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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 91 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.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Ohio tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools in Ohio. Set in the city of Columbus, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Ohio is a private for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Chamberlain College Of Nursing Ohio make a median of around $92,768 per year.
Akron Institute Of Herzing University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Akron, Akron Institute Of Herzing University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Akron Institute Of Herzing University typically earn about $76,115 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in nursing will find them at Galen College Of Nursing Cincinnati, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Cincinnati, Galen College Of Nursing Cincinnati is a private for-profit institution. Nursing graduates of Galen College Of Nursing Cincinnati earn a median of about $81,634 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in nursing will find them at Ohio University Eastern Campus, which ranked #4. Located in the rural area of Saint Clairsville, Ohio University Eastern Campus is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Ohio University Eastern Campus make a median of around $83,524 per year.
A rank of #5 makes Fortis College Cincinnati one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the suburb of Cincinnati, Fortis College Cincinnati is a private for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Fortis College Cincinnati make a median of around $75,709 per year.
Fortis College Columbus landed the #6 spot for nursing salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Westerville, Fortis College Columbus is a private for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Fortis College Columbus make a median of around $75,709 per year.
Ohio University Main Campus placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of about $87,080 a year early in their careers.
Case Western Reserve University earned the #8 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Case Western Reserve University make a median of around $103,988 per year.
Hondros College landed the #9 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Hondros College is a private for-profit institution. Nursing graduates of Hondros College earn a median of about $70,933 a year early in their careers.
Trinity Health System School Of Nursing landed the #10 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the city of Steubenville, Trinity Health System School Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Trinity Health System School Of Nursing make a median of around $72,487 per year.
Bryant And Stratton College Parma came in at #11 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Parma, Bryant And Stratton College Parma is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,046.
Washington State Community College landed the #12 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the town of Marietta, Washington State Community College is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Washington State Community College make a median of around $74,072 per year.
Eastern Gateway Community College came in at #13 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Eastern Gateway Community College is a public school located in the city of Steubenville. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Eastern Gateway Community College typically earn about $70,136 annually.
Kettering College earned the #14 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Kettering, Kettering College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Kettering College typically earn about $71,707 annually.
Fortis College Centerville earned the #15 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Centerville, Fortis College Centerville is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Fortis College Centerville typically earn about $75,091 annually.
Ohio University Chillicothe Campus came in at #16 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Chillicothe, Ohio University Chillicothe Campus is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Ohio University Chillicothe Campus make a median of around $77,704 per year.
Youngstown State University came in at #17 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Youngstown State University make a median of around $96,981 per year.
Lourdes College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Sylvania, Lourdes College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $130,228.
Sinclair Community College landed the #19 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Sinclair Community College typically earn about $68,837 annually.
Mercy College Of Ohio earned the #20 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Toledo, Mercy College Of Ohio is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Mercy College Of Ohio typically earn about $73,213 annually.
Beckfield College Tri County earned the #21 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Beckfield College Tri County is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Cincinnati. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,209.
Clark State Community College earned the #22 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Clark State Community College is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Clark State Community College make a median of around $76,328 per year.
Central Ohio Technical College earned the #23 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Newark, Central Ohio Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $72,238.
Ohio University Zanesville Campus placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Ohio University Zanesville Campus is a public school located in the town of Zanesville. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,407.
Fortis College Cuyahoga Falls Cuyahoga Falls earned the #25 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Fortis College Cuyahoga Falls Cuyahoga Falls is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Cuyahoga Falls. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Fortis College Cuyahoga Falls Cuyahoga Falls typically earn about $73,326 annually.
These schools also send nursing graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
The ranking above is published 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 · 91 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.