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Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Trade Schools in California

2023 Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Trade Schools in California

22 Colleges
$41,121 Avg Salary
$14,988 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree School for You

Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants is one of the most popular subjects to study in California. With 8,037 degrees and certificates handed out in 2021-2022, it ranked 3rd out of all the majors we track in the state.

It's not easy to decide which trade school program to enroll in when you have so many options available. 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.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Trade College Search has created its Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Trade Schools in California ranking. This report analyzed 22 schools in California to see which ones offered the best associate degree programs for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for practical nursing majors pursuing a associate degree.

Top 10 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Schools

Our 2023 rankings named Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts the best school in California for practical nursing & nursing assistants students working on their associate degree. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a small private for-profit school located in the city of San Mateo.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts take out while working on their Associate Degree is $18,427.

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#2

Unitek College

Fremont, CA

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Unitek College is a great place for practical nursing & nursing assistants students working on their associate degree. Unitek College is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Fremont.

After completing their Associate Degree, practical nursing graduates from Unitek College carry an average student debtload of $14,920. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $206, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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#3

Pacific College

Costa Mesa, CA

The excellent associate degree programs at Pacific College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best practical nursing & nursing assistants schools in California. Located in the midsize city of Costa Mesa, Pacific College is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Practical Nursing majors at Pacific College take out an average of $11,750 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carrington College, Sacramento. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Trade Schools in California list. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, Carrington College, Sacramento is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Practical Nursing majors at Carrington College, Sacramento take out an average of $20,195 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

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#5

Merced College

Merced, CA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Merced College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Trade Schools in California list. Located in the city of Merced, Merced Community College District is a public college with a large student population.

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With a ranking of #6, Carrington College-San Jose did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students working on their associate degree. Located in the city of San Jose, Western Career College-San Jose is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Western Career College-San Jose take out while working on their Associate Degree is $20,195.

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#7

Cuesta College

San Luis Obispo, CA

Cuesta College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for practical nursing & nursing assistants students to get a associate degree. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the small suburb of San Luis Obispo, Cuesta College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

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#8

Sacramento City College

Sacramento, CA

Sacramento City College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Trade Schools in California ranking. Located in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City is a public school with a large student population.

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#9

Riverside City College

Riverside, CA

Riverside City College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Trade Schools in California ranking. Riverside City College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Riverside.

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#10

Santa Barbara City College

Santa Barbara, CA

Santa Barbara City College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Associate Degree Trade Schools in California list. Located in the small city of Santa Barbara, SBCC is a public college with a fairly large student population.

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

Explore all the Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Washington 649
Oregon 409
Nevada 622
Alaska 22
Hawaii 96

One of 11 majors within the trade school area of study, practical nursing & nursing assistants has other similar majors worth exploring.

Practical Nursing Focus Areas

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

Majors Similar to Practical Nursing

Related Major Annual Graduates
Health & Medical Administrative Services 88,600
Allied Health Professions 83,905
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 83,587
Health Sciences & Services 36,762
Mental & Social Health Services 30,331

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 22 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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