by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide involves the study of Nursing Assistant/aide And Patient Care Assistant/aide. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Perform Routine Nursing-Related Services To Patients In Hospitals Or Long-Term Care Facilities, Under The Training And Supervision Of A Registered Nurse Or Licensed Practical Nurse. Read on to learn the essential details every nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide programs.
Nationwide, nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide is a widely-pursued major, with 44,550 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide Schools ranking analyzes these 490 schools to determine the best overall colleges for nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide programs later in this article.
Coursework for Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 992 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 42 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 8,333 |
People currently working in careers related to nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 38.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 24.0% |
| Some college courses | 12.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 9.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 6.1% |
| First professional degree | 3.8% |
| Master’s degree | 2.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.7% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide opens doors to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing Assistants | 87,005 | -4.1% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $45,399 |
| 4 years | $42,279 |
| 5 years | $47,962 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Nursing Assistants | $27,058 |
With 490 different nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide school rankings to help you.
Those considering nursing assistant/aide and patient care assistant/aide, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training | 50,931 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, Other | 4,506 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
