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.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose practical nursing assistants graduates go on to earn the most.
Clovis Community College tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools in New Mexico. Located in the town of Clovis, Clovis Community College is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Clovis Community College earn a median of about $63,771 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Pima Medical Institute Albuquerque earned it the #2 place for practical nursing assistants. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Pima Medical Institute Albuquerque is a private for-profit institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Pima Medical Institute Albuquerque make a median of around $52,838 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Santa Fe Community College earned it the #3 place for practical nursing assistants. Santa Fe Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Santa Fe. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $40,963.
Students chasing top earnings in practical nursing assistants will find them at Central New Mexico Community College, which ranked #4. Central New Mexico Community College is a public school located in the city of Albuquerque. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of about $43,068 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in practical nursing assistants will find them at Brookline College Albuquerque, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Brookline College Albuquerque is a private for-profit institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Brookline College Albuquerque earn a median of about $33,343 a year early in their careers.
This list is compiled 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 · 5 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.