by our College Data Analytics Team
[Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a nursing degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 100 schools on the early-career earnings of their nursing graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send nursing graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked College Of San Mateo the top school for nursing graduate earnings in the Far Western Region. College Of San Mateo is a public school located in the city of San Mateo. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from College Of San Mateo typically earn about $135,534 annually.
A rank of #2 makes San Jose State University one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from San Jose State University typically earn about $155,843 annually.
A rank of #3 makes California State University East Bay one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a public institution. Nursing graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of about $160,918 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Ohlone Community College earned it the #4 place for nursing. Set in the city of Fremont, Ohlone Community College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Ohlone Community College earn a median of about $128,248 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in nursing will find them at Samuel Merritt University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Oakland, Samuel Merritt University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Samuel Merritt University make a median of around $148,857 per year.
San Francisco State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. San Francisco State University is a public school located in the city of San Francisco. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from San Francisco State University typically earn about $144,430 annually.
Yuba College placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located 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.
Sonoma State University earned the #8 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $131,431.
Pacific Union College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Set in the rural area of Angwin, Pacific Union College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $128,006.
California State University Sacramento placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. California State University Sacramento is a public school located in the city of Sacramento. Early-career nursing graduates from California State University Sacramento make a median of around $138,606 per year.
Contra Costa College landed the #11 spot for nursing salaries this year. Set in the suburb of San Pablo, Contra Costa College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Contra Costa College earn a median of about $135,374 a year early in their careers.
Mendocino College earned the #12 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Ukiah, Mendocino College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Mendocino College earn a median of about $113,261 a year early in their careers.
Pacific College landed the #13 spot for nursing salaries this year. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Pacific College is a private for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Pacific College make a median of around $123,355 per year.
Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #14 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College typically earn about $131,805 annually.
California State University Monterey Bay ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $132,226.
City College Of San Francisco ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located 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.
California State University Stanislaus earned the #17 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. California State University Stanislaus is a public school located in the suburb of Turlock. Early-career nursing graduates from California State University Stanislaus make a median of around $122,838 per year.
University Of San Francisco landed the #18 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from University Of San Francisco make a median of around $149,741 per year.
Sacramento City College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Sacramento City College typically earn about $129,980 annually.
Napa Valley College landed the #20 spot for nursing salaries this year. Napa Valley College is a public school located in the city of Napa. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $110,607.
Dominican University Of California placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the city of San Rafael, Dominican University Of California is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $149,349.
Merced College came in at #22 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Merced, Merced College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Merced College earn a median of about $114,563 a year early in their careers.
Carrington College California Sacramento placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the suburb of Sacramento, Carrington College California Sacramento is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $117,741.
Los Angeles Southwest College came in at #24 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Southwest College is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $108,194.
California State University Chico earned the #25 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a public institution. Nursing graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of about $120,599 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid nursing ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their nursing graduates, 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.