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 schools below stand out for the salaries their nursing graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 33 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.
Bishop State Community College tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools in Alabama. Set in the city of Mobile, Bishop State Community College is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Bishop State Community College make a median of around $84,172 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at South University Montgomery earned it the #2 place for nursing. South University Montgomery is a private for-profit school located in the city of Montgomery. Early-career nursing graduates from South University Montgomery make a median of around $90,784 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in nursing will find them at Herzing University Birmingham, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Birmingham, Herzing University Birmingham is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $76,115.
Strong graduate earnings at George C Wallace State Community College Selma earned it the #4 place for nursing. Located in the town of Selma, George C Wallace State Community College Selma is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $78,217.
The University Of Alabama produces some of the highest-paid graduates in nursing, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from The University Of Alabama typically earn about $80,311 annually.
Chattahoochee Valley Community College earned the #6 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Phenix City, Chattahoochee Valley Community College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Chattahoochee Valley Community College earn a median of about $72,370 a year early in their careers.
Tuskegee University came in at #7 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Tuskegee, Tuskegee University is a private not-for-profit institution. Nursing graduates of Tuskegee University earn a median of about $70,514 a year early in their careers.
Lurleen B Wallace Community College placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the rural area of Andalusia, Lurleen B Wallace Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,437.
James H Faulkner State Community College placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the town of Bay Minette, James H Faulkner State Community College is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from James H Faulkner State Community College make a median of around $69,781 per year.
Southern Union State Community College came in at #10 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of Wadley, Southern Union State Community College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Southern Union State Community College earn a median of about $67,692 a year early in their careers.
Auburn University At Montgomery earned the #11 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Montgomery, Auburn University At Montgomery is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Auburn University At Montgomery earn a median of about $78,443 a year early in their careers.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham came in at #12 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a public institution. Nursing graduates of University Of Alabama At Birmingham earn a median of about $84,228 a year early in their careers.
University Of West Alabama placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the rural area of Livingston, University Of West Alabama is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $66,588.
Jefferson State Community College placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Jefferson State Community College is a public school located in the city of Birmingham. Early-career nursing graduates from Jefferson State Community College make a median of around $69,606 per year.
Jacksonville State University landed the #15 spot for nursing salaries this year. Jacksonville State University is a public school located in the suburb of Jacksonville. Early-career nursing graduates from Jacksonville State University make a median of around $76,445 per year.
Bevill State Community College came in at #16 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Bevill State Community College is a public school located in the town of Jasper. Early-career nursing graduates from Bevill State Community College make a median of around $68,845 per year.
George C Wallace State Community College Dothan landed the #17 spot for nursing salaries this year. Set in the city of Dothan, George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from George C Wallace State Community College Dothan typically earn about $73,006 annually.
Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus came in at #18 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus is a public school located in the city of Birmingham. Early-career nursing graduates from Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus make a median of around $64,547 per year.
Gadsden State Community College earned the #19 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Gadsden, Gadsden State Community College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Gadsden State Community College earn a median of about $68,352 a year early in their careers.
Troy University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the town of Troy, Troy University is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Troy University make a median of around $71,931 per year.
University Of South Alabama ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a public institution. Nursing graduates of University Of South Alabama earn a median of about $70,878 a year early in their careers.
Central Alabama Community College landed the #22 spot for nursing salaries this year. Set in the town of Alexander City, Central Alabama Community College is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Central Alabama Community College make a median of around $68,518 per year.
Auburn University earned the #23 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Auburn University is a public school located in the city of Auburn. Nursing graduates of Auburn University earn a median of about $71,237 a year early in their careers.
George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville came in at #24 for nursing graduate earnings this year. George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville is a public school located in the rural area of Hanceville. Early-career nursing graduates from George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville make a median of around $66,490 per year.
University Of North Alabama ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. University Of North Alabama is a public school located in the city of Florence. Nursing graduates of University Of North Alabama earn a median of about $78,078 a year early in their careers.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning nursing graduates:
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 · 33 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.