by our College Data Analytics Team
[Practical Nursing Assistants](/majors/health-care-professions/practical-nursing-assistants/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The schools below stand out for the salaries their practical nursing assistants graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 66 schools to find where practical nursing assistants graduates earn the most.
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.
Our analysis ranked Unitek College the top school for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings in the Far Western Region. Located in the city of Fremont, Unitek College is a private for-profit institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Unitek College make a median of around $87,399 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in practical nursing assistants will find them at Unitek College Hayward, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Hayward, Unitek College Hayward is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,881.
Unitek College South San Francisco produces some of the highest-paid graduates in practical nursing assistants, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of South San Francisco, Unitek College South San Francisco is a private for-profit institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Unitek College South San Francisco earn a median of about $73,881 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #4 makes Carrington College California San Jose one of the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Set in the city of San Jose, Carrington College California San Jose is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Carrington College California San Jose typically earn about $72,181 annually.
A rank of #5 makes Medical Allied Career Center one of the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Located in the suburb of Santa Fe Springs, Medical Allied Career Center is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,142.
Carrington College California Sacramento ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. 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 $79,534 a year early in their careers.
Hartnell College placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Located in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Hartnell College earn a median of about $63,321 a year early in their careers.
Concorde Career College San Diego ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Concorde Career College San Diego is a private for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Concorde Career College San Diego typically earn about $59,552 annually.
Charles A Jones Career And Education Center earned the #9 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, Charles A Jones Career And Education Center is a public institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Charles A Jones Career And Education Center typically earn about $60,282 annually.
Marian Health Careers Center Los Angeles Campus earned the #10 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Marian Health Careers Center Los Angeles Campus is a private for-profit institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Marian Health Careers Center Los Angeles Campus earn a median of about $62,139 a year early in their careers.
Marian Health Careers Center Van Nuys Campus earned the #11 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Marian Health Careers Center Van Nuys Campus is a private for-profit school located in the city of Van Nuys. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Marian Health Careers Center Van Nuys Campus make a median of around $62,139 per year.
American Career College Anaheim came in at #12 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Anaheim, American Career College Anaheim is a private for-profit institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from American Career College Anaheim make a median of around $59,430 per year.
American Career College Los Angeles landed the #13 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, American Career College Los Angeles is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from American Career College Los Angeles typically earn about $59,430 annually.
Concorde Career College North Hollywood ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Set in the city of North Hollywood, Concorde Career College North Hollywood is a private for-profit institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Concorde Career College North Hollywood make a median of around $64,854 per year.
North West College Pasadena ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Set in the city of Van Nuys, North West College Pasadena is a private for-profit institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from North West College Pasadena make a median of around $55,941 per year.
Concorde Career College Portland ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Concorde Career College Portland is a private for-profit school located in the city of Portland. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,941.
Bates Technical College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Set in the city of Tacoma, Bates Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Bates Technical College typically earn about $70,437 annually.
Glendale Career College earned the #18 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Glendale, Glendale Career College is a private for-profit institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Glendale Career College make a median of around $57,591 per year.
Glendale Career College Brightwood Teachout landed the #19 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Glendale Career College Brightwood Teachout is a private for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Glendale Career College Brightwood Teachout make a median of around $57,591 per year.
Stanbridge College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Set in the city of Irvine, Stanbridge College is a private for-profit institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Stanbridge College make a median of around $60,096 per year.
Institute Of Technology Salem earned the #21 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Institute Of Technology Salem is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Salem. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Institute Of Technology Salem make a median of around $57,568 per year.
Sumner College earned the #22 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Sumner College is a private for-profit school located in the city of Portland. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Sumner College make a median of around $66,539 per year.
Career Development Institute Inc ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Career Development Institute Inc is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,677.
Xavier College School Of Nursing came in at #24 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Stockton, Xavier College School Of Nursing is a private for-profit institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Xavier College School Of Nursing make a median of around $63,992 per year.
West Coast Ultrasound Institute came in at #25 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. West Coast Ultrasound Institute is a private for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from West Coast Ultrasound Institute make a median of around $59,731 per year.
These schools also send practical nursing assistants graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their practical nursing assistants graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 66 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.