# Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

> Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants is a field of study in the Health Professions and Related Programs area.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/practical-nursing-vocational-nursing-and-nursing-assistants
- CIP code: 51.39 (Health Professions and Related Programs)
- Colleges offering it: 864 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 864 | $47,933 | $56,820 | $10,562 |
| Associate's | 125 | $57,680 | $65,304 | $19,872 |
| Bachelor's | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| First professional | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Associate's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Carrington College-Sacramento](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carrington-college-sacramento-420) | Sacramento, CA | $112,176 | $19,872 |
| [Unitek College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/unitek-college-2855) | Fremont, CA | $108,612 | $14,273 |
| [Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts](https://www.collegesref.com/college/gurnick-academy-of-medical-arts-1131) | San Mateo, CA | $85,529 | $23,410 |
| [Green River College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/green-river-college-1120) | Auburn, WA | $76,656 | $9,257 |
| [San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield](https://www.collegesref.com/college/san-joaquin-valley-college-bakersfield-2353) | Bakersfield, CA | $76,313 | $21,000 |
| [San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia](https://www.collegesref.com/college/san-joaquin-valley-college-visalia-2362) | Visalia, CA | $76,313 | $21,000 |
| [Dickinson State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dickinson-state-university-818) | Dickinson, ND | $69,015 | $13,000 |
| [Pacific College-California](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pacific-college-california-2055) | Costa Mesa, CA | $67,162 | $25,250 |
| [North Dakota State College of Science](https://www.collegesref.com/college/north-dakota-state-college-of-science-1895) | Wahpeton, ND | $64,660 | $14,625 |
| [Arkansas Tech University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/arkansas-tech-university-112) | Russellville, AR | $60,353 | not reported |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/licensed-practical-and-licensed-vocational-nurses): $64,400 median pay
- [Nursing Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/nursing-assistants): $42,260 median pay

## More in Health Professions and Related Programs

- [Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/registered-nursing-nursing-administration-nursing-research-and-clinical-nursing): 1,111 colleges
- [Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/allied-health-diagnostic-intervention-and-treatment-professions): 930 colleges
- [Health and Medical Administrative Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/health-and-medical-administrative-services): 890 colleges
- [Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/allied-health-and-medical-assisting-services): 796 colleges
- [Public Health](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/public-health): 540 colleges
- [Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/health-services-allied-health-health-sciences-general): 461 colleges
- [Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/mental-and-social-health-services-and-allied-professions): 424 colleges
- [Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/clinical-medical-laboratory-science-research-and-allied-professions): 398 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/