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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 33 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.
Our analysis ranked Elgin Community College the top school for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings in Illinois. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a public institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Elgin Community College make a median of around $68,335 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in practical nursing assistants will find them at Pccti It And Healthcare, which ranked #2. Set 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.
Students chasing top earnings in practical nursing assistants will find them at Ambria College Of Nursing, which ranked #3. Ambria College Of Nursing is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Hoffman Estates. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Ambria College Of Nursing make a median of around $71,357 per year.
Mdt College Of Health Sciences came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Mdt College Of Health Sciences is a private for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Mdt College Of Health Sciences typically earn about $64,733 annually.
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in practical nursing assistants, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of Olney, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College is a public institution. 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 placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Located in the suburb of Matteson, Caan Academy Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Caan Academy Of Nursing earn a median of about $55,822 a year early in their careers.
Illinois Central College placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Located in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a public institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Illinois Central College typically earn about $55,604 annually.
Calc Institute Of Technology earned the #8 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. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,635.
Shawnee Community College landed the #9 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Set in the rural area of Ullin, Shawnee Community College is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Shawnee Community College earn a median of about $54,323 a year early in their careers.
Capital Area School Of Practical Nursing landed the #10 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Set in the rural area of Springfield, Capital Area School Of Practical Nursing is a public institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Capital Area School Of Practical Nursing make a median of around $51,437 per year.
Carl Sandburg College landed the #11 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Set in the town of Galesburg, Carl Sandburg College is a public institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Carl Sandburg College make a median of around $49,524 per year.
Career Center Of Southern Illinois placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Set in the rural area of Red Bud, Career Center Of Southern Illinois is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Career Center Of Southern Illinois earn a median of about $52,092 a year early in their careers.
Kaskaskia College came in at #13 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a public institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,734.
Black Hawk College landed the #14 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Located in the city of Moline, Black Hawk College is a public institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,771.
Harper College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Harper College earn a median of about $54,134 a year early in their careers.
Richland Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Richland Community College is a public school located in the city of Decatur. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Richland Community College earn a median of about $43,042 a year early in their careers.
Danville Area Community College landed the #17 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Danville Area Community College is a public school located in the town of Danville. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,666.
John A Logan College landed the #18 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. John A Logan College is a public school located in the town of Carterville. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from John A Logan College make a median of around $39,802 per year.
Mchenry County College earned the #19 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Mchenry County College is a public school located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Mchenry County College earn a median of about $39,772 a year early in their careers.
Lake Land College earned the #20 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Lake Land College is a public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Lake Land College make a median of around $35,229 per year.
Rend Lake College earned the #21 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Ina, Rend Lake College is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Rend Lake College earn a median of about $20,030 a year early in their careers.
City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a public institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $36,493.
Illinois Valley Community College landed the #23 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Located in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,119.
Sauk Valley Community College earned the #24 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of Dixon, Sauk Valley Community College is a public institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Sauk Valley Community College typically earn about $30,951 annually.
Rock Valley College came in at #25 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Rock Valley College is a public school located in the city of Rockford. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,236.
These schools also send practical nursing assistants graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
This ranking is produced 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 · 33 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.