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 45 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.
For graduate earnings in nursing, no school beat Eastwick College this year. Set in the suburb of Ramsey, Eastwick College is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $106,582.
Strong graduate earnings at Montclair State University earned it the #2 place for nursing. Montclair State University is a public school located in the suburb of Montclair. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Montclair State University typically earn about $104,219 annually.
Kean University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in nursing, landing the #3 spot this year. Kean University is a public school located in the suburb of Union. Early-career nursing graduates from Kean University make a median of around $104,865 per year.
A rank of #4 makes Felician College one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. Felician College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lodi. Early-career nursing graduates from Felician College make a median of around $111,022 per year.
A rank of #5 makes College Of Saint Elizabeth one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the suburb of Morristown, College Of Saint Elizabeth is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from College Of Saint Elizabeth make a median of around $103,983 per year.
Eastern International College Jersey City ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Eastern International College Jersey City is a private for-profit school located in the city of Jersey City. Early-career nursing graduates from Eastern International College Jersey City make a median of around $100,458 per year.
Hudson County Community College came in at #7 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Hudson County Community College is a public school located in the city of Jersey City. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Hudson County Community College typically earn about $93,970 annually.
Ramapo College Of New Jersey ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Mahwah, Ramapo College Of New Jersey is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Ramapo College Of New Jersey make a median of around $101,973 per year.
County College Of Morris earned the #9 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Randolph, County College Of Morris is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from County College Of Morris typically earn about $91,172 annually.
Thomas Edison State College came in at #10 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Trenton, Thomas Edison State College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Thomas Edison State College earn a median of about $99,603 a year early in their careers.
Bloomfield College came in at #11 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Bloomfield, Bloomfield College is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $101,148.
Bergen Community College placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Bergen Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Paramus. Nursing graduates of Bergen Community College earn a median of about $111,636 a year early in their careers.
Passaic County Community College came in at #13 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Passaic County Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Paterson. Nursing graduates of Passaic County Community College earn a median of about $90,103 a year early in their careers.
Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham landed the #14 spot for nursing salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Madison, Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $100,017.
Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus landed the #15 spot for nursing salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Teaneck, Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus typically earn about $100,017 annually.
Union County College came in at #16 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Cranford, Union County College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Union County College earn a median of about $97,322 a year early in their careers.
New Jersey City University landed the #17 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the city of Jersey City, New Jersey City University is a public institution. Nursing graduates of New Jersey City University earn a median of about $101,035 a year early in their careers.
Brookdale Community College earned the #18 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Lincroft, Brookdale Community College is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Brookdale Community College make a median of around $96,716 per year.
William Paterson University Of New Jersey ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a public school located in the suburb of Wayne. Nursing graduates of William Paterson University Of New Jersey earn a median of about $96,443 a year early in their careers.
Saint Peters College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the city of Jersey City, Saint Peters College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Saint Peters College make a median of around $101,499 per year.
Caldwell College earned the #21 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Caldwell College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Caldwell. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Caldwell College typically earn about $100,169 annually.
Seton Hall University placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $95,840.
Raritan Valley Community College came in at #23 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Branchburg, Raritan Valley Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $89,499.
Jersey College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Teterboro, Jersey College is a private for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Jersey College make a median of around $92,597 per year.
Ocean County College placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Ocean County College is a public school located in the suburb of Toms River. Early-career nursing graduates from Ocean County College make a median of around $85,080 per year.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning nursing graduates:
This ranking is produced 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 · 45 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.
