Nursing Assistant
Program Summary
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.
Learn More About Training to Be a Nursing Assistant

Recent Questions
What is a Nursing Assistant?
Nursing assistants work alongside qualified nurses, performing tasks and activities as directed by their superiors. Nursing assistants are often responsible for the day to day care of patients, offering basic services and meeting their needs and reporting any changes or situations to nurses or other medical professionals when noted. Nursing assistants play an important role in hospitals and other care facilities, as they allow qualified professionals to deal with the most important problems without worrying about day to day care. The various tasks one may legally perform as a nursing assistant will vary based on regulations from state to state.
Educational Requirements
Nursing assistant programs offer individuals the education and experience necessary to assist nurses in treating patients and medical staff. Nursing aides are often responsible for the basic care of patients, assisting with the cleaning, feeding, and observation of patients within a given setting. Nursing assistant programs are generally short, often less than a year and cover the basics of nursing care. Programs are offered by vocational schools, community colleges, and some nursing care facilities. Some high schools may also provide nursing assistant programs, allowing graduates to immediately pursue work in the field after graduation. Programs will cover a variety of courses necessary to achieve certification and obtain the skills necessary to assist in patient care.
Courses a nursing assistant program may offer include:
- Nutrition
- Anatomy
- Infection Control
- Physiology
- Personal Care
Employment Opportunities
Nursing assistants will typically work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and other such facilities. Certification is necessary to work, and the requirements will vary from state to state. All states will require a minimum amount of practical hours before allowing entry into the certification exam. Practical hours may be obtained through educational programs as part of the curriculum or through internship and volunteer opportunities. Once passed, nursing assistants are placed on a state registry, often a requirement for employment in certain environments. Additional requirements may also be in place in certain states, such as criminal background checks or continuing education courses in order to maintain certification.
Nursing assistants are often the primary caregivers to patients, particularly long term patients. They are responsible for daily care as directed by a supervisor, and in some instances may be responsible for the administering of medication. Nursing assistants may also be responsible for clerical work, including documenting patient treatment and histories. Though the level of work is not particularly complex, and understanding of nursing health care practices and medical terminology is beneficial, if not necessary, for long term employment. The work is considered demanding, and often requires such unpleasant duties as emptying bedpans. The work environment can be hazardous as nursing assistants will be exposed to possible disease, but this is no more so than any other medical career.
Skills necessary as a nursing assistant include:
- Communication
- Analyses
- Organization
- Patience
Job Growth, Salary and Related Fields
Due to high turnover and an increasing demand for medical care as the population grows older and life expectancy increases, job opportunities for nursing assistants is expected grow rapidly. The need for qualified assistants will increase as patient care comes into higher demand and the attention of nurses and physicians is spread across a larger number of individuals. This will particularly be true in large urban areas with a higher concentrations of people which require more resources for treatment.
The average salary for a nursing assistant is $24,000 per year, with a low of $17,400 per year and a high of 33,300 per year. Salaries increase with experience, though there is an upper limit due to the lack of career mobility. Supervisory positions are normally held by healthcare managers or nurses, and as such individuals seeking upward movement or career stability will pursue a degree in a related field in order to obtain increased responsibilities.
If you are interested in becoming a nursing assistant you may also want to look at a career as a medical assistant, physical therapist assistant or phlebotomist.
