by our College Data Analytics Team
[Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The schools below stand out for the salaries their nursing graduates go on to command.
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:
If you want to know which schools send nursing graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
College Of San Mateo tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools in California. College Of San Mateo is a public school located in the city of San Mateo. Early-career nursing graduates from College Of San Mateo make a median of around $135,534 per year.
San Jose State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. San Jose State University is a public school located in the city of San Jose. Nursing graduates of San Jose State University earn a median of about $155,843 a year early in their careers.
California State University East Bay came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $160,918.
A rank of #4 makes Ohlone Community College one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the city of Fremont, Ohlone Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $128,248.
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. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $144,430.
Yuba College placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Yuba College is a public school located in the suburb of Marysville. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $132,809.
Sonoma State University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Sonoma State University make a median of around $131,431 per year.
Pacific Union College landed the #9 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the rural area of Angwin, Pacific Union College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Pacific Union College make a median of around $128,006 per year.
California State University Sacramento came in at #10 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from California State University Sacramento typically earn about $138,606 annually.
Contra Costa College landed the #11 spot for nursing salaries this year. Contra Costa College is a public school located in the suburb of San Pablo. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $135,374.
Mendocino College earned the #12 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located 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.
Pacific College earned the #13 position for nursing graduate earnings 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. Santa Rosa Junior College is a public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. Early-career nursing graduates from Santa Rosa Junior College make a median of around $131,805 per year.
California State University Monterey Bay came in at #15 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located 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 came in at #16 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from City College Of San Francisco make a median of around $132,408 per year.
California State University Stanislaus landed the #17 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Turlock, California State University Stanislaus is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from California State University Stanislaus typically earn about $122,838 annually.
University Of San Francisco earned the #18 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. University Of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from University Of San Francisco typically earn about $149,741 annually.
Sacramento City College came in at #19 for nursing graduate earnings 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 ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the city of Napa, Napa Valley College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Napa Valley College earn a median of about $110,607 a year early in their careers.
Dominican University Of California came in at #21 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Rafael, Dominican University Of California is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Dominican University Of California typically earn about $149,349 annually.
Merced College landed the #22 spot for nursing salaries this year. Merced College is a public school located in the city of Merced. Early-career nursing graduates from Merced College make a median of around $114,563 per year.
Carrington College California Sacramento placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Carrington College California Sacramento is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Sacramento. Early-career nursing graduates from Carrington College California Sacramento make a median of around $117,741 per year.
Los Angeles Southwest College placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Los Angeles Southwest College is a public school located in the suburb of Los Angeles. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $108,194.
California State University Chico came in at #25 for nursing graduate earnings this year. California State University Chico is a public school located in the city of Chico. Early-career nursing graduates from California State University Chico make a median of around $120,599 per year.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning nursing graduates:
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.