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 highest-paying schools turn a practical nursing assistants degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 100 schools to find where practical nursing assistants graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose practical nursing assistants graduates go on to earn the most.
West Shore Community College earned the #1 spot for highest-paid practical nursing assistants graduates in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the rural area of Scottville, West Shore Community College is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of West Shore Community College earn a median of about $76,254 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in practical nursing assistants will find them at Schoolcraft College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Schoolcraft College earn a median of about $75,104 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Alpena Community College one of the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Located in the town of Alpena, Alpena Community College is a public institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Alpena Community College make a median of around $70,774 per year.
Kellogg Community College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in practical nursing assistants, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Battle Creek, Kellogg Community College is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Kellogg Community College earn a median of about $69,248 a year early in their careers.
Elgin Community College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in practical nursing assistants, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of about $68,335 a year early in their careers.
Pccti It And Healthcare placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Located in the suburb of Oak Brook, Pccti It And Healthcare is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,721.
Ambria College Of Nursing came in at #7 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Ambria College Of Nursing is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Hoffman Estates. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $71,357.
Gogebic Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Gogebic Community College is a public school located in the town of Ironwood. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Gogebic Community College earn a median of about $62,301 a year early in their careers.
Waukesha County Technical College earned the #9 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Waukesha County Technical College typically earn about $62,118 annually.
Muskegon Community College landed the #10 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Muskegon Community College is a public school located in the city of Muskegon. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,995.
Southern State Community College earned the #11 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Southern State Community College is a public school located in the town of Hillsboro. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Southern State Community College earn a median of about $60,045 a year early in their careers.
Madison Area Technical College landed the #12 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Set in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a public institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Madison Area Technical College make a median of around $59,891 per year.
Monroe County Community College landed the #13 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Monroe County Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Monroe. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Monroe County Community College typically earn about $59,191 annually.
Mdt College Of Health Sciences earned the #14 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Mdt College Of Health Sciences is a private for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,733.
Davenport University placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Set in the suburb of Grand Rapids, Davenport University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Davenport University typically earn about $62,517 annually.
Delta College earned the #16 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a public institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Delta College typically earn about $58,950 annually.
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College landed the #17 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College is a public school located in the town of Olney. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College earn a median of about $56,008 a year early in their careers.
Caan Academy Of Nursing earned the #18 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Matteson, Caan Academy Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Caan Academy Of Nursing typically earn about $55,822 annually.
Illinois Central College came in at #19 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Illinois Central College earn a median of about $55,604 a year early in their careers.
Detroit Business Institute Downriver earned the #20 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Detroit Business Institute Downriver is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Riverview. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Detroit Business Institute Downriver typically earn about $59,474 annually.
Akron Institute Of Herzing University placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Akron Institute Of Herzing University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Akron. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Akron Institute Of Herzing University typically earn about $67,146 annually.
Herzing University Brookfield landed the #22 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Brookfield, Herzing University Brookfield is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Herzing University Brookfield typically earn about $67,146 annually.
Herzing University Kenosha came in at #23 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Kenosha, Herzing University Kenosha is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Herzing University Kenosha typically earn about $67,146 annually.
Herzing University Madison came in at #24 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Madison, Herzing University Madison is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,146.
Calc Institute Of Technology earned the #25 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Alton, Calc Institute Of Technology is a private for-profit institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Calc Institute Of Technology earn a median of about $54,635 a year early in their careers.
These schools also send practical nursing assistants graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
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 · 100 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.