2026 Best Value Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in Colorado
[Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants](/majors/health-care-professions/practical-nursing-assistants/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong practical nursing & nursing assistants education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 23 schools to find the best return on investment for practical nursing & nursing assistants students.
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2026 Best Value Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in Colorado
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the practical nursing & nursing assistants degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools
Colorado Mountain College tops our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools in Colorado. Set in the town of Glenwood Springs, Colorado Mountain College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,616 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,840. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $9,450. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $48,694. That is a strong return on a $9,450 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Morgan Community College one of the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the rural area of Fort Morgan, Morgan Community College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $4,252 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,852 for out-of-state students. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $11,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Morgan Community College generally make around $64,066. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Community College Of Aurora earned it the #3 place for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the city of Aurora, Community College Of Aurora is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,470, while out-of-state students pay about $17,070. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $17,667. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Community College Of Aurora generally make around $38,587. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Red Rocks Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Red Rocks Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,859, compared with $17,459 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $7,006. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Red Rocks Community College earn a median of $76,340 early in their careers. Set against $7,006 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Aims Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in practical nursing & nursing assistants, landing the #5 spot this year. Aims Community College is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,258, while out-of-state students pay about $11,786. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Aims Community College earn a median of $45,909 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,000 median debt.
Community College Of Denver came in at #6 for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Community College Of Denver is a large public school located in the city of Denver. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,058, while out-of-state students pay about $17,658. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $12,000. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Community College Of Denver earn a median of $23,614 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Delta Montrose Technical College placed #7 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Delta Montrose Technical College is a small public school located in the rural area of Delta. Students borrow a median of $22,133 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Delta Montrose Technical College earn a median of $42,451 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pikes Peak Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Pikes Peak Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Colorado Springs. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,510, with out-of-state students paying around $17,110. Students borrow a median of $16,066 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $41,037. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Emily Griffith Technical College placed #9 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Emily Griffith Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Denver. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $13,267. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Emily Griffith Technical College generally make around $37,744. That is a strong return on a $13,267 median debt.
Pickens Technical College placed #10 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Pickens Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Aurora. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,140, while out-of-state students pay about $9,250. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Pickens Technical College generally make around $53,360. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arapahoe Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value practical nursing & nursing assistants schools. Arapahoe Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Littleton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,434, while out-of-state students pay about $17,034. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $36,234. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt.
Front Range Community College placed #12 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,663, compared with $17,263 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $13,107. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $29,021. That is a strong return on a $13,107 median debt.
Trinidad State Junior College came in at #13 for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the town of Trinidad, Trinidad State Junior College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,608, with out-of-state students paying around $7,318. Students borrow a median of $7,625 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Trinidad State Junior College generally make around $53,086. That is a strong return on a $7,625 median debt.
Pueblo Community College placed #14 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Pueblo. In-state tuition and fees average $5,049, with out-of-state students paying around $17,649. Students borrow a median of $9,975 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $25,507. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Otero Junior College placed #15 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Otero Junior College is a small public school located in the town of La Junta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $7,270. Students borrow a median of $24,150 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Otero Junior College generally make around $74,405. That is a strong return on a $24,150 median debt.
Northeastern Junior College came in at #16 for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Northeastern Junior College is a small public school located in the town of Sterling. Students from in state pay about $5,730 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,267 for out-of-state students. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates carry a median of $13,156 in student loans. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Northeastern Junior College earn a median of $38,543 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mesa State College placed #17 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,927, while out-of-state students pay about $25,124. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $21,675. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Mesa State College generally make around $43,617. Set against $21,675 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Concorde Career College Aurora placed #18 among the best values for practical nursing & nursing assistants. Located in the city of Aurora, Concorde Career College Aurora is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $17,268 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Soon after graduation, practical nursing & nursing assistants degree recipients from Concorde Career College Aurora generally make around $57,339. Set against $17,268 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Concorde Career College Aurora admits about 90% of applicants.
Pima Medical Institute Aurora came in at #19 for value in practical nursing & nursing assistants this year. Located in the city of Aurora, Pima Medical Institute Aurora is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $11,597 to complete the practical nursing & nursing assistants program here. Early-career practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates make about $54,021.
Pima Medical Institute Denver landed the #20 spot for practical nursing & nursing assistants value this year. Set in the suburb of Denver, Pima Medical Institute Denver is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for practical nursing & nursing assistants graduates is $8,000. Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants graduates of Pima Medical Institute Denver earn a median of $28,834 early in their careers. Set against $8,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
