Healthcare practitioners
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
- Median pay
- $64,400
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Postsecondary certificate
- Service Orientation
- Coordination
- Social Perceptiveness
ProgramsHealth Professions and Related Programs
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CIP51.39
864 colleges offer Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 864
- at its most common level
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 864
- Associate's
- 125
- Bachelor's
- 5
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 1
- Doctoral
- 1
- First professional
- 1
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 4
What it covers
About Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants is part of Health Professions and Related Programs: instructional programs that prepare individuals to practice as licensed professionals and assistants in the health care professions and related clinical sciences and administrative and support services.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 51.39.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 51.39.
- Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training
- Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 864 | $56,8204 yrs after · 456 colleges | $10,562372 colleges |
| Associate's | 125 | $65,3044 yrs after · 20 colleges | $19,87219 colleges |
| Bachelor's | 5 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 1 | Not reported | Not reported |
| First professional | 1 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 4 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Associate's programs
Where Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Sacramento, CA · — · 56 graduates
$112,176
debt $19,872
- 2
Fremont, CA · — · 417 graduates
$108,612
debt $14,273
- 3
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts
San Mateo, CA · — · 134 graduates
$85,529
debt $23,410
- 4
Auburn, WA · Public · 67 graduates
$76,656
debt $9,257
- 5
San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA · — · 67 graduates
$76,313
debt $21,000
- 6
San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia
Visalia, CA · — · 47 graduates
$76,313
debt $21,000
- 7
Dickinson, ND · Public · 14 graduates
$69,015
debt $13,000
- 8
Costa Mesa, CA · — · 59 graduates
$67,162
debt $25,250
- 9
North Dakota State College of Science
Wahpeton, ND · Public · 23 graduates
$64,660
debt $14,625
- 10
Russellville, AR · Public · 37 graduates
$60,353
debt not reported
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Healthcare support
Nursing Assistants
- Median pay
- $42,260
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Postsecondary certificate
- Service Orientation
- Active Listening
- Social Perceptiveness
More in Health Professions and Related Programs
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this area- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing1,111 colleges
- Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions930 colleges
- Health and Medical Administrative Services890 colleges
- Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services796 colleges
- Public Health540 colleges
- Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General461 colleges
- Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions424 colleges
- Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions398 colleges
Questions about Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
How many colleges offer Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at these degree levels: certificate (864 colleges), associate's (125 colleges), bachelor's (5 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (1 college), doctoral (1 college), first professional (1 college), graduate/professional certificate (4 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
Where do Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants graduates earn the most?
Carrington College-Sacramento reports the highest median earnings for associate's graduates in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants: $112,176 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.