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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 30 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.
For graduate earnings in nursing, no school beat Chamberlain University Indiana this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Chamberlain University Indiana is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Chamberlain University Indiana typically earn about $92,768 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in nursing will find them at Purdue University Global, which ranked #2. Purdue University Global is a public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Nursing graduates of Purdue University Global earn a median of about $86,854 a year early in their careers.
Purdue University Northwest came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Purdue University Northwest typically earn about $84,328 annually.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $87,224.
Students chasing top earnings in nursing will find them at Indiana University Kokomo, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Kokomo, Indiana University Kokomo is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Indiana University Kokomo earn a median of about $82,888 a year early in their careers.
Indiana Wesleyan University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Set in the town of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Indiana Wesleyan University make a median of around $82,903 per year.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global landed the #7 spot for nursing salaries this year. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Marion. Early-career nursing graduates from Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global make a median of around $82,903 per year.
Valparaiso University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the suburb of Valparaiso, Valparaiso University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Valparaiso University typically earn about $79,968 annually.
Fortis College Indianapolis earned the #9 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Fortis College Indianapolis is a private for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Fortis College Indianapolis typically earn about $75,091 annually.
University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne came in at #10 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne typically earn about $77,901 annually.
Indiana University East earned the #11 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Indiana University East is a public school located in the town of Richmond. Early-career nursing graduates from Indiana University East make a median of around $79,842 per year.
Saint Elizabeth School Of Nursing came in at #12 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Saint Elizabeth School Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lafayette. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Saint Elizabeth School Of Nursing typically earn about $67,283 annually.
Saint Marys College landed the #13 spot for nursing salaries this year. Saint Marys College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. Early-career nursing graduates from Saint Marys College make a median of around $74,565 per year.
Indiana University Northwest landed the #14 spot for nursing salaries this year. Indiana University Northwest is a public school located in the suburb of Gary. Early-career nursing graduates from Indiana University Northwest make a median of around $76,826 per year.
Indiana State University came in at #15 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Indiana State University make a median of around $77,079 per year.
Marian University Indiana landed the #16 spot for nursing salaries this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Marian University Indiana is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Marian University Indiana make a median of around $77,945 per year.
Ivy Tech Community College earned the #17 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of about $70,463 a year early in their careers.
University Of Indianapolis landed the #18 spot for nursing salaries this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, University Of Indianapolis is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from University Of Indianapolis typically earn about $76,892 annually.
Ball State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Ball State University is a public school located in the city of Muncie. Nursing graduates of Ball State University earn a median of about $70,375 a year early in their careers.
University Of Evansville placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the city of Evansville, University Of Evansville is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from University Of Evansville typically earn about $71,066 annually.
Bethel College Mishawaka ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Bethel College Mishawaka is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Mishawaka. Early-career nursing graduates from Bethel College Mishawaka make a median of around $67,232 per year.
University Of Southern Indiana placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,131.
Indiana University Southeast earned the #23 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Indiana University Southeast is a public school located in the suburb of New Albany. Nursing graduates of Indiana University Southeast earn a median of about $77,840 a year early in their careers.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned the #24 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis typically earn about $74,244 annually.
Goshen College earned the #25 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Goshen, Goshen College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Goshen College typically earn about $67,776 annually.
These schools also send nursing graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
The ranking above is published 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 · 30 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.