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Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region

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2023 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region

165 Colleges
$41,012 Avg Salary
$17,391 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 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.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for nursing students. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

The Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking is one of many tools that Nursing Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 165 schools in the Far Western US Region to see which programs were the most popular for nursing students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants program at each school on the list.

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

#1

Unitek College

Fremont, CA

Our 2023 rankings named Unitek College the most popular school in the Far Western US Region for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Unitek College is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Fremont.

Practical Nursing majors at Unitek College take out an average of $19,020 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $207.

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Out of the 165 schools in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts landed the # 2 spot on the list. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a small private for-profit school located in the midsize city of San Mateo.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts take out $17,317 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $152, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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#3

College of Southern Nevada

Las Vegas, NV

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College of Southern Nevada. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in the large city of Las Vegas, CSN is a public school with a very large student population.

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#4

Summit College

Colton, CA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Summit College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Summit College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Colton.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Summit College accumulate an average of around $17,496 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $119.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Institute of Technology. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in the large suburb of Clovis, Fresno Institute of Technology is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Fresno Institute of Technology accumulate an average of around $16,719 in student debt.

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American Career College - Ontario did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the midsize city of Ontario, American Career College - Ontario is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Practical Nursing majors at American Career College - Ontario take out an average of $17,200 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $194.

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Carrington College, Sacramento landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, Carrington College, Sacramento is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Carrington College, Sacramento take out $24,639 in student loans while working on their degree.

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American Career College - Los Angeles did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #8 on the list. American Career College - Los Angeles is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Los Angeles.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from American Career College - Los Angeles carry an average student debt load of $17,316. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $191.

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#9

Sumner College

Portland, OR

Sumner College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the large city of Portland, Sumner College is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Sumner College accumulate an average of around $16,500 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $167.

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#10

Healthcare Career College

Paramount, CA

Healthcare Career College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Healthcare Career College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Paramount.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Healthcare Career College accumulate an average of around $18,533 in student debt.

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#11

College of the Sequoias

Visalia, CA

College of the Sequoias did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Visalia, College of the Sequoias is a public school with a fairly large student population.

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#12

Riverside City College

Riverside, CA

Riverside City College ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Riverside City College is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Riverside.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Riverside City College carry an average student debt load of $9,750.

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American Career College - Anaheim ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in the large city of Anaheim, American Career College - Anaheim is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at American Career College - Anaheim accumulate an average of around $17,316 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $191.

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Truckee Meadows Community College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Truckee Meadows Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Reno.

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#15

High Desert Medical College

Lancaster, CA

High Desert Medical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the suburb of Lancaster, High Desert Medical College is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at High Desert Medical College accumulate an average of around $17,568 in student debt.

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#16

Homestead Schools

Torrance, CA

Homestead Schools ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Located in the city of Torrance, Homestead Schools is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

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

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#17

Stanbridge University

Irvine, CA

Stanbridge University landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the large city of Irvine, Stanbridge is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Practical Nursing majors at Stanbridge take out an average of $20,000 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $176, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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Concorde Career College - North Hollywood did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #18 on the list. Concorde Career College - North Hollywood is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of North Hollywood.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Concorde Career College - North Hollywood take out is $19,559. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $166, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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#19

Allan Hancock College

Santa Maria, CA

Allan Hancock College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

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Concorde Career College - San Diego did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #20 on the list. Located in the large city of San Diego, Concorde Career College - San Diego is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Concorde Career College - San Diego accumulate an average of around $17,179 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $197, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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California Nurses Educational Institute ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region list. California Nurses Educational Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Palm Springs.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from California Nurses Educational Institute carry an average student debt load of $20,000. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $104, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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#22

Angeles College

Los Angeles, CA

Angeles College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Angeles College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles.

Practical Nursing majors at Angeles College take out an average of $20,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#23

Western Nevada College

Carson City, NV

Western Nevada College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the small city of Carson City, WNC is a public college with a small student population.

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#23

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, CA

Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in the medium-sized city of Santa Rosa, SRJC is a public college with a fairly large student population.

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Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional popular schools for Nursing & Nursing Assistants students in the Far Western US Region that almost earned our Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Region award.

Rank College Location
25 Concorde Career College - Garden Grove Garden Grove, CA
26 Unitek College Hayward, CA
26 Concorde Career College - San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA
28 Clovis Adult Education Clovis, CA
29 Institute of Technology Salem, OR
30 Unitek College South San Francisco, CA
31 Great Basin College Elko, NV
32 Career Care Institute Lancaster, CA
33 North-West College - West Covina West Covina, CA

Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Colleges by State

Explore the best practical nursing and nursing assistants colleges for a specific state in the Far Western US region.

State Degrees Awarded
Washington 113
California 1,055
Nevada 0

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.

  • 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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