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. The highest-paying schools turn a practical nursing assistants degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools.
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If you want to know which schools send practical nursing assistants graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Minnesota West Community And Technical College the top school for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings in Minnesota. Located in the rural area of Granite Falls, Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Minnesota West Community And Technical College typically earn about $67,864 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in practical nursing assistants will find them at South Central College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of North Mankato, South Central College is a public institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from South Central College make a median of around $53,007 per year.
Dakota County Technical College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in practical nursing assistants, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Dakota County Technical College earn a median of about $59,047 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in practical nursing assistants will find them at Hennepin Technical College, which ranked #4. Hennepin Technical College is a public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,653.
A rank of #5 makes Rasmussen College Minnesota one of the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Rasmussen College Minnesota is a private for-profit school located in the city of St. Cloud. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,941.
Lake Superior College placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Set in the city of Duluth, Lake Superior College is a public institution. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Lake Superior College make a median of around $49,840 per year.
Minnesota State College Southeast Technical landed the #7 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Minnesota State College Southeast Technical is a public school located in the town of Winona. Early-career practical nursing assistants graduates from Minnesota State College Southeast Technical make a median of around $52,157 per year.
Riverland Community College came in at #8 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Austin, Riverland Community College is a public institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Riverland Community College typically earn about $44,726 annually.
Rochester Community And Technical College placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Rochester Community And Technical College is a public school located in the city of Rochester. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Rochester Community And Technical College typically earn about $47,072 annually.
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College came in at #10 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a public school located in the town of Hibbing. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College earn a median of about $48,294 a year early in their careers.
Northland Community And Technical College placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Northland Community And Technical College is a public school located in the town of Thief River Falls. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Northland Community And Technical College typically earn about $44,017 annually.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College came in at #12 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a public school located in the city of Saint Paul. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College typically earn about $43,263 annually.
St Cloud Technical And Community College came in at #13 for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, St Cloud Technical And Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,687.
Anoka Technical College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Set in the suburb of Anoka, Anoka Technical College is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Anoka Technical College earn a median of about $44,193 a year early in their careers.
Northwest Technical College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying practical nursing assistants schools. Located in the town of Bemidji, Northwest Technical College is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Northwest Technical College earn a median of about $44,377 a year early in their careers.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College earned the #16 position for practical nursing assistants graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,642.
Ridgewater College placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Ridgewater College is a public school located in the town of Willmar. Students who complete the practical nursing assistants program here go on to a median salary of roughly $38,268.
Central Lakes College Brainerd placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Located in the town of Brainerd, Central Lakes College Brainerd is a public institution. After graduating, practical nursing assistants degree recipients from Central Lakes College Brainerd typically earn about $52,189 annually.
Pine Technical College placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for practical nursing assistants. Set in the rural area of Pine City, Pine Technical College is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Pine Technical College earn a median of about $48,319 a year early in their careers.
Alexandria Technical And Community College landed the #20 spot for practical nursing assistants salaries this year. Located in the town of Alexandria, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a public institution. Practical Nursing Assistants graduates of Alexandria Technical And Community College earn a median of about $44,189 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 · 20 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.