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 82 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.
Our analysis ranked Jefferson College the top school for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings in the The Plains States Region. Set in the rural area of Hillsboro, Jefferson College is a public institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,436.
Minnesota West Community And Technical College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in practical nursing assistants, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Granite Falls, Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Minnesota West Community And Technical College earn a median of about $67,864 a year early in their careers.
Northeast Community College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in practical nursing assistants, landing the #3 spot this year. Northeast Community College is a public school located in the town of Norfolk. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Northeast Community College make a median of around $63,942 per year.
A rank of #4 makes Bismarck State College one of the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Located in the city of Bismarck, Bismarck State College is a public institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Bismarck State College make a median of around $61,629 per year.
A rank of #5 makes State Fair Community College one of the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Set in the town of Sedalia, State Fair Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,204.
Dakota College At Bottineau ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Dakota College At Bottineau is a public school located in the rural area of Bottineau. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,969.
Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Set in the rural area of Calmar, Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a public institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,676.
Marshalltown Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Set in the town of Marshalltown, Marshalltown Community College is a public institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Marshalltown Community College make a median of around $60,055 per year.
North Central Missouri College came in at #9 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Trenton, North Central Missouri College is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of North Central Missouri College earn a median of about $59,889 a year early in their careers.
Iowa Central Community College placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Set in the town of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College is a public institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Iowa Central Community College typically earn about $59,754 annually.
Williston State College placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Williston State College is a public school located in the town of Williston. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,469.
Barton County Community College placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Barton County Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Great Bend. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Barton County Community College typically earn about $59,197 annually.
Warrensburg Area Career Center earned the #13 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Warrensburg, Warrensburg Area Career Center is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Warrensburg Area Career Center earn a median of about $58,198 a year early in their careers.
Dickinson State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Located in the town of Dickinson, Dickinson State University is a public institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Dickinson State University make a median of around $70,117 per year.
Neosho County Community College earned the #15 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Neosho County Community College is a public school located in the town of Chanute. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,443.
Southeastern Community College West Burlington ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Located in the town of West Burlington, Southeastern Community College West Burlington is a public institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,401.
Highland Community College Highland earned the #17 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of Highland, Highland Community College Highland is a public institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Highland Community College Highland typically earn about $56,747 annually.
Mineral Area College came in at #18 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Mineral Area College is a public school located in the town of Park Hills. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Mineral Area College typically earn about $58,373 annually.
North Central Kansas Technical College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Located in the rural area of Beloit, North Central Kansas Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,199.
Kansas City Kansas Community College landed the #20 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Kansas City Kansas Community College is a public school located in the city of Kansas City. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Kansas City Kansas Community College make a median of around $61,044 per year.
Donnelly College placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Donnelly College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,166.
South Central College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Located in the suburb of North Mankato, South Central College is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of South Central College earn a median of about $53,007 a year early in their careers.
Dakota County Technical College earned the #23 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,047.
Cass Career Center placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Located in the town of Harrisonville, Cass Career Center is a public institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Cass Career Center typically earn about $55,934 annually.
Northwest Iowa Community College came in at #25 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Sheldon, Northwest Iowa Community College is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Northwest Iowa Community College earn a median of about $51,400 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid practical nursing assistants ranking:
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 · 82 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.