Best colleges for Practical Nursing in Puerto Rico
Ranked by graduate earnings
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Guayama, NUC University and Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Puerto Rico: 433, 51 and 41 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 20 Puerto Rico colleges offer Practical Nursing and award 699 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 | NUC University Bayamon Private for-profit · Certificate | $10,394 | 51 | 54% | $9,377 | $9,500 |
| 2 | Antilles School of Technical Careers San Juan Private for-profit · Certificate Small program | $11,508 | 15 | 59% | $5,832 | — |
| 3 | Caribbean University - Bayamon Bayamon Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $10,084 | 10 | 43% | $6,392 | $15,250 |
Colleges awarding the most Practical Nursing degrees in Puerto Rico
Top 10 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 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Guayama Guayama Private not-for-profit | 433 | Not reported |
| 2 | NUC University Bayamon Private for-profit | 51 | $10,394 |
| 3 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla Aguadilla Private not-for-profit | 41 | Not reported |
| 4 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Metro San Juan Private not-for-profit | 35 | Not reported |
| 5 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Barranquitas Barranquitas Private not-for-profit | 30 | Not reported |
| 6 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo Arecibo Private not-for-profit | 21 | Not reported |
| 7 | Antilles School of Technical Careers San Juan Private for-profit | 15 | $11,508 |
| 8 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon Bayamon Private not-for-profit | 11 | Not reported |
| 9 | Caribbean University - Bayamon Bayamon Private not-for-profit | 10 | $10,084* |
| 10 | Caribbean University - Vega Baja Vega Baja Private not-for-profit | 9 | $10,084* |
ShowHide the other 10 Puerto Rico colleges offering Practical Nursing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEM College - San Juan | San Juan | Private for-profit | 8 |
| Caribbean University - Carolina | Carolina | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-San German | San German | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Caribbean University - Ponce | Ponce | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Universidad Adventista de las Antillas | Mayaguez | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Liceo de Arte-Dise-O y Comercio | Caguas | Private for-profit | 4 |
| D'Mart Institute | Barranquitas | Private for-profit | 3 |
| American Educational College | Bayamon | Private for-profit | 2 |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus | San Juan | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce | Mercedita | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).
Top skills
What Nursing Assistants earn in Puerto Rico
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Practical Nursing programs in Puerto Rico.
Which Puerto Rico colleges award the most Practical Nursing degrees?+
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Guayama (433 graduates a year), NUC University (51 graduates a year) and Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla (41 graduates a year) award the most Practical Nursing degrees and certificates in Puerto Rico, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 20 Puerto Rico colleges offer Practical Nursing.
Which Practical Nursing program in Puerto Rico has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, NUC University tops the list at $10,394. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Nursing Assistants earn in Puerto Rico?+
The average annual wage for Nursing Assistants in Puerto Rico is $28,520 (median $22,850), across about 430 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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