Best colleges for Practical Nursing in Connecticut
Ranked by graduate earnings
Porter & Chester Institute, Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden and Lincoln Technical Institute - New Britain are the top Practical Nursing programs in Connecticut by graduate earnings. Porter & Chester Institute leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $55,837, College Scorecard. Lincoln Technical Institute - New Britain, Lincoln Technical Institute - Shelton and Porter & Chester Institute award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Connecticut: 164, 120 and 74 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 6 Connecticut colleges offer Practical Nursing and award 443 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 3 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 | Porter & Chester Institute Bridgeport Private for-profit · Certificate | $55,837 | 74 | 45% | $18,216 | $22,444 |
| 2 | Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden Hamden Private for-profit · Certificate | $53,457 | 35 | 32% | $21,819 | $20,815 |
| 3 | Lincoln Technical Institute - New Britain New Britain Private for-profit · Certificate | $52,233 | 164 | 65% | $31,256 | $19,250 |
Colleges awarding the most Practical Nursing degrees in Connecticut
Top 6 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 | Lincoln Technical Institute - New Britain New Britain Private for-profit | 164 | $52,233* |
| 2 | Lincoln Technical Institute - Shelton Shelton Private for-profit | 120 | $52,233* |
| 3 | Porter & Chester Institute Bridgeport Private for-profit | 74 | $55,837 |
| 4 | Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden Hamden Private for-profit | 35 | $53,457 |
| 5 | American Institute - West Hartford West Hartford Private for-profit | 31 | Not reported |
| 6 | American Institute of Healthcare & Technology Stratford Private for-profit | 19 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).
Top skills
What Nursing Assistants earn in Connecticut
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Practical Nursing programs in Connecticut.
Which Connecticut colleges award the most Practical Nursing degrees?+
Lincoln Technical Institute - New Britain (164 graduates a year), Lincoln Technical Institute - Shelton (120 graduates a year) and Porter & Chester Institute (74 graduates a year) award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Connecticut, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 6 Connecticut colleges offer Practical Nursing.
What is the best college for Practical Nursing in Connecticut?+
By graduate earnings, Porter & Chester Institute leads among Practical Nursing programs in Connecticut, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $55,837, College Scorecard. Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden and Lincoln Technical Institute - New Britain follow. By degrees awarded, Lincoln Technical Institute - New Britain is the largest, with 164 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Practical Nursing program in Connecticut has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Porter & Chester Institute tops the list at $55,837. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Nursing Assistants earn in Connecticut?+
The average annual wage for Nursing Assistants in Connecticut is $45,440 (median $44,790), across about 21,380 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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