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 7 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.
Leading the list is Gateway Community College Phoenix, our #1 for practical nursing assistants graduate salaries in Arizona. Located in the city of Phoenix, Gateway Community College Phoenix is a public institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,899.
A rank of #2 makes Pima Community College one of the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Located in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of about $71,022 a year early in their careers.
East Valley Institute Of Technology produces some of the highest-paid graduates in practical nursing assistants, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Mesa, East Valley Institute Of Technology is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of East Valley Institute Of Technology earn a median of about $53,918 a year early in their careers.
Coconino Community College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in practical nursing assistants, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Flagstaff, Coconino Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,848.
Cochise College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Set in the city of Sierra Vista, Cochise College is a public institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $39,113.
Pima Medical Institute East Valley ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Located in the city of Mesa, Pima Medical Institute East Valley is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Pima Medical Institute East Valley typically earn about $38,847 annually.
Brookline College Phoenix placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Set in the city of Phoenix, Brookline College Phoenix is a private for-profit institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Brookline College Phoenix make a median of around $33,343 per 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 · 7 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.