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Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California

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2023 Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California

76 Colleges
$40,752 Avg Salary
$17,707 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants School for You

In 2020-2021, practical nursing and nursing assistants students earned 1,055 degrees and certificates from a California school, making the subject the 2nd in the state.

There are so many nursing programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Nursing Degree Search has created the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 76 schools in California to see which ones offered the best programs for nursing students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California

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

Top 15% Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools

#1

Unitek College

South San Francisco, CA

Our analysis found Unitek College to be the best school for practical nursing and nursing assistants students who want to pursue a degree in California. Located in the city of South San Francisco, Unitek College is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Unitek College carry an average student debtload of $17,305. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $217.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Unitek College Report

#2

Unitek College

Hayward, CA

The excellent programs at Unitek College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best practical nursing and nursing assistants schools in California. Located in the large suburb of Hayward, Unitek College is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Unitek College carry an average student debtload of $17,305. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $217.

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Out of the 76 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the midsize city of San Mateo, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts accumulate an average of around $17,317 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $152.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts

#4

Blake Austin College

Vacaville, CA

The excellent programs at Blake Austin College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best practical nursing and nursing assistants schools in California. Located in the suburb of Vacaville, Blake Austin College is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Blake Austin College accumulate an average of around $17,900 in student debt.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Xavier College School of Nursing. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California list. Xavier College School of Nursing is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Stockton.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Xavier College School of Nursing carry an average student debtload of $16,757.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Xavier College School of Nursing

#6

Unitek College

Fremont, CA

Unitek College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California list. Located in the suburb of Fremont, Unitek College is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Unitek College take out $19,020 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $207, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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

Marian College School of Nursing landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the large city of Van Nuys, Marian College Van Nuys is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Marian College Van Nuys carry an average student debtload of $13,797. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $160.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Marian College School of Nursing Report

#8

Homestead Schools

Torrance, CA

With a ranking of #8, Homestead Schools did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Homestead Schools is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Torrance.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Homestead Schools take out is $18,040.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Homestead Schools

Marian College School of Nursing landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Marian College Los Angeles is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Marian College Los Angeles take out $13,797 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $160.

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#10

Stanbridge University

Irvine, CA

With a ranking of #10, Stanbridge University did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Stanbridge is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Irvine.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Stanbridge carry an average student debtload of $20,000. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $176, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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Career Development Institute Inc landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, Career Development Institute Inc is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Career Development Institute Inc carry an average student debtload of $16,873.

Read More…

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California award.

Rank College Location
12 California Career Institute Garden Grove, CA
13 Pacific College Costa Mesa, CA
14 American Career College - Ontario Ontario, CA
15 CES College Burbank, CA

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 Degrees Awarded
Washington 113
Nevada 0

Practical Nursing Concentrations

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

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • 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.

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