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 36 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.
Saint Martins University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools in Washington. Saint Martins University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lacey. Nursing graduates of Saint Martins University earn a median of about $95,489 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in nursing will find them at Highline Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Des Moines, Highline Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $87,066.
A rank of #3 makes Bellingham Technical College one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the city of Bellingham, Bellingham Technical College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Bellingham Technical College earn a median of about $85,195 a year early in their careers.
Walla Walla University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in nursing, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of College Place, Walla Walla University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Walla Walla University typically earn about $94,358 annually.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the suburb of Kirkland, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $87,749.
Everett Community College earned the #6 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Everett, Everett Community College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Everett Community College typically earn about $91,876 annually.
Bellevue College landed the #7 spot for nursing salaries this year. Set in the city of Bellevue, Bellevue College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Bellevue College earn a median of about $78,748 a year early in their careers.
Seattle Community College Central Campus earned the #8 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle Community College Central Campus is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Seattle Community College Central Campus earn a median of about $83,117 a year early in their careers.
Tacoma Community College landed the #9 spot for nursing salaries this year. Tacoma Community College is a public school located in the city of Tacoma. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $81,839.
Olympic College came in at #10 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Olympic College is a public school located in the city of Bremerton. Nursing graduates of Olympic College earn a median of about $81,797 a year early in their careers.
Shoreline Community College landed the #11 spot for nursing salaries this year. Shoreline Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Shoreline. Early-career nursing graduates from Shoreline Community College make a median of around $87,153 per year.
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a public school located in the city of Tacoma. Early-career nursing graduates from University Of Washington Tacoma Campus make a median of around $101,877 per year.
University Of Washington Bothell Campus landed the #13 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Bothell, University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a public institution. Nursing graduates of University Of Washington Bothell Campus earn a median of about $103,300 a year early in their careers.
Lower Columbia College placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the city of Longview, Lower Columbia College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Lower Columbia College typically earn about $88,483 annually.
Yakima Valley Community College landed the #15 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the city of Yakima, Yakima Valley Community College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Yakima Valley Community College earn a median of about $81,440 a year early in their careers.
Western Washington University earned the #16 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Western Washington University make a median of around $98,502 per year.
Seattle Pacific University earned the #17 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Seattle Pacific University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $96,041.
Spokane Community College landed the #18 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the city of Spokane, Spokane Community College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Spokane Community College earn a median of about $80,308 a year early in their careers.
Wenatchee Valley College landed the #19 spot for nursing salaries this year. Wenatchee Valley College is a public school located in the city of Wenatchee. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Wenatchee Valley College typically earn about $83,466 annually.
Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the city of Lakewood, Pierce College At Fort Steilacoom is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $78,911.
Whatcom Community College earned the #21 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Bellingham, Whatcom Community College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Whatcom Community College earn a median of about $73,022 a year early in their careers.
Gonzaga University earned the #22 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Spokane, Gonzaga University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Gonzaga University typically earn about $119,334 annually.
Grays Harbor College landed the #23 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the rural area of Aberdeen, Grays Harbor College is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Grays Harbor College make a median of around $73,851 per year.
Columbia Basin College landed the #24 spot for nursing salaries this year. Columbia Basin College is a public school located in the suburb of Pasco. Nursing graduates of Columbia Basin College earn a median of about $79,073 a year early in their careers.
Seattle University placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $91,519.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning nursing graduates:
This list is compiled 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 · 36 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.