Top Schools That Offer a Nursing Assistant Degree or Program
4-Year Colleges and Universities
| Arkansas Tech University | |
- Russellville, AR
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| Bellevue Community College | |
- Bellevue, WA
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| Brookline College-Phoenix | |
- Phoenix, AZ
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| Cabarrus College of Health Sciences | |
- Concord, NC
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| Chipola College | |
- Marianna, FL
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| College of Central Florida | |
- Ocala, FL
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| Colorado Mountain College | |
- Glenwood Springs, CO
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| Columbia Basin College | |
- Pasco, WA
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| Daytona State College | |
- Daytona Beach, FL
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| Dixie State College of Utah | |
- Saint George, UT
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| East - West University | |
- Chicago, IL
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| Everest University - Pompano Beach | |
- Pompano Beach, FL
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| Florida Career College-Miami | |
- Miami, FL
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| Florida National University - Main Campus | |
- Hialeah, FL
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| Florida State College at Jacksonville | |
- Jacksonville, FL
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| Fort Berthold Community College | |
- New Town, ND
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| Indian River State College | |
- Fort Pierce, FL
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| Lake Washington Institute of Technology | |
- Kirkland, WA
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| Madison Area Technical College | |
- Madison, WI
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| Mercy College of Health Sciences | |
- Des Moines, IA
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| Mesa State College | |
- Grand Junction, CO
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| Navajo Technical College | |
- Crownpoint, NM
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| Olympic College | |
- Bremerton, WA
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| Our Lady of the Lake College | |
- Baton Rouge, LA
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| Palm Beach State College | |
- Lake Worth, FL
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| Pensacola State College | |
- Pensacola, FL
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| Santa Fe Community College | |
- Gainesville, FL
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| Seattle Community College - South Campus | |
- Seattle, WA
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| Seminole State College of Florida | |
- Sanford, FL
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| Sojourner - Douglass College | |
- Baltimore, MD
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| South Texas College | |
- McAllen, TX
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| St. Johns River State College | |
- Palatka, FL
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| University of Alaska Fairbanks | |
- Fairbanks, AK
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| University of Arkansas at Monticello | |
- Monticello, AR
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Community Colleges
| Aims Community College | |
- Greeley, CO
| Tuition and Fees
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| Blackhawk Technical College | |
- Janesville, WI
| Tuition and Fees
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| Clover Park Technical College | |
- Lakewood, WA
| Tuition and Fees
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| College of Dupage | |
- Glen Ellyn, IL
| Tuition and Fees
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| Davis Applied Technology College | |
- Kaysville, UT
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| Delgado Community College | |
- New Orleans, LA
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| Fox Valley Technical College | |
- Appleton, WI
| Tuition and Fees
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| Front Range Community College | |
- Westminster, CO
| Tuition and Fees
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| Gateway Technical College | |
- Kenosha, WI
| Tuition and Fees
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| Harper College | |
- Palatine, IL
| Tuition and Fees
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| Hennepin Technical College | |
- Brooklyn Park, MN
| Tuition and Fees
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| Illinois Valley Community College | |
- Oglesby, IL
| Tuition and Fees
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| Johnson County Community College | |
- Overland Park, KS
| Tuition and Fees
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| Kansas City Kansas Community College | |
- Kansas City, KS
| Tuition and Fees
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| Kaskaskia College | |
- Centralia, IL
| Tuition and Fees
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| Lake Superior College | |
- Duluth, MN
| Tuition and Fees
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Average User Rating | |
| Lakeshore Technical College | |
- Cleveland, WI
| Tuition and Fees
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| Lansing Community College | |
- Lansing, MI
| Tuition and Fees
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| Lincoln Land Community College | |
- Springfield, IL
| Tuition and Fees
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| Louisiana Technical College - Alexandria Campus | |
- Alexandria, LA
| Tuition and Fees
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| Mchenry County College | |
- Crystal Lake, IL
| Tuition and Fees
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| Mid - State Technical College | |
- Wisconsin Rapids, WI
| Tuition and Fees
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| Milwaukee Area Technical College | |
- Milwaukee, WI
| Tuition and Fees
