Best colleges for Practical Nursing in North Dakota
Ranked by graduate earnings
Lake Region State College, Bismarck State College and Dakota College at Bottineau award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in North Dakota: 47, 40 and 28 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 8 North Dakota colleges offer Practical Nursing and award 197 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 4 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 | Bismarck State College Bismarck Public · Certificate | $61,629 | 40 | 47% | — | $18,297 |
| 2 | Dakota College at Bottineau Bottineau Public · Certificate | $60,969 | 28 | 48% | — | $17,648 |
| 3 | Rasmussen University - North Dakota Fargo Private for-profit · Certificate | $45,271 | 24 | 29% | $18,815 | $21,274 |
| 4 | North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton Public · Associate degree Small program | $41,956 | 11 | 55% | — | $24,385 |
Colleges awarding the most Practical Nursing degrees in North Dakota
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 | Lake Region State College Devils Lake Public | 47 | Not reported |
| 2 | Bismarck State College Bismarck Public | 40 | $61,629 |
| 3 | Dakota College at Bottineau Bottineau Public | 28 | $60,969 |
| 4 | Dickinson State University Dickinson Public | 21 | Not reported |
| 5 | Williston State College Williston Public | 19 | Not reported |
| 6 | North Dakota State College of Science Wahpeton Public | 11 | $41,956 |
ShowHide the other 2 North Dakota colleges offering Practical Nursing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rasmussen University - North Dakota | Fargo | Private for-profit | 24 |
| Sitting Bull College | Fort Yates | Public | 7 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).
Top skills
What Nursing Assistants earn in North Dakota
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Practical Nursing programs in North Dakota.
Which North Dakota colleges award the most Practical Nursing degrees?+
Lake Region State College (47 graduates a year), Bismarck State College (40 graduates a year) and Dakota College at Bottineau (28 graduates a year) award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in North Dakota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 8 North Dakota colleges offer Practical Nursing.
Which Practical Nursing program in North Dakota has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Bismarck State College tops the list at $61,629. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Nursing Assistants earn in North Dakota?+
The average annual wage for Nursing Assistants in North Dakota is $43,330 (median $45,820), across about 6,840 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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