Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants associate's degree programs in California
Compare 12 reporting programs using the same federal field and associate's degree credential definition. Earnings are observed four years after completion.
Highest reported earnings in California
Each bar uses the same field, credential, state and earnings year.
1Carrington College-San JoseSan Jose · $32,832 federal debt$112,1762Carrington College-SacramentoSacramento · $32,832 federal debt$112,1763Unitek CollegeFremont · $22,848 federal debt$108,6124Gurnick Academy of Medical ArtsSan Jose · $20,594 federal debt$85,5295San Joaquin Valley College-Santa MariaSanta Maria · $20,000 federal debt$76,3136San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho MirageRancho Mirage · $20,000 federal debt$76,3137San Joaquin Valley College-BakersfieldBakersfield · $20,000 federal debt$76,3138San Joaquin Valley College-VisaliaVisalia · $20,000 federal debt$76,3139Pacific CollegeCosta Mesa · $16,125 federal debt$67,16210Merced CollegeMerced · Debt not reported$59,178
CAREER CONTEXT IN CA
What related occupations pay in California
These are common occupational matches for this field, ranked by the strength of the federal education-to-occupation match.
29-2061Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
- State median wage
- $79,750
- Middle 50% wage range
- $74,840–$93,720
- State employment
- 82,850
- Projected growth
- +3.0%
- Annual openings
- 51,800
31-1131Nursing Assistants
- State median wage
- $47,630
- Middle 50% wage range
- $45,850–$54,800
- State employment
- 110,060
- Projected growth
- +2.6%
- Annual openings
- 196,200
Career wages and employment are BLS estimates for everyone working in each occupation in California; they are not earnings or placement rates for graduates of these programs. Wage ranges show the distribution across workers, not an entry-to-experienced career path. Growth and annual openings are national 2025–35 projections. BLS reports openings in thousands; DegreeVerdict displays the corresponding job count. These figures provide labor-market context and are not used in DegreeVerdict payoff or ROI calculations.
ALL REPORTING PROGRAMS
Compare every available outcome
Sorted by observed year-4 earnings. Open a row for its exact college-and-degree profile.
| # | College | City | Median year-4 earnings | Median federal debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carrington College-San Jose | San Jose | $112,176 | $32,832 |
| 2 | Carrington College-Sacramento | Sacramento | $112,176 | $32,832 |
| 3 | Unitek College | Fremont | $108,612 | $22,848 |
| 4 | Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts | San Jose | $85,529 | $20,594 |
| 5 | San Joaquin Valley College-Santa Maria | Santa Maria | $76,313 | $20,000 |
| 6 | San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Mirage | Rancho Mirage | $76,313 | $20,000 |
| 7 | San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield | Bakersfield | $76,313 | $20,000 |
| 8 | San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia | Visalia | $76,313 | $20,000 |
| 9 | Pacific College | Costa Mesa | $67,162 | $16,125 |
| 10 | Merced College | Merced | $59,178 | Not available |
| 11 | Riverside City College | Riverside | $51,585 | Not available |
| 12 | College of the Desert | Palm Desert | $40,391 | Not available |
This is an observed-outcomes comparison, not a universal quality ranking. Missing and privacy-suppressed programs are excluded.
A quick read on Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants in California
What do Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants associate's degree graduates earn in California?
Across 12 reporting programs, the median observed earnings figure is $76,313 four years after completion.
How much federal debt is reported for these programs?
The median is $20,000 among the 9 programs reporting federal debt.
Which California colleges report the highest earnings for this degree?
The table compares the same federal field, credential and earnings year. Carrington College-San Jose has the highest reported figure among the programs shown.