by our College Data Analytics Team
[Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants](/majors/health-care-professions/practical-nursing-assistants/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 29 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in practical nursing & nursing assistants, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Bates Technical College the best value for a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants in Washington. Set in the city of Tacoma, Bates Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,027 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,165 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,051 ten years after entry.
Clover Park Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Lakewood, Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,634. Students borrow a median of $16,205 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Clover Park Technical College generally make around $53,065. That is a strong return on a $16,205 median debt.
Bellingham Technical College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the city of Bellingham, Bellingham Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,431, while out-of-state students pay about $5,809. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,748 ten years after entry.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Renton Technical College earned it the #4 place for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Set in the city of Renton, Renton Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,330, while out-of-state students pay about $7,768. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $18,582 in student loans. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Renton Technical College generally make around $80,411. That is a strong return on a $18,582 median debt.
Peninsula College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants, landing the #5 spot this year. Peninsula College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Port Angeles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,718, with out-of-state students paying around $5,270. Students borrow a median of $12,730 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Peninsula College earn a median of $51,243 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
1
2
3
4
5
Seattle Community College Central Campus earned the #6 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle Community College Central Campus is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,238, with out-of-state students paying around $5,796. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $14,699 in student loans. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $53,048. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Skagit Valley College earned the #7 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Set in the city of Mount Vernon, Skagit Valley College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,400, while out-of-state students pay about $7,410. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $14,056. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Skagit Valley College earn a median of $44,860 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,056 median debt.
Olympic College placed #8 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the city of Bremerton, Olympic College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,472, compared with $9,740 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,333 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Olympic College generally make around $48,850. Set against $15,333 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Centralia College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Located in the town of Centralia, Centralia College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,266 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,651 for out-of-state students. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Centralia College earn a median of $77,740 early in their careers.
Lower Columbia College placed #10 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the city of Longview, Lower Columbia College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,626, compared with $6,003 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $14,340. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Lower Columbia College generally make around $53,280. Set against $14,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Columbia Basin College placed #11 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the suburb of Pasco, Columbia Basin College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,555 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,668. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $17,170. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Columbia Basin College generally make around $63,976. That is a strong return on a $17,170 median debt.
Walla Walla Community College placed #12 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Set in the city of Walla Walla, Walla Walla Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,279 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,700. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $15,500. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Walla Walla Community College earn a median of $46,131 early in their careers. Set against $15,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tacoma Community College landed the #13 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Set in the city of Tacoma, Tacoma Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,507 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,646. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $14,822 in student loans. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Tacoma Community College earn a median of $41,732 early in their careers. Set against $14,822 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Whatcom Community College placed #14 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Set in the city of Bellingham, Whatcom Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,296, with out-of-state students paying around $11,435. Students borrow a median of $16,588 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $51,466. That is a strong return on a $16,588 median debt.
Shoreline Community College earned the #15 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the suburb of Shoreline, Shoreline Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,115, with out-of-state students paying around $7,905. Students borrow a median of $16,700 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Shoreline Community College earn a median of $62,009 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Yakima Valley Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Yakima Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Yakima. In-state tuition and fees average $5,312, with out-of-state students paying around $5,873. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $14,649 in student loans. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $49,625. Set against $14,649 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Big Bend Community College landed the #17 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Big Bend Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Moses Lake. Students from in state pay about $5,059 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,619 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $12,662. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $47,970. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Green River Community College landed the #18 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Green River Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,711, compared with $5,263 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,712 ten years after entry.
Edmonds Community College earned the #19 position for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the suburb of Lynnwood, Edmonds Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,810, while out-of-state students pay about $10,875. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $16,025 in student loans. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $35,618. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.