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 highest-paying schools turn a nursing degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 68 schools on the early-career earnings of their nursing graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send nursing graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Harcum College earned the #1 spot for highest-paid nursing graduates in Pennsylvania. Set in the suburb of Bryn Mawr, Harcum College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Harcum College make a median of around $98,733 per year.
University Of Scranton produces some of the highest-paid graduates in nursing, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Scranton, University Of Scranton is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from University Of Scranton make a median of around $114,409 per year.
A rank of #3 makes La Roche College one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the suburb of Pittsburgh, La Roche College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from La Roche College typically earn about $92,164 annually.
A rank of #4 makes Immaculata University one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. Immaculata University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Immaculata. Nursing graduates of Immaculata University earn a median of about $100,076 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #5 makes Villanova University one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Villanova University make a median of around $111,181 per year.
Montgomery County Community College came in at #6 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Blue Bell, Montgomery County Community College is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Montgomery County Community College make a median of around $85,720 per year.
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #7 spot for nursing salaries this year. University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Early-career nursing graduates from University Of Pennsylvania make a median of around $125,425 per year.
La Salle University landed the #8 spot for nursing salaries this year. La Salle University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Early-career nursing graduates from La Salle University make a median of around $105,595 per year.
Gwynedd Mercy College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Gwynedd Mercy College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Gwynedd Valley. Early-career nursing graduates from Gwynedd Mercy College make a median of around $97,882 per year.
Roxborough Memorial Hospital School Of Nursing ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Roxborough Memorial Hospital School Of Nursing is a private for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Roxborough Memorial Hospital School Of Nursing typically earn about $81,336 annually.
Holy Family University placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Holy Family University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Early-career nursing graduates from Holy Family University make a median of around $95,227 per year.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a public school located in the suburb of West Chester. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $87,283.
Thomas Jefferson University placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Thomas Jefferson University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Early-career nursing graduates from Thomas Jefferson University make a median of around $109,439 per year.
Widener University Main Campus landed the #14 spot for nursing salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Chester, Widener University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Widener University Main Campus typically earn about $97,249 annually.
Lehigh Carbon Community College landed the #15 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the rural area of Schnecksville, Lehigh Carbon Community College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Lehigh Carbon Community College earn a median of about $78,165 a year early in their careers.
Temple University placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Temple University earn a median of about $92,650 a year early in their careers.
Drexel University earned the #17 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a private not-for-profit institution. Nursing graduates of Drexel University earn a median of about $107,468 a year early in their careers.
Delaware County Community College earned the #18 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Media, Delaware County Community College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Delaware County Community College earn a median of about $85,299 a year early in their careers.
Eastern University earned the #19 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Davids, Eastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Eastern University make a median of around $88,979 per year.
St Lukes Hospital School Of Nursing placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. St Lukes Hospital School Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bethlehem. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $71,912.
Bucks County Community College landed the #21 spot for nursing salaries this year. Bucks County Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Newtown. Early-career nursing graduates from Bucks County Community College make a median of around $82,814 per year.
Reading Hospital School Of Health Sciences earned the #22 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Reading Hospital School Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Reading. Early-career nursing graduates from Reading Hospital School Of Health Sciences make a median of around $81,739 per year.
Neumann University earned the #23 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Neumann University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aston. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $89,107.
Millersville University Of Pennsylvania placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the suburb of Millersville, Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Millersville University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $87,952 a year early in their careers.
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary landed the #25 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $88,645.
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 · 68 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.