Best institutions to study Health Aide
A program that prepares individuals to provide routine care and assistance to patients under the direct supervision of other health care professionals, and/or to perform routine maintenance and general assistance in health care facilities and laboratories.
15 U.S. institutions graduated 368 Health Aide students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.2601, a specialization of Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies (CIP 51.26), and leads most directly to the Nursing Assistants occupation (BLS SOC 31-1131).
About Health Aide programs
A program that prepares individuals to provide routine care and assistance to patients under the direct supervision of other health care professionals, and/or to perform routine maintenance and general assistance in health care facilities and laboratories.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Health Aide program prepares individuals to provide essential care and assistance to patients under the supervision of healthcare professionals. This program is ideal for those looking to start a career in the health professions, focusing on routine patient care in various healthcare settings, including hospitals and clinics. Graduates will be equipped to support patients in daily activities and contribute to the overall functioning of healthcare facilities.
Students in the Health Aide program will develop core skills such as active listening, monitoring, and critical thinking. They will gain knowledge in customer service, public safety, and basic medical practices, ensuring they are well-prepared to assist patients effectively and efficiently.
Credentials awarded
What Health Aide graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year182 graduates / yr · 8 institutions50%
- Award of less than 12 weeks164 graduates / yr · 3 institutions45%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years16 graduates / yr · 3 institutions4.3%
- Associate's degree6 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.6%
Graduates over time
Health Aide completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,834 |
| 2013 | 1,813 |
| 2014 | 2,122 |
| 2015 | 2,881 |
| 2016 | 1,878 |
| 2017 | 1,404 |
| 2018 | 1,467 |
| 2019 | 1,036 |
| 2020 | 556 |
| 2021 | 430 |
| 2022 | 231 |
| 2023 | 329 |
| 2024 | 488 |
| 2025 | 368 |
Top 15 institutions for Health Aide, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College Minden, LAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 88 | 77% | — | $17,649 |
| 2 | Poway Adult School Poway, CAPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 80 | — | — | — |
| 3 | Owens Community College Perrysburg, OHPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 78 | 35% | — | — |
| 4 | Louisiana Delta Community College Monroe, LAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 31 | 30% | — | $19,217 |
| 5 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, INPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 20 | 40% | — | $33,802 |
| 6 | Flint Hills Technical College Emporia, KSPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 14 | 68% | — | — |
| 7 | Central Louisiana Technical Community College Alexandria, LAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 13 | 70% | — | $18,707 |
| 8 | Nunez Community College Chalmette, LAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 13 | 27% | — | — |
| 9 | Wichita State University - Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology Wichita, KSPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 43% | — | — |
| 10 | Northshore Technical Community College Lacombe, LAPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 6 | 40% | — | $21,729 |
| 11 | Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College Logan, WVPublicAssociate's | 6 | 29% | — | — |
| 12 | Eastern Arizona College Thatcher, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 42% | — | — |
| 13 | Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 40% | — | — |
| 14 | Valley City State University Valley City, NDPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 2 | 53% | — | — |
| 15 | Niagara County Community College Sanborn, NYPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1 | 32% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies field (CIP 51.26) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 10 states
Where Health Aide graduates come from. Each state links to all Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 5 | 151 | Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College88 / yr |
| California | 1 | 80 | Poway Adult School80 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 78 | Owens Community College78 / yr |
| Kansas | 2 | 21 | Flint Hills Technical College14 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 20 | Ivy Tech Community College20 / yr |
| West Virginia | 1 | 6 | Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College6 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 5 | Eastern Arizona College5 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 4 | Moraine Valley Community College4 / yr |
| North Dakota | 1 | 2 | Valley City State University2 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 1 | Niagara County Community College1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 31-1131, Nursing Assistants, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Health Aide program can pursue careers as Nursing Assistants or Psychiatric Aides. With an annual growth rate of 2.3% and approximately 204,100 job openings each year, this field offers stable employment opportunities. The median wage for health aides is $39,530, typically requiring a postsecondary nondegree award.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.2601
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Nursing Assistantsprimary SOC 31-1131 | $42,260 | +2.3% About as fast as average | ~204,100 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
Psychiatric Aides SOC 31-1133 | $44,910 | -0.4% Little or no change | ~5,300 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Health Aide programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Turn or reposition bedridden patients.
- Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients' needs.
- Feed patients or assist patients to eat or drink.
- Measure and record food and liquid intake or urinary and fecal output, reporting changes to medical or nursing staff.
- Provide physical support to assist patients to perform daily living activities, such as getting out of bed, bathing, dressing, using the toilet, standing, walking, or exercising.
- Document or otherwise report observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical symptoms to nurses.
Tools and technology used
Other Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies (CIP 51.26).
- Home Health Aide/CIP 51.2602
Home Attendant 4,307 graduates / yr51 institutions - Medication AideCIP 51.2603780 graduates / yr31 institutions
- Rehabilitation AideCIP 51.2604167 graduates / yr10 institutions
- Health Aides/CIP 51.2699
Attendants/ Orderlies partial data39 graduates / yr4 institutions - Physical Therapy Technician/CIP 51.2605
Aide limited data28 graduates / yr1 institutions
Common questions
What is the duration of the Health Aide program?+
The program typically awards credentials for at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I learn in this program?+
You will learn skills such as active listening, monitoring, and critical thinking, essential for patient care.
What career opportunities are available after graduation?+
Graduates can work as Nursing Assistants or Psychiatric Aides in various healthcare settings.
What is the job outlook for health aides?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.3% and over 204,100 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Health Aide?+
Health Aide is CIP 51.2601 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies (CIP 51.26). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to provide routine care and assistance to patients under the direct supervision of other health care professionals, and/or to perform routine maintenance and general assistance in health care facilities and laboratories.
How many institutions offer Health Aide programs?+
15 U.S. institutions reported Health Aide graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 10 states, awarding 368 credentials in the year. That is 6.5% of all Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies graduates.
How much do Health Aide graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Nursing Assistants occupation, which Health Aide most directly leads to, pays a median of $42,260 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies field report median earnings of $19,217 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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