by our College Data Analytics Team
[Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The schools below stand out for the salaries their nursing graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the early-career earnings of their nursing graduates.
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If you want to know which schools send nursing graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Southern New Hampshire University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid nursing graduates in New Hampshire. Set in the suburb of Manchester, Southern New Hampshire University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Southern New Hampshire University make a median of around $95,420 per year.
A rank of #2 makes Saint Anselm College one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. Saint Anselm College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Manchester. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Saint Anselm College typically earn about $92,755 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in nursing will find them at Franklin Pierce University, which ranked #3. Set in the rural area of Rindge, Franklin Pierce University is a private not-for-profit institution. Nursing graduates of Franklin Pierce University earn a median of about $96,768 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in nursing will find them at St Joseph School Of Nursing, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Nashua, St Joseph School Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $82,374.
Students chasing top earnings in nursing will find them at Nashua Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Nashua, Nashua Community College is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Nashua Community College make a median of around $75,877 per year.
Great Bay Community College placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the suburb of Portsmouth, Great Bay Community College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Great Bay Community College typically earn about $76,336 annually.
Colby Sawyer College landed the #7 spot for nursing salaries this year. Set in the rural area of New London, Colby Sawyer College is a private not-for-profit institution. Nursing graduates of Colby Sawyer College earn a median of about $88,122 a year early in their careers.
Nhti Concords Community College earned the #8 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Concord, Nhti Concords Community College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Nhti Concords Community College earn a median of about $71,771 a year early in their careers.
River Valley Community College placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the rural area of Claremont, River Valley Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $69,843.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the town of Durham, University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $82,473.
Keene State College landed the #11 spot for nursing salaries this year. Set in the town of Keene, Keene State College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Keene State College earn a median of about $83,703 a year early in their careers.
Rivier College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Rivier College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashua. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Rivier College typically earn about $77,183 annually.
Plymouth State University placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the town of Plymouth, Plymouth State University is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Plymouth State University typically earn about $74,139 annually.
White Mountains Community College came in at #14 for nursing graduate earnings this year. White Mountains Community College is a public school located in the town of Berlin. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,257.
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 · 14 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.