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| Minneapolis Community and Technical College | |
- Minneapolis, MN
| Tuition and Fees
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| Minnesota West Community and Technical College | |
- Granite Falls, MN
| Tuition and Fees
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| Neosho County Community College | |
- Chanute, KS
| Tuition and Fees
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| New Mexico State University - Dona Ana | |
- Las Cruces, NM
| Tuition and Fees
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| North Iowa Area Community College | |
- Mason City, IA
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| Northcentral Technical College | |
- Wausau, WI
| Tuition and Fees
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| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | |
- Green Bay, WI
| Tuition and Fees
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| Northshore Technical Community College - Sullivan | |
- Bogalusa, LA
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| Parkland College | |
- Champaign, IL
| Tuition and Fees
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| Prairie State College | |
- Chicago Heights, IL
| Tuition and Fees
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| Rock Valley College | |
- Rockford, IL
| Tuition and Fees
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| Sauk Valley Community College | |
- Dixon, IL
| Tuition and Fees
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| Savannah Technical College | |
- Savannah, GA
| Tuition and Fees
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| Snow College | |
- Ephraim, UT
| Tuition and Fees
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| South Suburban College | |
- South Holland, IL
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| Southwest Wisconsin Technical College | |
- Fennimore, WI
| Tuition and Fees
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| Southwestern Illinois College | |
- Belleville, IL
| Tuition and Fees
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Average User Rating | |
| Walla Walla Community College | |
- Walla Walla, WA
| Tuition and Fees
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| Washtenaw Community College | |
- Ann Arbor, MI
| Tuition and Fees
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| Waubonsee Community College | |
- Sugar Grove, IL
| Tuition and Fees
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Average User Rating | |
| Waukesha County Technical College | |
- Pewaukee, WI
| Tuition and Fees
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| West Georgia Technical College | |
- Waco, GA
| Tuition and Fees
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| Western Technical College | |
- La Crosse, WI
| Tuition and Fees
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| Wichita Area Technical College | |
- Wichita, KS
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| Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College | |
- Shell Lake, WI
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Technical Colleges
| Mountainland Applied Technology College | |
- Lehi, UT
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| Ogden - Weber Applied Technology College | |
- Ogden, UT
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Career Colleges
| Abcott Institute | |
- Southfield, MI
| 2011-12 Largest Program Tuition and Fees
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| Academy for Practical Nursing and Health Occupations | |
- West Palm Beach, FL
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| Adult and Community Education - Hudson | |
- Columbus, OH
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| Adult Center for Education | |
- Zanesville, OH
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| Advance Science Institute | |
- Hialeah, FL
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| American Indian Oic Inc | |
- Minneapolis, MN
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| Anamarc College-El Paso | |
- El Paso, TX
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| Anamarc College-Santa Teresa | |
- Santa Teresa, NM
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| Angeles College | |
- Los Angeles, CA
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| Antonelli Medical and Professional Institute | |
- Pottstown, PA
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| Apollo Career Center | |
- Lima, OH
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| Ati Career Training Center-Dallas | |
- Dallas, TX
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| Ati Career Training Center-Dallas | |
- Dallas, TX
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| Auburn Career Center | |
- Concord Twp, OH
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| Avtec-Alaska's Institute of Technology | |
- Seward, AK
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| Baldwin Park Adult & Community Education | |
- Baldwin Park, CA
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| Baptist Health System School of Health Professions | |
- San Antonio, TX
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| Beck Area Career Center - Red Bud | |
- Red Bud, IL
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| Best Care Training Institute | |
- East Orange, NJ
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| Bohecker College - Cincinnati | |
- Cincinnati, OH
| Tuition and Fees
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| Brookline College-Tempe | |
- Tempe, AZ
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| Brookline College-Tucson | |
- Tucson, AZ
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| California Nurses Educational Institute | |
- Palm Springs, CA
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| Cambridge Institute of Allied Health & Technology | |
- Altamonte Springs, FL
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| Canadian Valley Technology Center | |
- El Reno, OK
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| Career Development Institute | |
- Los Angeles, CA
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| Career Quest Learning Centers Inc-Lansing | |
- Lansing, MI
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| Career Training Solutions | |
- Fredericksburg, VA
