Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistants: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Prepares individuals for entry-level roles in direct patient care within healthcare settings, focusing on foundational clinical skills, patient safety, and compassionate support. This program equips learners with the essential knowledge and hands-on training needed to deliver effective, ethical care under the supervision of licensed professionals.
- Basic Patient Care Techniques: Develops proficiency in fundamental procedures such as vital signs monitoring, hygiene assistance, and mobility support to ensure patient comfort and well-being.
- Medical Terminology and Anatomy: Builds a strong understanding of human body systems, medical vocabulary, and physiological processes critical for accurate communication and documentation.
- Medication Administration Basics: Provides training in the safe handling, storage, and delivery of prescribed medications under proper supervision and protocol.
- Healthcare Ethics and Communication: Emphasizes respectful, professional interactions with patients, families, and healthcare teams, grounded in confidentiality, empathy, and ethical decision-making.
- Emergency Response and Safety Protocols: Instills awareness of infection control, accident prevention, and immediate response procedures to maintain a safe environment for patients and staff.
Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistants Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistants Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistants degrees, including Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses and Nursing Assistants. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 2,020,860 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses 29-2061 | $62,340 | $47,960 - $80,510 | 632,430 | $29.97 |
| Nursing Assistants 31-1131 | $39,530 | $31,390 - $50,140 | 1,388,430 | $19.01 |
Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistants Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $39,655 in Mississippi to $63,980 in Washington—a 61% difference. The highest-paying states include Washington, Oregon, and California. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 2,020,860 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistants by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 81 institutions offering Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistants programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistants is found at Unitek College (417 graduates), Jersey College (331 graduates), Institute of Technology (FIT) (284 graduates), Standard Healthcare Services, College of Nursing (278 graduates), and Summit College (166 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 4,506 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unitek College |
Associate's
|
417 | Fremont, California | Private | unitekcollege.edu |
| Jersey College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
331 | Teterboro, New Jersey | Private | jerseycollege.edu |
| Institute of Technology (FIT) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
284 | Clovis, California | Private | iot.edu |
| Standard Healthcare Services |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
278 | Falls Church, Virginia | Private | standardcollege.edu |
| Summit College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
166 | San Bernardino, California | Private | summitcollege.edu |
| Prism Career Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
144 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | prismcareerinstitute.edu |
| Pennsylvania Institute of Technology (P.I.T.) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
136 | Media, Pennsylvania | Private | pit.edu |
| Prism Career Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
135 | Cherry Hill, New Jersey | Private | prismcareerinstitute.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
120 | San Diego, California | Private | concorde.edu |
| Prism Career Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
119 | West Atlantic City, New Jersey | Private | prismcareerinstitute.edu |
| MDT College of Health Sciences |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
118 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | atsinstitute.edu |
| Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
112 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Private | chattanoogacollege.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
110 | Garden Grove, California | Private | concorde.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
104 | North Hollywood, California | Private | concorde.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
98 | Aurora, Colorado | Private | concorde.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
97 | San Bernardino, California | Private | concorde.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
86 | Grand Prairie, Texas | Private | concorde.edu |
| Pima Community College (PCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
80 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | pima.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
79 | Portland, Oregon | Private | concorde.edu |
| Greater Lowell Technical School (GLTS) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
67 | Tyngsboro, Massachusetts | Public | gltech.org |
| Texas Health School (THS) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
62 | Houston, Texas | Private | ths.edu |
| Universal Training Institute (UTI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
62 | Perth Amboy, New Jersey | Private | universaluti.com |
| York County School of Technology |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
61 | York, Pennsylvania | Public | educationthatpays.com |
| American Institute of Alternative Medicine (AIAM) |
Other Award
|
60 | Columbus, Ohio | Private | aiam.edu |
| Access Careers |
Residency
|
57 | Hempstead, New York | Private | accesscareers.net |
| Concorde Career Institute |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
50 | Jacksonville, Florida | Private | concorde.edu |
| Ashtabula County Technical and Career Campus (A‑Tech) |
Residency
|
47 | Jefferson, Ohio | Public | atech.edu |
| Herzing University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
46 | Brookfield, Wisconsin | Private | herzing.edu |
| Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations (ANHO) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
45 | West Palm Beach, Florida | Private | anho.edu |
| Mid-EastCTC |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
40 | Zanesville, Ohio | Public | adulted.mideastctc.org |
| Polytech Adult Education |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
40 | Woodside, Delaware | Public | polytechworks.com |
| Lansdale School of Business (LSB) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
38 | North Wales, Pennsylvania | Private | lsb.edu |
| Herzing University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
37 | Kenosha, Wisconsin | Private | herzing.edu |
| Saint Michael College of Allied Health (SMCAH) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
37 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | smcah.edu |
| EHOVE Career Center |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
34 | Milan, Ohio | Public | ehove.net |
| PITC Institute |
Associate's
|
33 | Wyncote, Pennsylvania | Private | pitc.edu |
