by our College Data Analytics Team
[Practical Nursing Assistants](/majors/health-care-professions/practical-nursing-assistants/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 52 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.
For graduate earnings in practical nursing assistants, no school beat Southern State Community College this year. Located in the town of Hillsboro, Southern State Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,045.
Akron Institute Of Herzing University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Located in the suburb of Akron, Akron Institute Of Herzing University is a private not-for-profit institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Akron Institute Of Herzing University earn a median of about $67,146 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earned it the #3 place for practical nursing assistants. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a public institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Cincinnati State Technical And Community College make a median of around $52,142 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Fortis College Centerville earned it the #4 place for practical nursing assistants. Fortis College Centerville is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Centerville. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Fortis College Centerville make a median of around $60,340 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Central Ohio Technical College earned it the #5 place for practical nursing assistants. Located in the suburb of Newark, Central Ohio Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,009.
Cuyahoga Community College District placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Cuyahoga Community College District is a public school located in the city of Cleveland. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Cuyahoga Community College District typically earn about $57,550 annually.
Athena Career Academy earned the #7 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Toledo, Athena Career Academy is a private for-profit institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Athena Career Academy make a median of around $55,996 per year.
Fortis College Cincinnati placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Set in the suburb of Cincinnati, Fortis College Cincinnati is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,884.
Fortis College Columbus landed the #9 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Fortis College Columbus is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Westerville. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Fortis College Columbus earn a median of about $52,884 a year early in their careers.
Fortis College Cuyahoga Falls Cuyahoga Falls earned the #10 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Cuyahoga Falls, Fortis College Cuyahoga Falls Cuyahoga Falls is a private for-profit institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Fortis College Cuyahoga Falls Cuyahoga Falls make a median of around $49,501 per year.
Tri Rivers Career Center earned the #11 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of Marion, Tri Rivers Career Center is a public institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Tri Rivers Career Center typically earn about $54,564 annually.
Hondros College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Hondros College is a private for-profit school located in the city of Columbus. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,369.
Felbry College School Of Nursing came in at #13 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Felbry College School Of Nursing is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Felbry College School Of Nursing typically earn about $48,323 annually.
Auburn Career Center placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Located in the suburb of Concord Twp, Auburn Career Center is a public institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Auburn Career Center make a median of around $47,776 per year.
Ross College Canton placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Set in the suburb of Canton, Ross College Canton is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Ross College Canton typically earn about $52,182 annually.
Knox County Career Center came in at #16 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Mount Vernon, Knox County Career Center is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Knox County Career Center earn a median of about $49,255 a year early in their careers.
Central School Of Practical Nursing Independence ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Located in the suburb of Independence, Central School Of Practical Nursing Independence is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Central School Of Practical Nursing Independence make a median of around $51,189 per year.
Cuyahoga Valley Career Center placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Cuyahoga Valley Career Center is a public school located in the suburb of Brecksville. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Cuyahoga Valley Career Center make a median of around $48,060 per year.
Clark State Community College came in at #19 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Clark State Community College is a public school located in the city of Springfield. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Clark State Community College earn a median of about $53,860 a year early in their careers.
Northwest State Community College came in at #20 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Northwest State Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Archbold. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Northwest State Community College earn a median of about $45,868 a year early in their careers.
Butler Tech D Russel Lee Career Center earned the #21 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Monroe, Butler Tech D Russel Lee Career Center is a public institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,386.
Pike County Joint Vocational School District landed the #22 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Set in the rural area of Piketon, Pike County Joint Vocational School District is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Pike County Joint Vocational School District earn a median of about $46,015 a year early in their careers.
Ohio Medical Career College came in at #23 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Dayton, Ohio Medical Career College is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Ohio Medical Career College typically earn about $55,589 annually.
Beckfield College Tri County earned the #24 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Beckfield College Tri County is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Cincinnati. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,095.
Eti Technical College landed the #25 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Eti Technical College is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Niles. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Eti Technical College typically earn about $49,257 annually.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning practical nursing assistants graduates:
This ranking is produced 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 · 52 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.