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.
College Factual analyzed 23 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools.
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Below are the schools whose practical nursing assistants graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in practical nursing assistants, no school beat Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Nashville this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Nashville is a public institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Nashville make a median of around $60,433 per year.
Chattanooga College Medical Dental And Technical Careers came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Chattanooga College Medical Dental And Technical Careers is a private for-profit school located in the city of Chattanooga. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Chattanooga College Medical Dental And Technical Careers typically earn about $50,437 annually.
A rank of #3 makes Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hartsville one of the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hartsville is a public school located in the rural area of Hartsville. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,390.
Strong graduate earnings at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro earned it the #4 place for practical nursing assistants. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro is a public institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro typically earn about $47,366 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Crossville earned it the #5 place for practical nursing assistants. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Crossville is a public school located in the town of Crossville. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Crossville make a median of around $44,915 per year.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Memphis placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Located in the city of Memphis, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Memphis is a public institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $44,669.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Dickson landed the #7 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Set in the rural area of Dickson, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Dickson is a public institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Dickson make a median of around $47,640 per year.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Athens came in at #8 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Athens is a public school located in the town of Athens. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Athens make a median of around $39,597 per year.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Crump earned the #9 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of Crump, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Crump is a public institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Crump make a median of around $40,764 per year.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald is a public school located in the rural area of Hohenwald. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald make a median of around $41,610 per year.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Jackson came in at #11 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Jackson, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Jackson is a public institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Jackson typically earn about $46,584 annually.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Knoxville ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Located in the city of Knoxville, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Knoxville is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Knoxville earn a median of about $43,041 a year early in their careers.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Morristown landed the #13 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Set in the city of Morristown, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Morristown is a public institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Morristown typically earn about $41,283 annually.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Shelbyville placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Shelbyville is a public school located in the town of Shelbyville. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Shelbyville earn a median of about $40,179 a year early in their careers.
South College earned the #15 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. South College is a private for-profit school located in the city of Knoxville. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from South College make a median of around $39,238 per year.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Paris landed the #16 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Set in the town of Paris, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Paris is a public institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Paris typically earn about $39,362 annually.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Jacksboro placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Jacksboro is a public school located in the town of Jacksboro. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Jacksboro earn a median of about $34,503 a year early in their careers.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Mcminnville landed the #18 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Set in the town of McMinnville, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Mcminnville is a public institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,474.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Pulaski ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Located in the town of Pulaski, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Pulaski is a public institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Pulaski make a median of around $43,915 per year.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Harriman came in at #20 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Harriman is a public school located in the rural area of Harriman. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Harriman earn a median of about $37,837 a year early in their careers.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Elizabethton placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Located in the suburb of Elizabethton, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Elizabethton is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Elizabethton earn a median of about $43,089 a year early in their careers.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Newbern ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Located in the rural area of Newbern, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Newbern is a public institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $37,336.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Livingston came in at #23 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Livingston is a public school located in the rural area of Livingston. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $25,955.
This list is compiled 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 · 23 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.