by our College Data Analytics Team
[Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a nursing degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find where nursing graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose nursing graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is University Of Great Falls, our #1 for nursing graduate salaries in Montana. Set in the city of Great Falls, University Of Great Falls is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $121,185.
A rank of #2 makes Flathead Valley Community College one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. 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.
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Montana one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. The University Of Montana is a public school located in the city of Missoula. Early-career nursing graduates from The University Of Montana make a median of around $76,311 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in nursing will find them at Carroll College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Helena, Carroll College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Carroll College typically earn about $79,827 annually.
Montana State University Billings came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the city of Billings, Montana State University Billings is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Montana State University Billings typically earn about $68,933 annually.
Montana State University Northern earned the #6 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Havre, Montana State University Northern is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $71,186.
Miles Community College placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the town of Miles City, Miles Community College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Miles Community College typically earn about $70,444 annually.
Helena College University Of Montana placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the city of Helena, Helena College University Of Montana is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $72,725.
Montana State University earned the #9 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Montana State University typically earn about $72,739 annually.
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana landed the #10 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the town of Butte, Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana earn a median of about $65,549 a year early in their careers.
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 · 10 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.
