by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 46 schools ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants, using our 2026 methodology.
This ranking is based on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits (including GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon support), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community. So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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Here are the top-ranked practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants colleges for veterans:
Leading the list is Citrus College, our #1 practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants college for veterans. It scores 83.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants report for Citrus College
Southwestern College is a great choice for veterans pursuing practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants, landing the #2 spot this year. Southwestern College scores 81.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants report for Southwestern College
A rank of #3 makes Hennepin Technical College one of the top practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants colleges for veteran students. It scores 79.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants program at Hennepin Technical College
Veteran students seeking a strong practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants program will find one at Rio Hondo College, which ranked #4. Rio Hondo College scores 78.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants report for Rio Hondo College
Santa Barbara City College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants colleges for veterans. Santa Barbara City College scores 76.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
See the full practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants report for Santa Barbara City College
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Allan Hancock College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants colleges for veterans. It scores 76.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants report for Allan Hancock College
Community College of Rhode Island placed #7 among the best practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 75.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants program at Community College of Rhode Island
Arkansas Tech University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants colleges for veterans. It scores 75.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants at Arkansas Tech University
Green River College came in at #9 for veteran practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants students this year. It scores 74.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants program at Green River College
San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants colleges for veterans. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia scores 72.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
See the full practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants report for San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia
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Butte College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 72.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants program at Butte College
Riverside City College placed #12 among the best practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants colleges for veterans. It scores 72.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants report for Riverside City College
Mission College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 70.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants at Mission College
Quinsigamond Community College came in at #14 for veteran practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants students this year. Quinsigamond Community College scores 70.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants report for Quinsigamond Community College
Del Mar College placed #15 among the best practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants colleges for veterans. It scores 70.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Read more about practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants at Del Mar College
15
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Barranquitas came in at #16 for veteran practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants students this year. It scores 70.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. More about the practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants program at Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Barranquitas
SOWELA Technical Community College landed the #17 spot for veterans pursuing practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants. It scores 69.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3. Read more about practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants at SOWELA Technical Community College
Coconino Community College came in at #18 for veteran practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 64.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants report for Coconino Community College
Merced College came in at #19 for veteran practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 63.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants report for Merced College
South Louisiana Community College came in at #20 for veteran practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants students this year. South Louisiana Community College scores 63.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
Read more about practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants at South Louisiana Community College
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Miller-Motte College-Tulsa ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants colleges for veterans. Miller-Motte College-Tulsa scores 63.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 95.5, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. Read more about practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants at Miller-Motte College-Tulsa
San Joaquin Valley College-Santa Maria landed the #22 spot for veterans pursuing practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants. San Joaquin Valley College-Santa Maria scores 62.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. More about the practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants program at San Joaquin Valley College-Santa Maria
Carrington College-Sacramento came in at #23 for veteran practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants students this year. It scores 61.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. Read more about practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants at Carrington College-Sacramento
Central Louisiana Technical Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants colleges for veterans. It scores 61.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. More about the practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants program at Central Louisiana Technical Community College
Platt College-Los Angeles ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants colleges for veterans. It scores 60.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3. More about the practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants program at Platt College-Los Angeles
These practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
We measure this ranking on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants: affordability and veteran financial benefits (GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
