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2023 Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools

821 Colleges
$36,841 Avg Salary
$15,480 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate School for You

With 84,274 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, practical nursing and nursing assistants is the #2 most popular major in the United States.

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which nursing program is right for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

The Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 821 schools in the United States to see which undergraduate certificate programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students. To come up with a school's ranking, we analyzed numerous factors related to post-graduation wages, the quality of education offered by the school, average accumulated student debt, and more.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the United States

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

Top 25 Top Schools for an Award Taking 1 to 4 Years in Nursing & Nursing Assistants

Our 2023 rankings named Eastern Center for Arts and Technology the best school in the United States for practical nursing and nursing assistants students working on their undergraduate certificate. Eastern Center for Arts and Technology is a small public school located in the suburb of Willow Grove.

While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, practical nursing majors at Eastern Center for Arts and Technology accumulate an average of around $19,881 in student debt.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Harmony Health Care Institute. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. Harmony Health Care Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Merrimack.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Harmony Health Care Institute take out $16,908 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

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#3

Unitek College

South San Francisco, CA

The excellent undergraduate certificate programs at Unitek College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best practical nursing and nursing assistants schools in the United States. Unitek College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of South San Francisco.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Unitek College take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $18,219. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $217, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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The excellent undergraduate certificate programs at Shawsheen Valley School of Practical Nursing helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best practical nursing and nursing assistants schools in the United States. Shawsheen Valley School of Practical Nursing is a small public school located in the suburb of Billerica.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Shawsheen Valley School of Practical Nursing take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $13,801.

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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Greater Lowell Technical School is a great place for practical nursing and nursing assistants students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the suburb of Tyngsboro, Greater Lowell Technical School is a public school with a fairly small student population.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, practical nursing graduates from Greater Lowell Technical School carry an average student debtload of $13,445.

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Dutchess BOCES-Practical Nursing Program came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking. Located in the large suburb of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess BOCES-Practical Nursing Program is a public college with a small student population.

Practical Nursing majors at Dutchess BOCES-Practical Nursing Program take out an average of $11,367 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

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#7

Unitek College

Hayward, CA

Unitek College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking. Unitek College is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Hayward.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Unitek College take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $18,219. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $217, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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#8

Cass Career Center

Harrisonville, MO

Cass Career Center landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the fringe town of Harrisonville, Cass RIX School District is a public college with a fairly small student population.

While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, practical nursing majors at Cass RIX School District accumulate an average of around $17,130 in student debt.

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With a ranking of #9, Veeb Nassau County School of Practical Nursing did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the large suburb of Hicksville, Veeb Nassau County School of Practical Nursing is a public school with a small student population.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, practical nursing graduates from Veeb Nassau County School of Practical Nursing carry an average student debtload of $16,936. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $85, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a small private for-profit school located in the midsize city of San Mateo.

Practical Nursing majors at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts take out an average of $18,229 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $152.

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#11

Southeastern Technical Institute

South Easton, MA

Southeastern Technical Institute landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Southeastern Technical Institute is a fairly small public school located in the rural area of South Easton.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, practical nursing graduates from Southeastern Technical Institute carry an average student debtload of $17,397.

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Saint Michael College of Allied Health did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for practical nursing and nursing assistants students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the city of Alexandria, Saint Michael College of Allied Health is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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#13

Verve College

Oak Brook, IL

Verve College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. Verve College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Oak Brook.

While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, practical nursing majors at Verve College accumulate an average of around $20,569 in student debt.

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Franklin County Career and Technology Center did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for practical nursing and nursing assistants students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #14 on the list. Franklin County Career and Technology Center is a fairly small public school located in the rural area of Chambersburg.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Franklin County Career and Technology Center take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $20,871.

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#15

Blake Austin College

Vacaville, CA

Blake Austin College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. Blake Austin College is a small private for-profit school located in the small suburb of Vacaville.

Practical Nursing majors at Blake Austin College take out an average of $18,496 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

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With a ranking of #16, Southern Worcester County Regional Voc School District did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the rural area of Charlton, Southern Worcester County Regional Voc School District is a public school with a fairly small student population.

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#17

Monty Tech

Fitchburg, MA

Monty Tech came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking. Monty Tech is a small public school located in the suburb of Fitchburg.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, practical nursing graduates from Monty Tech carry an average student debtload of $15,000.

