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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 56 schools on the early-career earnings of their practical nursing assistants graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose practical nursing assistants graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked Unitek College the top school for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings in California. Unitek College is a private for-profit school located in the city of Fremont. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Unitek College make a median of around $87,399 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Unitek College Hayward earned it the #2 place for practical nursing assistants. Set in the suburb of Hayward, Unitek College Hayward is a private for-profit institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Unitek College Hayward earn a median of about $73,881 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in practical nursing assistants will find them at Unitek College South San Francisco, which ranked #3. Located 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.
Strong graduate earnings at Carrington College California San Jose earned it the #4 place for practical nursing assistants. Located in the city of San Jose, Carrington College California San Jose is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $72,181.
A rank of #5 makes Medical Allied Career Center one of the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Set 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 came in at #6 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, Carrington College California Sacramento is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $79,534.
Hartnell College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Hartnell College is a public school located in the city of Salinas. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Hartnell College typically earn about $63,321 annually.
Concorde Career College San Diego earned the #8 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Diego, Concorde Career College San Diego is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,552.
Charles A Jones Career And Education Center landed the #9 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, Charles A Jones Career And Education Center is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Charles A Jones Career And Education Center earn a median of about $60,282 a year early in their careers.
Marian Health Careers Center Los Angeles Campus earned the #10 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Marian Health Careers Center Los Angeles Campus is a private for-profit institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Marian Health Careers Center Los Angeles Campus make a median of around $62,139 per year.
Marian Health Careers Center Van Nuys Campus earned the #11 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Van Nuys, Marian Health Careers Center Van Nuys Campus is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Marian Health Careers Center Van Nuys Campus typically earn about $62,139 annually.
American Career College Anaheim earned the #12 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Anaheim, American Career College Anaheim is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from American Career College Anaheim typically earn about $59,430 annually.
American Career College Los Angeles earned the #13 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, American Career College Los Angeles is a private for-profit institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from American Career College Los Angeles make a median of around $59,430 per year.
Concorde Career College North Hollywood ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Located in the city of North Hollywood, Concorde Career College North Hollywood is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,854.
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. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,941.
Glendale Career College came in at #16 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Glendale Career College is a private for-profit school located in the city of Glendale. 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 #17 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Set in the city of San Diego, Glendale Career College Brightwood Teachout is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,591.
Stanbridge College came in at #18 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Stanbridge College is a private for-profit school located in the city of Irvine. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Stanbridge College typically earn about $60,096 annually.
Career Development Institute Inc landed the #19 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Career Development Institute Inc is a private for-profit institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Career Development Institute Inc make a median of around $60,677 per year.
Xavier College School Of Nursing came in at #20 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Xavier College School Of Nursing is a private for-profit school located in the city of Stockton. 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 earned the #21 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, West Coast Ultrasound Institute is a private for-profit institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of West Coast Ultrasound Institute earn a median of about $59,731 a year early in their careers.
Institute Of Technology Inc landed the #22 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Clovis, Institute Of Technology Inc is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Institute Of Technology Inc typically earn about $54,913 annually.
Gurnick Academy Of Medical Arts landed the #23 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Gurnick Academy Of Medical Arts is a private for-profit school located in the city of San Jose. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Gurnick Academy Of Medical Arts typically earn about $63,418 annually.
Butte College placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Located in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a public institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Butte College typically earn about $65,467 annually.
Career Networks Institute came in at #25 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Career Networks Institute is a private for-profit school located in the city of Santa Ana. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,485.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid practical nursing assistants ranking:
The ranking above is published 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 · 56 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.