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.
College Factual analyzed 100 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying nursing schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose nursing graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Grantham University, our #1 for nursing graduate salaries in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of LIttle Rock, Grantham University is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $115,555.
West Coast University Miami produces some of the highest-paid graduates in nursing, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Doral, West Coast University Miami is a private for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from West Coast University Miami make a median of around $110,377 per year.
Chattahoochee Technical College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in nursing, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Chattahoochee Technical College typically earn about $86,454 annually.
West Georgia Technical College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. West Georgia Technical College is a public school located in the rural area of Waco. Nursing graduates of West Georgia Technical College earn a median of about $84,753 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Brenau University earned it the #5 place for nursing. Set in the city of Gainesville, Brenau University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Brenau University typically earn about $106,944 annually.
Concorde Career College Memphis came in at #6 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Memphis, Concorde Career College Memphis is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $94,781.
Alcorn State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the rural area of Alcorn State, Alcorn State University is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Alcorn State University make a median of around $96,689 per year.
Christian Brothers University landed the #8 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the city of Memphis, Christian Brothers University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Christian Brothers University typically earn about $90,172 annually.
Coahoma Community College landed the #9 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the rural area of Clarksdale, Coahoma Community College is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Coahoma Community College make a median of around $102,158 per year.
Southern University At Shreveport ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Southern University At Shreveport is a public school located in the city of Shreveport. Early-career nursing graduates from Southern University At Shreveport make a median of around $84,058 per year.
Academy For Nursing And Health Occupations ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Set in the suburb of West Palm Beach, Academy For Nursing And Health Occupations is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $89,389.
Dillard University placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the city of New Orleans, Dillard University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Dillard University make a median of around $88,360 per year.
Broward College earned the #13 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Broward College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Broward College typically earn about $89,722 annually.
Kentucky State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the town of Frankfort, Kentucky State University is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $86,642.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Florida earned the #15 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Florida is a private for-profit school located in the city of Jacksonville. Nursing graduates of Chamberlain College Of Nursing Florida earn a median of about $92,768 a year early in their careers.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Georgia came in at #16 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Sandy Springs, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Georgia is a private for-profit institution. Nursing graduates of Chamberlain College Of Nursing Georgia earn a median of about $92,768 a year early in their careers.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Virginia ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the suburb of Vienna, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Virginia is a private for-profit institution. Nursing graduates of Chamberlain College Of Nursing Virginia earn a median of about $92,768 a year early in their careers.
Chamberlain University Louisiana ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the suburb of Jefferson, Chamberlain University Louisiana is a private for-profit institution. Nursing graduates of Chamberlain University Louisiana earn a median of about $92,768 a year early in their careers.
Chamberlain University North Carolina earned the #19 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Chamberlain University North Carolina is a private for-profit school located in the city of Charlotte. Early-career nursing graduates from Chamberlain University North Carolina make a median of around $92,768 per year.
Albany State University earned the #20 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Albany State University is a public school located in the city of Albany. Early-career nursing graduates from Albany State University make a median of around $89,492 per year.
Clayton State University earned the #21 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Clayton State University is a public school located in the suburb of Morrow. Early-career nursing graduates from Clayton State University make a median of around $93,169 per year.
Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the town of Helena, Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas typically earn about $78,213 annually.
Miami Dade College earned the #23 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $94,635.
Barry University came in at #24 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Miami, Barry University is a private not-for-profit institution. Nursing graduates of Barry University earn a median of about $91,933 a year early in their careers.
Southern Crescent Technical College earned the #25 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Southern Crescent Technical College is a public school located in the town of Griffin. Early-career nursing graduates from Southern Crescent Technical College make a median of around $77,547 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid nursing ranking:
These schools also placed among the highest-paying for nursing graduates this year:
| Rank | College | Location | Avg Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #76 | Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, GA | $83,064 | Full Report |
| #77 | Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $87,721 | Full Report |
A few more high-earning nursing schools worth a look:
This list is compiled 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 · 100 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.