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Associate Degrees in Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants
Education Levels of Practical Nursing Majors
In 2021-2022, 2,160 earned their associate degree in practical nursing. This makes it the 16th most popular associate degree program in the country.
The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in practical nursing at each degree level.
Education Level | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Undergraduate Certificate | 42,522 |
Basic Certificate | 40,574 |
Associate Degree | 2,160 |
Bachelor’s Degree | 76 |
Earnings of Practical Nursing Majors With Associate Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding an associate degree in practical nursing is $41,016. However, this can depend on a number of factors, such as where you live and the number of years experience you have. To get a better picture, earnings for this category of people can range from a low of $36,186 to a high of $47,128.
Student Debt
The median student debt for graduates holding an associate degree in practical nursing is $16,090. The length of time it takes you to graduate and what college you attend can affect this number quite a bit. The chart below shows the range of accumulated debt loads. On the high side of the range, $19,959 is the debt load, and the debt load on the low side is $10,262.
Those students who are paying back their debt on a 10-year repayment plan have a median monthly payment of $206.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their associate degree in practical nursing. About 87.6% of graduates with this degree are female.
Gender | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Men | 267 |
Women | 1,893 |
The racial-ethnic distribution of practical nursing associate degree students is as follows:
Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 332 |
Black or African American | 199 |
Hispanic or Latino | 860 |
White | 479 |
International Students | 4 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 286 |
Most Popular Practical Nursing Programs for Associate Degrees
There are 108 colleges that offer an associate degree in practical nursing. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
The most popular school in the United States for practical nursing students seekingan associate degree is Unitek College. Roughly 4,100 attend the school each year. For the 2021-2022 academic year, 254 associate degrees were handed out to practical nursing majors at Unitek College. About 86% of this group were women, and 67% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts comes in at #2 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in practical nursing. Roughly 2,700 attend the school each year. During the 2021-2022 academic year, 152 people received their associate degree in practical nursing from Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts. Of these students, 84% were women and 89% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 3rd most popular school in the country for practical nursing majors who are seeking their associate degree is Carrington College, Sacramento. Each year, around 1,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The practical nursing program at Carrington College, Sacramento awarded 139 associate degrees during the 2021-2022 school year. About 90% of this group were women, and 68% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Del Mar College is the 4th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in practical nursing. Roughly 10,300 attend the school each year. The practical nursing program at Del Mar College awarded 97 associate degrees during the 2021-2022 school year. Around 75% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 88% were women.
Bates Technical College is the 5th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in practical nursing. Roughly 4,100 attend the school each year. The practical nursing program at Bates Technical College awarded 77 associate degrees during the 2021-2022 school year. About 92% of this group were women, and 52% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 6th most popular school in the country for practical nursing majors who are seeking their associate degree is Pacific College. Each year, around 300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. For the 2021-2022 academic year, 75 associate degrees were handed out to practical nursing majors at Pacific College. About 94% of this group were women, and 94% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 7th most popular school in the country for practical nursing majors who are seeking their associate degree is Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Metro. Each year, around 5,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $4,848 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $4,086 per year. For the 2021-2022 academic year, 67 associate degrees were handed out to practical nursing majors at Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Metro. Around 87% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 74% were women.
Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Arecibo comes in at #8 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in practical nursing. Each year, around 3,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $4,848 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $4,086 per year. During the 2021-2022 academic year, 64 people received their associate degree in practical nursing from Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Arecibo. Around 100% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 85% were women.
Coconino Community College is the 9th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in practical nursing. Each year, around 2,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The practical nursing program at Coconino Community College awarded 57 associate degrees during the 2021-2022 school year. Of these students, 78% were women and 55% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
PITC Institute comes in at #10 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in practical nursing. Each year, around 600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The practical nursing program at PITC Institute awarded 54 associate degrees during the 2021-2022 school year. Of these students, 92% were women and 69% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
ATA College comes in at #11 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in practical nursing. Each year, around 200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The practical nursing program at ATA College awarded 47 associate degrees during the 2021-2022 school year. Of these students, 94% were women and 55% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 12th most popular school in the country for practical nursing majors who are seeking their associate degree is Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Aguadilla. Roughly 3,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $4,848 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $4,086 per year. During the 2021-2022 academic year, 40 people received their associate degree in practical nursing from Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Aguadilla. About 70% of this group were women, and 100% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 13th most popular school in the country for practical nursing majors who are seeking their associate degree is North Dakota State College of Science. Each year, around 2,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The practical nursing program at North Dakota State College of Science awarded 38 associate degrees during the 2021-2022 school year. About 96% of this group were women, and 19% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Green River College comes in at #14 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in practical nursing. Roughly 6,500 attend the school each year. During the 2021-2022 academic year, 36 people received their associate degree in practical nursing from GRC. Of these students, 97% were women and 59% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 15th most popular school in the country for practical nursing majors who are seeking their associate degree is Long Beach City College. For the 2021-2022 academic year, 35 associate degrees were handed out to practical nursing majors at Long Beach City College. Of these students, 100% were women and 81% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Guayama is the 16th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in practical nursing. Each year, around 1,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $4,848 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $4,086 per year. For the 2021-2022 academic year, 34 associate degrees were handed out to practical nursing majors at Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Guayama. Around 100% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 80% were women.
Platt College - Tulsa is the 17th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in practical nursing. Each year, around 100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. For the 2021-2022 academic year, 33 associate degrees were handed out to practical nursing majors at Platt College - Tulsa. About 97% of this group were women, and 77% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Citrus College comes in at #18 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in practical nursing. Each year, around 9,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. For the 2021-2022 academic year, 32 associate degrees were handed out to practical nursing majors at Citrus College. About 82% of this group were women, and 95% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Arkansas Tech University comes in at #19 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in practical nursing. Roughly 9,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $5,820 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $5,481 per year. For the 2021-2022 academic year, 31 associate degrees were handed out to practical nursing majors at ATU. About 87% of this group were women, and 21% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Riverside City College is the 20th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in practical nursing. Each year, around 17,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The practical nursing program at Riverside City College awarded 30 associate degrees during the 2021-2022 school year. Of these students, 95% were women and 81% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Other Related Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
With the affordable and transfer-friendly online RN to BSN program at Southern New Hampshire University, you can build upon your prior educational journey and enhance your professional experience in a program designed to fit around your schedule.
BS in Nursing - RN to BSN - Accelerated RN to MSN
At Southern New Hampshire University, we understand the demands placed on today's nursing professionals. When it comes to your education, consider saving money and time by electing the RN to MSN pathway. Eligible students will complete graduate courses within their undergraduate program. This pathway allows you to gain a BSN along the way and ultimately shorten your time within the MSN Nursing Education or Population Healthcare tracks.
Practical Nursing Focus Areas
Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
Licensed Practical Nursing | 1,743 |
Other Nursing & Nursing Assistants | 358 |
Nursing Assistants & Aides | 59 |
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to practical nursing that offer associate degrees.
Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
Allied Health Professions | 28,716 |
Allied Health Services | 18,673 |
Health/Medical Admin Services | 17,203 |
Health Sciences & Services | 10,520 |
Dental Support Services | 7,216 |
References
*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.
More about our data sources and methodologies.