by our College Data Analytics Team
[Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 100 schools to find where nursing graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose nursing graduates go on to earn the most.
College Of San Mateo tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools in the United States. Located in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $135,534.
Students chasing top earnings in nursing will find them at Ohlone Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Fremont, Ohlone Community College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Ohlone Community College typically earn about $128,248 annually.
A rank of #3 makes Yuba College one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the suburb of Marysville, Yuba College is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $132,809.
Strong graduate earnings at Cuny Queensborough Community College earned it the #4 place for nursing. Located in the city of Bayside, Cuny Queensborough Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $117,931.
Students chasing top earnings in nursing will find them at Pacific Union College, which ranked #5. Set in the rural area of Angwin, Pacific Union College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Pacific Union College typically earn about $122,016 annually.
Contra Costa College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Contra Costa College is a public school located in the suburb of San Pablo. Nursing graduates of Contra Costa College earn a median of about $135,374 a year early in their careers.
Mendocino College placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the rural area of Ukiah, Mendocino College is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $113,261.
Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #8 spot for nursing salaries this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. Nursing graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of about $131,805 a year early in their careers.
City College Of San Francisco came in at #9 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a public institution. Nursing graduates of City College Of San Francisco earn a median of about $132,408 a year early in their careers.
Cuny College Of Staten Island earned the #10 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Cuny College Of Staten Island is a public school located in the city of Staten Island. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $112,778.
Sacramento City College landed the #11 spot for nursing salaries this year. Sacramento City College is a public school located in the city of Sacramento. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Sacramento City College typically earn about $129,980 annually.
Napa Valley College earned the #12 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Napa, Napa Valley College is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Napa Valley College make a median of around $110,607 per year.
Merced College earned the #13 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Merced, Merced College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Merced College typically earn about $114,563 annually.
Carrington College California Sacramento came in at #14 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, Carrington College California Sacramento is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Carrington College California Sacramento typically earn about $117,741 annually.
Los Angeles Southwest College landed the #15 spot for nursing salaries this year. Los Angeles Southwest College is a public school located in the suburb of Los Angeles. Nursing graduates of Los Angeles Southwest College earn a median of about $108,194 a year early in their careers.
Eastwick College landed the #16 spot for nursing salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Ramsey, Eastwick College is a private for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Eastwick College make a median of around $106,582 per year.
Allan Hancock College placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Allan Hancock College earn a median of about $106,411 a year early in their careers.
Butte College came in at #18 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Oroville, Butte College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Butte College typically earn about $109,054 annually.
Shasta College placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Shasta College make a median of around $115,772 per year.
American Career College Los Angeles ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. American Career College Los Angeles is a private for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $105,516.
Kapiolani Community College landed the #21 spot for nursing salaries this year. Kapiolani Community College is a public school located in the city of Honolulu. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $105,313.
Cuny Hostos Community College placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Hostos Community College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Cuny Hostos Community College typically earn about $116,225 annually.
American River College placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. American River College is a public school located in the suburb of Sacramento. Early-career nursing graduates from American River College make a median of around $114,068 per year.
University Of Hawaii Maui College came in at #24 for nursing graduate earnings this year. University Of Hawaii Maui College is a public school located in the city of Kahului. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $107,064.
Modesto Junior College landed the #25 spot for nursing salaries this year. Set in the city of Modesto, Modesto Junior College is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Modesto Junior College make a median of around $111,592 per year.
These schools also send nursing graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
These schools also placed among the highest-paying for nursing graduates this year:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Nursing rankings across degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries nursing 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 · 100 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.