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| Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology | |
- Pleasant Gap, PA
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| Choffin Career and Technical Center | |
- Youngstown, OH
| Tuition and Fees
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| Columbiana County Career and Technical Center | |
- Lisbon, OH
| Tuition and Fees
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| Commonwealth Technical Institute | |
- Johnstown, PA
| Tuition and Fees
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| Compass Career College | |
- Hammond, LA
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| Compu - Med Vocational Careers Corp | |
- Hialeah, FL
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| Computer Career Center | |
- El Paso, TX
| Tuition and Fees
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| Concorde Career Institute-Dallas | |
- Dallas, TX
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| Concorde Career Institute-Jacksonville | |
- Jacksonville, FL
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| Concorde Career Institute-Miramar | |
- Miramar, FL
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| Concorde Career Institute-Orlando | |
- Orlando, FL
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| Concorde Career Institute-San Antonio | |
- San Antonio, TX
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| Concorde Career Institute-Tampa | |
- Tampa, FL
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| Coral Ridge Nurses Assistant Training School Inc | |
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
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| Crowleys Ridge Technical Institute | |
- Forrest City, AR
| Tuition and Fees
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| Dawn Career Institute Inc | |
- Wilmington, DE
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| Delaware Area Career Center | |
- Delaware, OH
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| Dorsey Business Schools-Roseville | |
- Roseville, MI
| Tuition and Fees
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| Dorsey Business Schools-Saginaw | |
- Saginaw, MI
| Tuition and Fees
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| Dorsey Business Schools-Southgate | |
- Southgate, MI
| Tuition and Fees
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| Dover Business College | |
- Clifton, NJ
| Tuition and Fees
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Average User Rating | |
| East Valley Institute of Technology | |
- Mesa, AZ
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Average User Rating | |
| Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center | |
- Choctaw, OK
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| Emily Griffith Technical College | |
- Denver, CO
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Average User Rating | |
| Everest Institute - Dearborn | |
- Dearborn, MI
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| Everest Institute - Fort Lauderdale | |
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
| Tuition and Fees
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| Everest Institute - Hialeah | |
- Hialeah, FL
| Tuition and Fees
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| Everest Institute - Jonesboro | |
- Jonesboro, GA
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| Everest Institute - Kendall | |
- Miami, FL
| Tuition and Fees
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Average User Rating | |
| Everest Institute - North Miami | |
- Miami, FL
| Tuition and Fees
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| Everest Institute - Pittsburgh | |
- Pittsburgh, PA
| Tuition and Fees
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| First Coast Technical College | |
- Saint Augustine, FL
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| Flagler Technical Institute | |
- Palm Coast, FL
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| Florida Career College-Clearwater | |
- Clearwater, FL
| Tuition and Fees
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| Florida Education Institute | |
- Miami, FL
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| Forrest College | |
- Anderson, SC
| Tuition and Fees
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| Fortis College | |
- Smyrna, GA
| Tuition and Fees
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| Four County Career Center | |
- Archbold, OH
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| Future-Tech Institute | |
- Miami, FL
| Tuition and Fees
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| George Stone Career Center | |
- Pensacola, FL
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| Great Lakes Institute of Technology | |
- Erie, PA
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Average User Rating | |
| Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center | |
- Altoona, PA
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| Gretna Career College | |
- Gretna, LA
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| Hacienda La Puente Adult Education | |
- La Puente, CA
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| Healthcare Training Institute | |
- Union, NJ
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| Illinois School of Health Careers | |
- Chicago, IL
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| Illinois School of Health Careers - O'hare Campus | |
- Chicago, IL
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| Infotech Career College | |
- Bellflower, CA
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| Institute of Medical Education | |
- San Jose, CA
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| International Training Careers | |
- Miami, FL
| 2011-12 Largest Program Tuition and Fees
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| Kiamichi Technology Center - Poteau | |
- Poteau, OK
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| Knox County Career Center | |
- Mount Vernon, OH
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| Lee County High Tech Center North | |
- Cape Coral, FL
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| Lorain County Joint Vocational School District | |
- Oberlin, OH
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| Madison Adult Career Center | |
- Mansfield, OH
