019-2020.

Platt College - Los Angeles did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $22,710 for California Associate Degree Practical Nursing students with aid per year to attend Platt College - Los Angeles.

Read more about Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Platt College - Los Angeles

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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

Footnotes

  • *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.

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