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Xavier College School of Nursing did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for practical nursing and nursing assistants students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in the large city of Stockton, Xavier College School of Nursing is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Xavier College School of Nursing take out $16,458 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

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#19

Lex La-Ray Technical Center

Lexington, MO

Lex La-Ray Technical Center landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. LLRTC is a small public school located in the town of Lexington.

On average, practical nursing graduates from LLRTC take out $20,626 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

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With a ranking of #20, Marian College School of Nursing did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students working on their undergraduate certificate. Marian College Van Nuys is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Van Nuys.

Practical Nursing majors at Marian College Van Nuys take out an average of $14,515 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $160, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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With a ranking of #21, Western Area Career & Technology Center did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students working on their undergraduate certificate. Western Area Career & Technology Center is a small public school located in the rural area of Canonsburg.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Western Area Career & Technology Center take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $16,509.

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AMG School of Licensed Practical Nursing came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking. Located in the city of Brooklyn, AMG School of Licensed Practical Nursing is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, practical nursing majors at AMG School of Licensed Practical Nursing accumulate an average of around $20,435 in student debt.

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#23

Homestead Schools

Torrance, CA

Homestead Schools landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the medium-sized city of Torrance, Homestead Schools is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Practical Nursing majors at Homestead Schools take out an average of $19,480 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

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Marian College School of Nursing came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking. Marian College Los Angeles is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles.

Practical Nursing majors at Marian College Los Angeles take out an average of $14,515 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $160, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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With a ranking of #25, Rockland County BOCES-Practical Nursing Program did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students working on their undergraduate certificate. Rockland County BOCES-Practical Nursing Program is a fairly small public school located in the large suburb of West Nyack.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Rockland County BOCES-Practical Nursing Program take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $14,164.

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Rest of the Top 50 Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools

#26

Applied Technology Services

Sunset Hills, MO
#28

Unitek College

Fremont, CA
#33

Ohio Institute of Allied Health

Huber Heights, OH
#35

Best Care College

East Orange, NJ
#36

Universal Training Institute

Perth Amboy, NJ
#37

Stanbridge University

Irvine, CA
#38

Eastern Suffolk BOCES

Brentwood, NY
#43

Polytech Adult Education

Woodside, DE
#44

Hazleton Area Career Center

Hazle TWP., PA
#45

Ambria College of Nursing

Hoffman Estates, IL
#46

California Career Institute

Garden Grove, CA
#48

Jersey College

Teterboro, NJ

Additional Award Winners

This list shows the remainder of the schools awarded a Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 821 different United States practical nursing and nursing assistants schools we analyzed.

