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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the early-career earnings of their nursing graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose nursing graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Kapiolani Community College, our #1 for nursing graduate salaries in Hawaii. Set in the city of Honolulu, Kapiolani Community College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Kapiolani Community College earn a median of about $105,313 a year early in their careers.
University Of Hawaii Maui College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in nursing, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Kahului, University Of Hawaii Maui College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from University Of Hawaii Maui College typically earn about $107,064 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Kauai Community College earned it the #3 place for nursing. Kauai Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Lihue. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Kauai Community College typically earn about $96,811 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in nursing will find them at University Of Hawaii At Manoa, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a public institution. Nursing graduates of University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn a median of about $114,006 a year early in their careers.
Chaminade University Of Honolulu came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the city of Honolulu, Chaminade University Of Honolulu is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Chaminade University Of Honolulu make a median of around $106,859 per year.
Hawaii Pacific University landed the #6 spot for nursing salaries this year. Set in the city of Honolulu, Hawaii Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution. Nursing graduates of Hawaii Pacific University earn a median of about $111,432 a year early in their careers.
University Of Hawaii At Hilo placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the town of Hilo, University Of Hawaii At Hilo is a public institution. Nursing graduates of University Of Hawaii At Hilo earn a median of about $93,992 a year early in their careers.
Hawaii Community College earned the #8 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Hilo, Hawaii Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $71,214.
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 · 8 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.