| Allied Health Careers Institute (AHCI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
33 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Private | ahci.edu |
| Access Careers |
Residency
|
31 | Islandia, New York | Private | accesscareers.net |
| Herzing University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
30 | Birmingham, Alabama | Private | herzing.edu |
| United Technical Center (UTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
30 | Clarksburg, West Virginia | Public | unitedtechnicalcenterwv.com |
| Lorain County Community College (LCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
28 | Elyria, Ohio | Public | lorainccc.edu |
| Taylor College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
27 | Ocala, Florida | Private | taylorcollege.edu |
| Carthage R9 School District |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
27 | Carthage, Missouri | Public | ctc.carthagetigers.org |
| Upper Valley Career Center (UVCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
26 | Piqua, Ohio | Public | uppervalleycc.org |
| CAAN Academy of Nursing |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
26 | Matteson, Illinois | Private | caanacademy.org |
| Herzing University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
25 | Winter Park, Florida | Private | herzing.edu |
| Williams Technical College (WTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
24 | Houma, Louisiana | Private | williamstechnicalcollege.com |
| West Virginia Junior College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
24 | Irwin, Pennsylvania | Private | unitedcareer.edu |
| State Career College (SCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
23 | Gurnee, Illinois | Private | statecareercollege.edu |
| Americare Technical School (ATS) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
23 | Park Ridge, Illinois | Private | americaretech.com |
| Tri County Regional Vocational Technical High School |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
21 | Franklin, Massachusetts | Public | tri-county.us |
| Caribbean University |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
20 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Private | caribbean.edu |
| Annenberg School of Nursing (ASN) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
18 | Reseda, California | Private | asn.edu |
| Northwest College (NWC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
17 | Powell, Wyoming | Public | nwc.edu |
| Antilles School of Technical Careers |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
17 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Private | antillespr.edu |
| Nightingale College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
17 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Private | nightingale.edu |
| Herzing University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
16 | Akron, Ohio | Private | herzing.edu |
| Infinity College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
16 | Lafayette, Louisiana | Private | infinitycollege.edu |
| Cass Career Center |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
15 | Harrisonville, Missouri | Public | casscareercenter.com |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools School of Practical Nursing |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
14 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Public | techcenter.vbschools.com |
| Herzing University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
13 | Madison, Wisconsin | Private | herzing.edu |
| Central School of Practical Nursing (CSPN) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
12 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | npsk12.com |
| Concorde Career College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
11 | Dallas, Texas | Private | concorde.edu |
| Herzing University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
11 | Tampa, Florida | Private | herzing.edu |
| Liceo de Arte-Dise-O y Comercio |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
10 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | Private | liceocaguas.com |
| East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
10 | Mesa, Arizona | Public | evit.com |
| West Virginia Junior College (WVJC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
10 | Bridgeport, West Virginia | Private | wvjc.edu |
| Pennsylvania Highlands Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
8 | Johnstown, Pennsylvania | Public | pennhighlands.edu |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) |
Residency
|
7 | Green Bay, Wisconsin | Public | nwtc.edu |
| Caribbean University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
6 | Vega Baja, Puerto Rico | Private | caribbean.edu |
| Rivier University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
5 | Nashua, New Hampshire | Private | rivier.edu |
| Ohio Institute of Allied Health (OIAH) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
5 | Huber Heights, Ohio | Private | oiah.edu |
| Caribbean University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
4 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | Private | caribbean.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Caribbean University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
3 | Ponce, Puerto Rico | Private | caribbean.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Other Award
|
3 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | worldcampus.psu.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Other Award
|
2 | Altoona, Pennsylvania | Public | altoona.psu.edu |
| Healthcare Training Institute (HTI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | Kenner, Louisiana | Private | healthcaretraininginstitutenola.net |
| Lenoir Community College (LCC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Kinston, North Carolina | Public | lenoircc.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Other Award
|
1 | Erie, Pennsylvania | Public | behrend.psu.edu |
| Herzing University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | herzing.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistants programs
How much can I earn with a Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistants degree?
Salaries for Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistants graduates vary by role and location. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses earn a median of $62,340 annually, while Nursing Assistants earn around $39,530. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Washington average $63,980 compared to $39,655 in Mississippi. Approximately 2,020,860 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistants programs?
Currently 81 accredited institutions offer Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistants degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Unitek College (417 graduates), Jersey College (331 graduates), and Institute of Technology (FIT) (284 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistants growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 6,969 in 2010 to a peak of 4,905 in 2020, before declining slightly to 4,506 in 2023-24. This represents a 35% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Practical Nursing and Nursing Assistants degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, Nursing Assistants, . Related occupations employ approximately 2,020,860 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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