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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 analysis found Unitek College to be the most popular school for practical nursing & nursing assistants students who want to pursue a degree in California. 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.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Unitek College Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts. It ranked #2 on our 2023 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 school 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

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Summit College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California list. 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 be in good company if you decide to attend Institute of Technology. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California list. Fresno Institute of Technology is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Clovis.

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

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Institute of Technology

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means American Career College - Ontario is a great place for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. American Career College - Ontario is a small private for-profit school located in the 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.

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Carrington College, Sacramento landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing & nursing assistants programs. 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.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Carrington College, Sacramento Report

With a ranking of #7, American Career College - Los Angeles did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. 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.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at American Career College - Los Angeles Report

#8

Healthcare Career College

Paramount, CA

With a ranking of #8, Healthcare Career College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. Located in the suburb of Paramount, Healthcare Career College is a private for-profit college 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 landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing & nursing assistants programs. College of the Sequoias is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of Visalia.

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#10

Riverside City College

Riverside, CA

Riverside City College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California ranking. Located in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a public college with a large student population.

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American Career College - Anaheim ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California list. 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.

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#12

High Desert Medical College

Lancaster, CA

High Desert Medical College ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California list. 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.

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#13

Homestead Schools

Torrance, CA

With a ranking of #13, Homestead Schools did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. Homestead Schools is a small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Torrance.

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

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

#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.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Stanbridge University Report

Concorde Career College - North Hollywood did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the city of North Hollywood, Concorde Career College - North Hollywood is a private for-profit college with a fairly 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 came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in California ranking. Allan Hancock College is a large public school located in the medium-sized city of Santa Maria.

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Concorde Career College - San Diego landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular practical nursing & nursing assistants programs. Concorde Career College - San Diego is a fairly 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.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Concorde Career College - San Diego

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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