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 71 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.
University Of Great Falls earned the #1 spot for highest-paid nursing graduates in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in the city of Great Falls, University Of Great Falls is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from University Of Great Falls typically earn about $121,185 annually.
A rank of #2 makes Carrington College Boise one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. Carrington College Boise is a private for-profit school located in the city of Boise. Early-career nursing graduates from Carrington College Boise make a median of around $87,728 per year.
A rank of #3 makes Western Governors University one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Western Governors University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Western Governors University make a median of around $97,743 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs earned it the #4 place for nursing. Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs is a private for-profit school located in the city of Colorado Springs. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $92,767.
Strong graduate earnings at North Idaho College earned it the #5 place for nursing. Set in the city of Coeur d'Alene, North Idaho College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of North Idaho College earn a median of about $80,947 a year early in their careers.
Arapahoe Community College earned the #6 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Arapahoe Community College earn a median of about $82,903 a year early in their careers.
Pueblo Community College placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Pueblo Community College is a public school located in the city of Pueblo. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $85,090.
Arizona College Of Nursing Salt Lake City earned the #8 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Murray, Arizona College Of Nursing Salt Lake City is a private for-profit institution. Nursing graduates of Arizona College Of Nursing Salt Lake City earn a median of about $85,169 a year early in their careers.
Morgan Community College earned the #9 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Fort Morgan, Morgan Community College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Morgan Community College typically earn about $75,974 annually.
Laramie County Community College landed the #10 spot for nursing salaries this year. Set in the rural area of Cheyenne, Laramie County Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $81,204.
Front Range Community College came in at #11 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Front Range Community College earn a median of about $75,263 a year early in their careers.
Otero Junior College landed the #12 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the town of La Junta, Otero Junior College is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $77,553.
Pikes Peak Community College landed the #13 spot for nursing salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Pikes Peak Community College typically earn about $74,777 annually.
Colorado Mountain College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Colorado Mountain College is a public school located in the town of Glenwood Springs. Nursing graduates of Colorado Mountain College earn a median of about $81,457 a year early in their careers.
Regis University earned the #15 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Denver, Regis University is a private not-for-profit institution. Nursing graduates of Regis University earn a median of about $86,645 a year early in their careers.
Lamar Community College placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the town of Lamar, Lamar Community College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Lamar Community College earn a median of about $72,971 a year early in their careers.
College Of Western Idaho landed the #17 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the rural area of Nampa, College Of Western Idaho is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from College Of Western Idaho make a median of around $71,007 per year.
Boise State University came in at #18 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Boise State University is a public school located in the city of Boise. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Boise State University typically earn about $82,246 annually.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver landed the #19 spot for nursing salaries this year. Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a public school located in the city of Denver. Early-career nursing graduates from Metropolitan State College Of Denver make a median of around $83,865 per year.
Lewis Clark State College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the city of Lewiston, Lewis Clark State College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Lewis Clark State College typically earn about $81,832 annually.
Nightingale College placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Nightingale College is a private for-profit school located in the city of Salt Lake City. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,002.
Sheridan College came in at #22 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Sheridan, Sheridan College is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Sheridan College make a median of around $71,971 per year.
Denver School Of Nursing landed the #23 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the city of Denver, Denver School Of Nursing is a private for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Denver School Of Nursing make a median of around $80,640 per year.
Aims Community College placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Aims Community College is a public school located in the city of Greeley. Nursing graduates of Aims Community College earn a median of about $71,413 a year early in their careers.
Flathead Valley Community College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the town of Kalispell, Flathead Valley Community College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Flathead Valley Community College typically earn about $71,348 annually.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid nursing ranking:
This ranking is produced 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 · 71 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.