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| Manhattan Institute (The) | |
- New York, NY
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| Maxine Waters Employment Preparation Center | |
- Los Angeles, CA
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Average User Rating | |
| Medical Professional Institute | |
- Malden, MA
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| Miami Valley Career Technology Center | |
- Clayton, OH
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| Michigan Career and Technical Institute | |
- Plainwell, MI
| Tuition and Fees
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| Midwest Technical Institute-East Peoria | |
- East Peoria, IL
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| Midwest Technical Institute-Springfield | |
- Springfield, IL
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| Midwestern Career College | |
- Chicago, IL
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| Monmouth County Vocational School District | |
- Neptune, NJ
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| New Age Training | |
- New York, NY
| Tuition and Fees
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| New York Medical Career Training Center | |
- Flushing, NY
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| Northcoast Medical Training Academy | |
- Kent, OH
| Tuition and Fees
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Average User Rating | |
| Northwestern Institute of Health and Technology | |
- Chicago, IL
| Tuition and Fees
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| Pci Health Training Center | |
- Dallas, TX
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| Pennsylvania Institute of Technology | |
- Media, PA
| Tuition and Fees
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| Pickaway Ross Joint Vocational School District | |
- Chillicothe, OH
| |
Average User Rating | |
| Pickens Technical College | |
- Aurora, CO
| Tuition and Fees
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| Pima Medical Institute-East Valley | |
- Mesa, AZ
| |
| Pima Medical Institute-Mesa | |
- Mesa, AZ
| |
| Pioneer Career and Technology Center | |
- Shelby, OH
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| Pittsburgh Technical Institute | |
- Oakdale, PA
| |
Average User Rating | |
| Pomona Unified School District Adult and Career Education | |
- Pomona, CA
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Average User Rating | |
| Preferred College of Nursing-Los Angeles | |
- Los Angeles, CA
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| Prism Career Institute-Cherry Hill | |
- Cherry Hill, NJ
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| Prism Career Institute-West Atlantic City | |
- West Atlantic City, NJ
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| Progressive Training Centers | |
- Pompano Beach, FL
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| Rockford Career College | |
- Rockford, IL
| Tuition and Fees
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| Rose Training Institute | |
- Winter Haven, FL
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| Salter School of Nursing & Allied Health | |
- Manchester, NH
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| Schuylkill Technology Center | |
- Frackville, PA
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| Scioto County Career Technical Center | |
- Lucasville, OH
| |
Average User Rating | |
| Solex College | |
- Wheeling, IL
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| South Texas Training Center | |
- San Benito, TX
| Tuition and Fees
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| South Texas Vo - Tech Institute | |
- Weslaco, TX
| |
| South Texas Vocational Technical Institute - Mcallen | |
- McAllen, TX
| |
Average User Rating | |
| South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Brownsville | |
- Brownsville, TX
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| South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Corpus Christi | |
- Corpus Christi, TX
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| Southwest Applied Technology Center | |
- Cedar City, UT
| |
| Southwest Skill Center - Campus of Estrella Mountain Community College | |
- Avondale, AZ
| |
| St Francis Career College | |
- Lynwood, CA
| |
| St Louis College of Health Careers-St Louis | |
- Saint Louis, MO
| Tuition and Fees
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| Stone Academy-Hamden | |
- West Haven, CT
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| Stone Academy-Waterbury | |
- Waterbury, CT
| 2011-12 Largest Program Tuition and Fees
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| Suwannee - Hamilton Technical Center | |
- Live Oak, FL
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| Taylor Technical Institute | |
- Perry, FL
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| Tctc Adult Training Center | |
- Warren, OH
| |
| Texas County Technical College | |
- Houston, MO
| Tuition and Fees
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| Texas Health School | |
- Houston, TX
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Average User Rating | |
| The College of Office Technology | |
- Chicago, IL
| |
| Tolles Career and Technical Center | |
- Plain City, OH
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| Tri - County Adult Career Center | |
- Nelsonville, OH
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| Tri - Rivers Career Center | |
- Marion, OH
| |
| Trinity Vocational Center | |
- Gardena, CA
| |
| Twin Rivers Adult School | |
- North Highlands, CA
| |
Average User Rating | |
| Ultimate Medical Academy | |
- Clearwater, FL
| 2011-12 Largest Program Tuition and Fees
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| Ultimate Medical Academy - Tampa | |
- Tampa, FL
| |
| Us Grant Joint Vocational School | |
- Bethel, OH
| Tuition and Fees
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| Valley Grande Institute for Academic Studies | |
- Weslaco, TX
| |
| Vantage Career Center | |
- Van Wert, OH
| |
| Virginia College - Jackson | |
- Jackson, MS
| |
| Washburn Institute of Technology | |
- Topeka, KS
| |
| West Coast Ultrasound Institute | |
- Beverly Hills, CA
| Tuition and Fees
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| Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center | |
- Fishersville, VA
| |