Best institutions to study Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide
A program that prepares individuals to perform routine nursing-related services to patients in hospitals or long-term care facilities, under the training and supervision of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse.
499 U.S. institutions graduated 49,489 Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.3902, a specialization of Practical Nursing (CIP 51.39), and leads most directly to the Nursing Assistants occupation (BLS SOC 31-1131).
About Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide programs
A program that prepares individuals to perform routine nursing-related services to patients in hospitals or long-term care facilities, under the training and supervision of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide program prepares individuals to provide essential nursing-related services to patients in hospitals and long-term care facilities. Under the supervision of registered nurses or licensed practical nurses, students learn to assist with daily living activities and respond to patient needs effectively. This program is ideal for those seeking a rewarding career in healthcare, focusing on patient care and support.
Students in this program develop core skills in active listening, monitoring, and critical thinking. They gain knowledge in customer service, public safety, and basic medical procedures, equipping them to handle various tasks such as assisting patients with daily activities and recording vital information.
Credentials awarded
What Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of less than 12 weeks38,273 graduates / yr · 331 institutions77%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year10,098 graduates / yr · 191 institutions20%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years1,079 graduates / yr · 31 institutions2.2%
- Associate's degree39 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.1%
Graduates over time
Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 46,525 |
| 2013 | 48,777 |
| 2014 | 48,589 |
| 2015 | 45,884 |
| 2016 | 42,907 |
| 2017 | 42,513 |
| 2018 | 42,208 |
| 2019 | 43,186 |
| 2020 | 36,408 |
| 2021 | 34,557 |
| 2022 | 35,661 |
| 2023 | 38,088 |
| 2024 | 44,550 |
| 2025 | 49,489 |
Top 50 institutions for Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/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 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, INPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 2,537 | 40% | — | $50,081 |
| 2 | South Florida Institute of Technology Miami, FLPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1,407 | 83% | $29,731 | $18,258 |
| 3 | Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WIPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 851 | 51% | — | — |
| 4 | Madison Area Technical College Madison, WIPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 785 | 29% | — | — |
| 5 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 615 | 48% | — | $36,528 |
| 6 | College of Lake County Grayslake, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 564 | 37% | — | — |
| 7 | Waukesha County Technical College Pewaukee, WIPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 547 | 44% | — | — |
| 8 | Mountainland Technical College Lehi, UTPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 537 | 84% | — | — |
| 9 | Johnson County Community College Overland Park, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 529 | 31% | — | $36,404 |
| 10 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay, WIPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 527 | 51% | — | $42,721 |
| 11 | Illinois Central College East Peoria, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 504 | 49% | — | $55,604 |
| 12 | Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City, IAPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 438 | 50% | — | $29,348 |
| 13 | Columbus State Community College Columbus, OHPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 427 | 28% | — | — |
| 14 | Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Valdosta, GAPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 425 | 50% | — | $37,112 |
| 15 | Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 423 | 40% | — | — |
| 16 | City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College Chicago, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 406 | 18% | — | $36,493 |
| 17 | Wichita State University - Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology Wichita, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 397 | 43% | — | $38,356 |
| 18 | Northcentral Technical College Wausau, WIPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 362 | 45% | — | $29,626 |
| 19 | Davis Technical College Kaysville, UTPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 353 | 57% | — | $26,369 |
| 20 | Pikes Peak State College Colorado Springs, COPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 350 | 21% | — | — |
| 21 | Mesa Community College Mesa, AZPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 345 | 16% | — | — |
| 22 | Riverside City College Riverside, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 335 | 37% | — | — |
| 23 | Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire, WIPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 334 | 50% | — | $37,386 |
| 24 | Moraine Park Technical College Fond du Lac, WIPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 320 | 58% | — | $24,954 |
| 25 | Eastern Iowa Community College District Davenport, IAPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 313 | 45% | — | $45,662 |
| 26 | Northwood Technical College Rice Lake, WIPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 307 | 56% | — | $26,492 |
| 27 | Rock Valley College Rockford, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 301 | 37% | — | $27,497 |
| 28 | Truckee Meadows Community College Reno, NVPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 292 | 32% | — | — |
| 29 | Minnesota West Community and Technical College Granite Falls, MNPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 290 | 52% | — | — |
| 30 | Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WIPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 289 | 65% | — | $38,540 |
| 31 | College of Southern Nevada Las Vegas, NVPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 281 | 19% | — | — |
| 32 | Oakton College Des Plaines, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 279 | 37% | — | — |
| 33 | Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WIPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 267 | 25% | — | $36,583 |
| 34 | McHenry County College Crystal Lake, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 264 | 37% | — | — |
| 35 | Hutchinson Community College Hutchinson, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 263 | 53% | — | $45,344 |
| 36 | Blackhawk Technical College Janesville, WIPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 262 | 34% | — | $21,748 |
| 37 | Southern Crescent Technical College Griffin, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of less than 12 weeks | 254 | 58% | — | $47,408 |
| 38 | Western Technical College La Crosse, WIPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 254 | 34% | — | $27,571 |
| 39 | West Georgia Technical College Waco, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 252 | 35% | — | $42,462 |
| 40 | Ogden - Weber Technical College Ogden, UTPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 252 | 53% | — | $24,690 |
| 41 | Arapahoe Community College Littleton, COPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 241 | 29% | — | $36,234 |
| 42 | Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 241 | 47% | — | $41,347 |
| 43 | Southeastern Community College West Burlington, IAPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 240 | 43% | — | — |
| 44 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 238 | 36% | — | $22,351 |
| 45 | Highland Community College Highland, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 226 | 39% | — | — |
| 46 | Sinclair Community College Dayton, OHPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 223 | 41% | — | $24,297 |
| 47 | Institute of Allied Healthcare San Antonio, TXPrivate for-profitAward of less than 12 weeks | 220 | 0% | $5,403 | — |
| 48 | Lincoln Land Community College Springfield, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 219 | 48% | — | $29,851 |
| 49 | Neosho County Community College Chanute, KSPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 219 | 34% | — | — |
| 50 | Kaskaskia College Centralia, ILPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 218 | 49% | — | $43,289 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Practical Nursing field (CIP 51.39) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 47 states & territories
Where Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide graduates come from. Each state links to all Practical Nursing programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 31-1131, Nursing Assistants, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Nursing Assistant/Aide program can pursue careers as Nursing Assistants, with a median wage of $39,530. The job outlook is promising, with an expected growth rate of 2.3% and approximately 204,100 annual openings, making it a stable choice for those seeking employment in the healthcare field.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.3902
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 |
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 Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/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 Practical Nursing specializations
The 2 other 6-digit CIP codes under Practical Nursing (CIP 51.39).
Common questions
What is the duration of the program?+
The program offers various awards, including those that can be completed in less than 12 weeks.
What skills will I learn?+
You will learn skills such as active listening, monitoring, and critical thinking.
What types of jobs can I get after graduation?+
You can work as a Nursing Assistant in hospitals or long-term care facilities.
What is the job outlook for Nursing Assistants?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an estimated growth rate of 2.3%.
What is the CIP code for Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide?+
Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide is CIP 51.3902 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Practical Nursing (CIP 51.39). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to perform routine nursing-related services to patients in hospitals or long-term care facilities, under the training and supervision of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse.
How many institutions offer Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide programs?+
499 U.S. institutions reported Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 47 states & territories, awarding 49,489 credentials in the year. That is 44.9% of all Practical Nursing graduates.
How much do Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Nursing Assistants occupation, which Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide most directly leads to, pays a median of $42,260 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Practical Nursing field report median earnings of $42,248 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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