Rank College Location
51 Cayuga Onondaga BOCES - Practical Nursing Program Auburn, NY
52 Saline County Career Center Marshall, MO
53 Broome Delaware Tioga BOCES-Practical Nursing Program Binghamton, NY
54 Lincoln Technical Institute - Shelton Shelton, CT
55 Washington Saratoga Warren Hamilton Essex BOCES-Practical Nursing Program Hudson Falls, NY
56 Orange Ulster BOCES-Practical Nursing Program Goshen, NY
57 MDT College of Health Sciences Highland Heights, OH
58 North Shore Community College Danvers, MA
59 Lincoln Technical Institute - New Britain New Britain, CT
60 Suncoast Technical College Sarasota, FL
61 Career Center of Southern Illinois Red Bud, IL
62 Greene County Career and Technology Center Waynesburg, PA
63 Huntingdon County Career and Technology Center Mill Creek, PA
64 Sumner College Portland, OR
65 Central School of Practical Nursing Independence, OH
66 Carthage Technical Center Carthage, MO
67 Lincoln Technical Institute - Moorestown Moorestown, NJ
68 Clinton Technical School Clinton, MO
69 Mount Wachusett Community College Gardner, MA
70 Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County Scranton, PA
71 Lincoln Technical Institute - Lincoln Lincoln, RI
72 Roane-Jackson Technical Center Leroy, WV
73 Lincoln Technical Institute - Iselin Iselin, NJ
74 Monongalia County Technical Education Center Morgantown, WV
75 Galen College of Nursing - San Antonio San Antonio, TX
76 Herkimer County BOCES-Practical Nursing Program Ilion, NY
77 American Career College - Ontario Ontario, CA
78 Mercy Hospital School of Practical Nursing-Plantation General Hospital Miami, FL
79 Texas Health School Houston, TX
80 North Florida Technical College Starke, FL
81 Northern Tier Career Center Towanda, PA
82 Eastwick College - Hackensack Hackensack, NJ
83 Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center Springville, PA
84 CES College Burbank, CA
85 Greenfield Community College Greenfield, MA
86 Fayette County Career & Technical Institute Practical Nursing Program Uniontown, PA
87 Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN
88 Rasmussen University - Florida Ocala, FL
89 Lincoln Technical Institute - Paramus Paramus, NJ
90 Stone Academy-West Haven West Haven, CT
91 Prism Career Institute, Cherry Hill Cherry Hill, NJ
92 Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing Troy, NY
93 Mercer County Career Center Mercer, PA
94 Schuyler Steuben Chemung Tioga Allegany BOCES Elmira, NY
95 Tri-Rivers Career Center Marion, OH
96 Angeles College Los Angeles, CA
97 John D Rockefeller IV Career Center New Cumberland, WV
98 Northern Career Institute Eastlake, OH
99 Stone Academy-East Hartford East Hartford, CT
100 East Valley Institute of Technology Mesa, AZ
101 Herzing University - Birmingham Birmingham, AL
102 Delaware Technical Community College - Terry Dover, DE
103 Herzing University - Brookfield Brookfield, WI
104 Lincoln Technical Institute - Allentown Allentown, PA
105 Academy for Careers and Technology Mullins, SC
106 Prism Career Institute, West Atlantic City West Atlantic City, NJ
107 Eastern Virginia Career College Fredericksburg, VA
108 Four Rivers Career Center Washington, MO
109 Venango County Area Vocational Technical School Oil City, PA
110 Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center Altoona, PA
111 York County School of Technology-Adult & Continuing Education York, PA
112 West Coast Ultrasound Institute Beverly Hills, CA
113 Lancaster County Career and Technology Center Willow Street, PA
114 Concorde Career College - Aurora Aurora, CO
115 Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology Pleasant Gap, PA
116 Integrity College of Health Pasadena, CA
117 Miami Valley Career Technology Center Englewood, OH
118 Porter and Chester Institute of Hamden Hamden, CT
119 Dixie Technical College Saint George, UT
120 Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater Clearwater, FL
121 Rasmussen University - Minnesota St. Cloud, MN
122 Herzing University - Kenosha Kenosha, WI
123 Kellogg Community College Battle Creek, MI

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional great schools for Nursing & Nursing Assistants students that almost earned our Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools award.

Rank College Location
124 Western Suffolk BOCES Northport, NY
125 Baptist Health College - Little Rock Little Rock, AR
126 Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire, WI
127 Carrington College-San Jose San Jose, CA
128 Hannibal - LaGrange University Hannibal, MO
129 Pennsylvania Institute of Technology Media, PA
130 Jefferson Lewis BOCES-Practical Nursing Program Watertown, NY
131 Somerset County Technology Center Somerset, PA
132 Pacific College Costa Mesa, CA
133 Herzing University - Winter Park Winter Park, FL
134 Stone Academy-Waterbury Waterbury, CT
135 Athena Career Academy Toledo, OH
136 Northern Essex Community College Haverhill, MA
137 Wayne County Schools Career Center Smithville, OH
138 Ohio Medical Career College Dayton, OH
139 Clearfield County Career and Technology Center Clearfield, PA
140 Northland Community and Technical College Thief River Falls, MN
141 First Coast Technical College Saint Augustine, FL
142 Cape Coral Technical College Cape Coral, FL
143 Washburn Institute of Technology Topeka, KS
144 Galen College of Nursing - Louisville Louisville, KY
145 Texas County Technical College Houston, MO
146 Cuesta College San Luis Obispo, CA
147 Sandusky Career Center Sandusky, OH
148 Centra College of Nursing Lynchburg, VA
149 Lake Area Technical Institute Watertown, SD
150 Southeast Technical College Sioux Falls, SD
151 El Centro College Dallas, TX
152 American Career College - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA
153 Rolla Technical Institute/Center Rolla, MO
154 Mercer County Technical Education Center Princeton, WV
155 Otsego Area BOCES-Practical Nursing Program Oneonta, NY
156 Upper Valley Career Center Piqua, OH
157 Alexandria Technical & Community College Alexandria, MN
158 Concorde Career College - Portland Portland, OR
159 Cuyahoga Valley Career Center Brecksville, OH
160 Fayette Institute of Technology Oak Hill, WV
161 Baptist Health System School of Health Professions San Antonio, TX
162 Beaumont Adult School Beaumont, CA
163 Collins Career Technical Center Chesapeake, OH
164 Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WI

Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants by Region

View the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Undergraduate Certificate Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

Practical Nursing Focus Areas

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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