Nursing and patient care programs in Rhode Island

8 nursing and patient care programs in 3 fields of nursing and patient care, with costs, results and funding that can make them free

7 schools offer these programs, and Rhode Island has approved every one for workforce funding. Compare the 3 fields below, then open one to see each program with its price and how past students did.

These programs train you to care for patients directly: in a hospital, a nursing home or their own home. They run from short courses for nursing assistants (CNA), patient care technicians, home health aides and medication aides to LPN programs and RN degrees.

All job training programs in Rhode Island, every line of work

Nursing and patient care programs by state, to compare Rhode Island with other states

Compare nursing and patient care programs in Rhode Island: cost, pay and results

CNA classes (nursing assistant)
6 programs at 6 schools
Most cost
$1,225 to $2,116
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Home health aide training
1 program at one school
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not reported
Patient care technician training (hospital patient care)
1 program at one school
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not reported

Each figure is the middle program of that field. Yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are counted; other schools in Rhode Island may offer more. How these figures are made

Are there free nursing programs in Rhode Island?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program counted on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.¹²³
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁴ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.³
Or pay yourself. Each field's page lists every program with its price if you pay yourself.

Other job training in Rhode Island, by line of work

Programs approved in Rhode Island in each line of work.

Where the Rhode Island nursing and patient care numbers come from

Which Rhode Island programs are counted?

Programs Rhode Island approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) in the fields listed above. Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁵ They come from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025), covering programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Rhode Island offers.

What the figures for each field mean

Each figure is the middle program among those that report it: half did better, half did worse. Prices are what most programs cost if you pay yourself (the middle half). Earnings are for the second quarter after students left, times four. Where a figure is missing, the table says why: "Not reported", "Left out" or "Not enough data" (what each means).

Sources for the funding facts about nursing and patient care programs in Rhode Island

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