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Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California

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2023 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California

116 Colleges
$40,743 Avg Salary
$17,185 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants School for You

In 2021-2022, practical nursing & 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.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California ranking. This report analyzed 116 schools in California to see which ones were the most popular programs 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 California for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. Located in the large suburb of Fremont, Unitek College is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Unitek College carry an average student debt load of $14,567. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $226, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California list. Located in the city of San Mateo, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts take out $17,548 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $181.

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#3

Summit College

San Bernardino, CA

The excellent programs at Summit College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools in California. Summit College is a small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of San Bernardino.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Summit College take out $17,492 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 $157.

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

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Institute of Technology. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California list. Fresno Institute of Technology is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Clovis.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Fresno Institute of Technology carry an average student debt load of $16,719.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Institute of Technology Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend American Career College - Ontario. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California list. American Career College - Ontario is a small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Ontario.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at American Career College - Ontario accumulate an average of around $17,200 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 $228.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at American Career College - Ontario

Carrington College, Sacramento came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California ranking. Carrington College, Sacramento is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Sacramento.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Carrington College, Sacramento take out is $18,158. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $203, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Carrington College, Sacramento

American Career College - Los Angeles came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California ranking. Located in the city of Los Angeles, American Career College - Los Angeles is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at American Career College - Los Angeles take out is $17,200. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $238.

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#8

Healthcare Career College

Paramount, CA

Healthcare Career College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California ranking. Located in the large suburb of Paramount, Healthcare Career College is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Healthcare Career College accumulate an average of around $20,000 in student debt.

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#9

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 & nursing assistants students. It came in at #9 on the list. College of the Sequoias is a large public school located in the city of Visalia.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at College of the Sequoias Report

#10

Riverside City College

Riverside, CA

With a ranking of #10, Riverside City College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. Located in the large city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Riverside City College Report

American Career College - Anaheim came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California ranking. American Career College - Anaheim is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Anaheim.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at American Career College - Anaheim accumulate an average of around $17,200 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 $238.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at American Career College - Anaheim Report

#12

High Desert Medical College

Lancaster, CA

High Desert Medical College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California ranking. High Desert Medical College is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Lancaster.

On average, practical nursing graduates from High Desert Medical College take out $17,567 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $116.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at High Desert Medical College Report

#13

Homestead Schools

Torrance, CA

Homestead Schools landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing & nursing assistants programs. Homestead Schools is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Torrance.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Homestead Schools take out $18,040 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Homestead Schools Report

#14

Stanbridge University

Irvine, CA

Stanbridge University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. It came in at #14 on the list. Stanbridge is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Irvine.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Stanbridge take out $19,996 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $170.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Stanbridge University

With a ranking of #15, Concorde Career College - North Hollywood did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. Located in the city of North Hollywood, Concorde Career College - North Hollywood is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Practical Nursing majors at Concorde Career College - North Hollywood take out an average of $17,179 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 $179.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Concorde Career College - North Hollywood

#16

Allan Hancock College

Santa Maria, CA

Allan Hancock College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. It came in at #16 on the list. Allan Hancock College is a large public school located in the midsize city of Santa Maria.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Allan Hancock College

Concorde Career College - San Diego did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. It came in at #17 on the list. Concorde Career College - San Diego is a small private for-profit school located in the city of San Diego.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Concorde Career College - San Diego carry an average student debt load of $17,179. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $219.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Concorde Career College - San Diego Report

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional popular schools for Nursing & Nursing Assistants students in the state of California that almost earned our Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California award.

Rank College Location
18 California Nurses Educational Institute Palm Springs, CA
19 Angeles College Los Angeles, CA
20 Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa, CA
21 Concorde Career College - Garden Grove Garden Grove, CA
22 Unitek College Hayward, CA
22 Concorde Career College - San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA

Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Most Popular 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 45,031
Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide 35,655
Other Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants 4,653

Related Major Annual Graduates
Nursing 319,502

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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