by our College Data Analytics Team
[Practical Nursing Assistants](/majors/health-care-professions/practical-nursing-assistants/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The schools below stand out for the salaries their practical nursing assistants graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 25 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send practical nursing assistants graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Unitek College earned the #1 spot for highest-paid practical nursing assistants graduates in the United States. Set in the city of Fremont, Unitek College is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Unitek College typically earn about $109,213 annually.
A rank of #2 makes Carrington College California Sacramento one of the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, Carrington College California Sacramento is a private for-profit institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Carrington College California Sacramento earn a median of about $89,259 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Carrington College California San Jose earned it the #3 place for practical nursing assistants. Carrington College California San Jose is a private for-profit school located in the city of San Jose. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Carrington College California San Jose typically earn about $89,259 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in practical nursing assistants will find them at Bates Technical College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Tacoma, Bates Technical College is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Bates Technical College earn a median of about $70,437 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Dickinson State University earned it the #5 place for practical nursing assistants. Set in the town of Dickinson, Dickinson State University is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Dickinson State University earn a median of about $70,117 a year early in their careers.
Butte College earned the #6 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Butte College is a public school located in the rural area of Oroville. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Butte College typically earn about $65,467 annually.
Pacific College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Pacific College is a private for-profit institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Pacific College make a median of around $59,213 per year.
Hennepin Technical College earned the #8 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,918.
Gurnick Academy Of Medical Arts placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Located in the city of San Jose, Gurnick Academy Of Medical Arts is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,700.
San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Set in the city of Bakersfield, San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield is a private for-profit institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield earn a median of about $59,073 a year early in their careers.
San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Mirage came in at #11 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Mirage is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Rancho Mirage. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Mirage typically earn about $59,073 annually.
San Joaquin Valley College Santa Maria landed the #12 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. San Joaquin Valley College Santa Maria is a private for-profit school located in the city of Santa Maria. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from San Joaquin Valley College Santa Maria make a median of around $59,073 per year.
San Joaquin Valley College Visalia came in at #13 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is a private for-profit school located in the city of Visalia. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of San Joaquin Valley College Visalia earn a median of about $59,073 a year early in their careers.
Fortis Institute Scranton earned the #14 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Scranton, Fortis Institute Scranton is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Fortis Institute Scranton typically earn about $48,989 annually.
Ata College earned the #15 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Ata College is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Louisville. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Ata College earn a median of about $54,464 a year early in their careers.
Arkansas Tech University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Located in the town of Russellville, Arkansas Tech University is a public institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Arkansas Tech University typically earn about $52,338 annually.
North Dakota State College Of Science landed the #17 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Set in the town of Wahpeton, North Dakota State College Of Science is a public institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from North Dakota State College Of Science typically earn about $59,092 annually.
Coconino Community College earned the #18 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of Flagstaff, Coconino Community College is a public institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Coconino Community College typically earn about $64,848 annually.
Merced College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Merced College is a public school located in the city of Merced. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Merced College make a median of around $47,114 per year.
Platt College Tulsa landed the #20 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Located in the city of Tulsa, Platt College Tulsa is a private for-profit institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Platt College Tulsa earn a median of about $46,702 a year early in their careers.
Guam Community College earned the #21 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Mangilao, Guam Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $37,441.
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Guayama came in at #22 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Guayama is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Guayama. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Guayama make a median of around $28,037 per year.
Caribbean University Bayamon came in at #23 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Bayamon, Caribbean University Bayamon is a private not-for-profit institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Caribbean University Bayamon earn a median of about $26,539 a year early in their careers.
Caribbean University Carolina came in at #24 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Caribbean University Carolina is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Carolina. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Caribbean University Carolina make a median of around $26,539 per year.
Caribbean University Vega Baja placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Located in the suburb of Vega Baja, Caribbean University Vega Baja is a private not-for-profit institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Caribbean University Vega Baja earn a median of about $26,539 a year early in their careers.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Practical Nursing Assistants rankings across degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries practical nursing assistants graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 25 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.