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. The highest-paying schools turn a practical nursing assistants degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the early-career earnings of their practical nursing assistants graduates.
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If you want to know which schools send practical nursing assistants graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Leading the list is Eastwick College, our #1 for practical nursing assistants graduate salaries in New Jersey. Eastwick College is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Ramsey. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Eastwick College typically earn about $66,220 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Essex County College earned it the #2 place for practical nursing assistants. Essex County College is a public school located in the city of Newark. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Essex County College earn a median of about $62,448 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in practical nursing assistants will find them at Eastwick College Hackensack, which ranked #3. Eastwick College Hackensack is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Hackensack. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Eastwick College Hackensack typically earn about $67,362 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Holy Name Medical Center School Of Nursing earned it the #4 place for practical nursing assistants. Set in the suburb of Englewood Cliffs, Holy Name Medical Center School Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Holy Name Medical Center School Of Nursing make a median of around $58,227 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in practical nursing assistants will find them at Union County College, which ranked #5. Union County College is a public school located in the suburb of Cranford. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Union County College earn a median of about $63,315 a year early in their careers.
Jersey College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Located in the suburb of Teterboro, Jersey College is a private for-profit institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Jersey College earn a median of about $65,939 a year early in their careers.
Universal Training Institute earned the #7 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Universal Training Institute is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Perth Amboy. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,535.
Best Care College placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Best Care College is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of East Orange. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Best Care College typically earn about $78,818 annually.
Lincoln Technical Institute Iselin placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Located in the suburb of Iselin, Lincoln Technical Institute Iselin is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Lincoln Technical Institute Iselin typically earn about $54,521 annually.
Lincoln Technical Institute Moorestown ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Lincoln Technical Institute Moorestown is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Moorestown. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Lincoln Technical Institute Moorestown earn a median of about $54,521 a year early in their careers.
Lincoln Technical Institute Paramus placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Set in the suburb of Paramus, Lincoln Technical Institute Paramus is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,521.
Prism Career Institute Cherry Hill placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Set in the suburb of Cherry Hill, Prism Career Institute Cherry Hill is a private for-profit institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Prism Career Institute Cherry Hill make a median of around $52,362 per year.
Prism Career Institute West Atlantic City placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Located in the suburb of West Atlantic City, Prism Career Institute West Atlantic City is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Prism Career Institute West Atlantic City typically earn about $52,362 annually.
Ocean County Vocational Technical School placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Set in the suburb of Toms River, Ocean County Vocational Technical School is a public institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Ocean County Vocational Technical School make a median of around $49,629 per year.
Berkeley College Woodland Park landed the #15 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Berkeley College Woodland Park is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Woodland Park. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $38,008.
Healthcare Training Institute Union placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Healthcare Training Institute Union is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Union. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $35,361.
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 · 16 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.