Best colleges for Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top colleges for Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies by graduate earnings are Ivy Tech Community College ($33,802), Louisiana Delta Community College ($19,217) and Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College ($17,649), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Ivy Tech Community College (Indianapolis, IN): $33,802, 108 graduates a year
- Louisiana Delta Community College (Monroe, LA): $19,217, 31 graduates a year
- Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College (Minden, LA): $17,649, 88 graduates a year
Compare 99 U.S. colleges offering Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 24 states.
Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $21,729 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 51.26 and the Psychiatric Aides occupation (BLS SOC).
About Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies programs
The Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies program prepares students for essential roles in the healthcare field, focusing on providing support to patients with various needs. This program is ideal for individuals who are compassionate and eager to assist others in a medical setting, whether in hospitals, nursing homes, or home care environments.
Students in this program will develop core skills in communication, active listening, and critical thinking. Coursework covers essential knowledge areas such as psychology, therapy and counseling, and customer service, equipping graduates to effectively support patients and collaborate with healthcare professionals.
Top 9 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN Public · Certificate | $33,802 | 108 | 40% | — | — |
| 2 | Louisiana Delta Community College Monroe, LA Public · Certificate | $19,217 | 31 | 30% | — | $7,823 |
| 3 | Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College Minden, LA Public · Certificate | $17,649 | 88 | 77% | — | — |
| 4 | New Community Career & Technical Institute Newark, NJ Private not-for-profit · Certificate Small program | $27,718 | 11 | 54% | $5,716 | $2,020 |
| 5 | Carrington College - Mesa Mesa, AZ Private for-profit · Certificate Small program | $26,105 | 1 | 54% | $48,051 | $7,680 |
| 6 | Carrington College - Tucson Tucson, AZ Private for-profit · Certificate Small program | $26,105 | 13 | 66% | $41,198 | $7,680 |
| 7 | Northshore Technical Community College Lacombe, LA Public · Certificate Small program | $21,729 | 6 | 40% | — | — |
| 8 | Central Louisiana Technical Community College Alexandria, LA Public · Certificate Small program | $18,707 | 13 | 70% | — | $7,750 |
| 9 | NUC University Bayamon, PR Private for-profit · Certificate Small program | $9,072 | 17 | 54% | $9,377 | $9,500 |
Specializations within Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies
6 of the 6 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 51.26 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Home Health Aide/CIP 51.2602
Home Attendant 4,307 graduates / yr51 institutions15 states - Medication AideCIP 51.2603780 graduates / yr31 institutions5 states
- Health AideCIP 51.2601368 graduates / yr15 institutions10 states
- Rehabilitation AideCIP 51.2604167 graduates / yr10 institutions4 states
- Health Aides/CIP 51.2699
Attendants/ Orderlies partial data39 graduates / yr4 institutions2 states - Physical Therapy Technician/CIP 51.2605
Aide New in CIP 2020limited data28 graduates / yr1 institutions1 states
Offered across 24 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianalimited | 1 | $33,802 | Ivy Tech Community College |
| New Jerseylimited | 1 | $27,718 | New Community Career & Technical Institute |
| Arizona | 5 | $26,105 | Carrington College - Mesa |
| Louisiana | 5 | $19,217 | Northshore Technical Community College |
| Puerto Rico | 10 | $9,072 | NUC University |
| Arkansas | 3 | — | — |
| California | 11 | — | — |
| Illinois | 3 | — | — |
| Kansas | 24 | — | — |
| Michiganlimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Mexicolimited | 1 | — | — |
| Florida | 10 | — | — |
| New Yorklimited | 1 | — | — |
| North Dakotalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Ohiolimited | 2 | — | — |
| South Carolinalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Utahlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Washingtonlimited | 1 | — | — |
| West Virginialimited | 1 | — | — |
| Oklahoma | 9 | — | — |
| Texas | 3 | — | — |
| Delawarelimited | 1 | — | — |
| Tennesseelimited | 1 | — | — |
| Virginialimited | 1 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 31-1133, Psychiatric Aides, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies program can pursue careers as health aides, home health aides, or rehabilitation aides. The job outlook indicates little or no change in employment opportunities, with approximately 5,300 annual openings and a median wage of $41,590. A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for entry into this field.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 51.26.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 51.26 (Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies) maps to 7 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 31-1121 | Home Health Aides |
| 31-1122 | Personal Care Aides |
| 31-1131 | Nursing Assistants |
| 31-1133 | Psychiatric Aidesprimary |
| 31-2012 | Occupational Therapy Aides |
| 31-2022 | Physical Therapist Aides |
| 31-9099 | Healthcare Support Workers, All Other |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Listen and provide emotional support and encouragement to psychiatric patients.
- Provide patients with cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities with routine physical, emotional, psychological, or rehabilitation care under the direction of nursing or medical staff.
- Complete physical checks and monitor patients to detect unusual or harmful behavior and report observations to professional staff.
- Restrain or aid patients as necessary to prevent injury.
- Work as part of a team that may include psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, or social workers.
- Record and maintain patient information, such as vital signs, eating habits, behavior, progress notes, treatments, or discharge plans.
Common questions
What types of specializations are available in this program?+
Specializations include Health Aide, Home Health Aide/Home Attendant, Medication Aide, Rehabilitation Aide, and Physical Therapy Technician/Aide.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, monitoring, critical thinking, and learning strategies.
What is the job outlook for health aides and attendants?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 5,300 annual openings.
What education is required to enter this field?+
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for entry into the health aides and attendants field.
How much do Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies graduates earn?+
Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $21,729, College Scorecard (2019); the Psychiatric Aides occupation pays about $45,690 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies?+
Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies maps to CIP 51.26 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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