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.
College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools.
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 Standard Healthcare Services College Of Nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Falls Church, Standard Healthcare Services College Of Nursing is a private for-profit institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Standard Healthcare Services College Of Nursing earn a median of about $71,329 a year early in their careers.
Piedmont Virginia Community College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in practical nursing assistants, landing the #2 spot this year. Piedmont Virginia Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,566.
Fortis College Norfolk came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Fortis College Norfolk is a private for-profit school located in the city of Norfolk. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,442.
A rank of #4 makes Fortis College Richmond one of the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Fortis College Richmond is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Richmond. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,442.
Ecpi University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in practical nursing assistants, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Ecpi University is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,005.
Paul D Camp Community College came in at #6 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Franklin, Paul D Camp Community College is a public institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Paul D Camp Community College make a median of around $49,616 per year.
Career Training Solutions came in at #7 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Fredericksburg, Career Training Solutions is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,249.
Virginia Western Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Located in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $48,637.
Richmond School Of Health And Technology landed the #9 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Set in the suburb of CHESTER, Richmond School Of Health And Technology is a private for-profit institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Richmond School Of Health And Technology make a median of around $55,292 per year.
Riverside College Of Health Careers ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Set in the city of Newport News, Riverside College Of Health Careers is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Riverside College Of Health Careers make a median of around $48,889 per year.
Patrick Henry Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Set in the rural area of Martinsville, Patrick Henry Community College is a public institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Patrick Henry Community College make a median of around $56,781 per year.
Bryant And Stratton College Virginia Beach ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Bryant And Stratton College Virginia Beach is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Bryant And Stratton College Virginia Beach make a median of around $45,098 per year.
New River Community College landed the #13 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Set in the town of Dublin, New River Community College is a public institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from New River Community College make a median of around $44,377 per year.
Centra College Of Nursing landed the #14 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Centra College Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Centra College Of Nursing make a median of around $44,606 per year.
Wytheville Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Wytheville Community College is a public school located in the town of Wytheville. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Wytheville Community College typically earn about $40,236 annually.
Mountain Empire Community College placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Mountain Empire Community College is a public school located in the town of Big Stone Gap. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Mountain Empire Community College typically earn about $39,206 annually.
Southside Virginia Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Located in the rural area of Alberta, Southside Virginia Community College is a public institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Southside Virginia Community College make a median of around $46,449 per year.
Rappahannock Community College came in at #18 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Glenns, Rappahannock Community College is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Rappahannock Community College earn a median of about $35,303 a year early in their careers.
Virginia Highlands Community College landed the #19 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Abingdon, Virginia Highlands Community College is a public institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Virginia Highlands Community College make a median of around $28,357 per 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 · 19 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.