Best colleges for Practical Nursing in Arizona
Ranked by graduate earnings
Pima Medical Institute - East Valley, Yavapai College and Regional Center for Border Health award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Arizona: 141, 120 and 104 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 21 Arizona colleges offer Practical Nursing and award 1,966 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
Top 6 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Valley Institute of Technology Mesa Public · Certificate | $53,918 | 31 | 68% | — | $14,076 |
| 2 | Pima Medical Institute - East Valley Mesa Private for-profit · Certificate | $28,834 | 141 | 76% | $6,667 | $8,000 |
| 3 | GateWay Community College Phoenix Public · Certificate | $60,620 | 339 | 29% | — | $12,898 |
| 4 | Pima Community College Tucson Public · Certificate | $47,205 | 93 | 28% | — | $9,562 |
| 5 | Coconino Community College Flagstaff Public · Associate degree | $36,719 | 76 | 24% | — | $14,487 |
| 6 | Brookline College - Phoenix Phoenix Private for-profit · Certificate Small program | $29,376 | 7 | 53% | — | $9,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Practical Nursing degrees in Arizona
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pima Medical Institute - East Valley Mesa Private for-profit | 141 | $28,834 |
| 2 | Yavapai College Prescott Public | 120 | Not reported |
| 3 | Regional Center for Border Health Somerton Private not-for-profit | 104 | Not reported |
| 4 | Cochise County Community College District Sierra Vista Public | 91 | Not reported |
| 5 | Mohave Community College Kingman Public | 62 | Not reported |
| 6 | Eastern Arizona College Thatcher Public | 48 | Not reported |
| 7 | East Valley Institute of Technology Mesa Public | 31 | $53,918 |
| 8 | Brookline College - Phoenix Phoenix Private for-profit | 7 | $29,376 |
| 9 | Estrella Mountain Community College Avondale Public | 6 | Not reported |
| 10 | Chandler-Gilbert Community College Chandler Public | 3 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 11 Arizona colleges offering Practical Nursing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mesa Community College | Mesa | Public | 389 |
| GateWay Community College | Phoenix | Public | 339 |
| Glendale Community College | Glendale | Public | 234 |
| Paradise Valley Community College | Phoenix | Public | 108 |
| Pima Community College | Tucson | Public | 93 |
| Coconino Community College | Flagstaff | Public | 76 |
| Scottsdale Community College | Scottsdale | Public | 40 |
| Central Arizona College | Coolidge | Public | 30 |
| Northland Pioneer College | Holbrook | Public | 25 |
| Arizona Western College | Yuma | Public | 14 |
| Phoenix College | Phoenix | Public | 5 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).
Top skills
What Nursing Assistants earn in Arizona
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Practical Nursing programs in Arizona.
Which Arizona colleges award the most Practical Nursing degrees?+
Pima Medical Institute - East Valley (141 graduates a year), Yavapai College (120 graduates a year) and Regional Center for Border Health (104 graduates a year) award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Arizona, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 21 Arizona colleges offer Practical Nursing.
Which Practical Nursing program in Arizona has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, East Valley Institute of Technology tops the list at $53,918. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Nursing Assistants earn in Arizona?+
The average annual wage for Nursing Assistants in Arizona is $44,820 (median $44,780), across about 20,320 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Practical Nursing program?+
The Practical Nursing program, also known as Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, prepares students for a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). This program is designed for individuals who want to provide direct nursing care to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Nursing Assistants?+
The national job outlook is about +2.3% growth with around 204,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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