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.
College Factual analyzed 41 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying nursing schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send nursing graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Kentucky State University the top school for nursing graduate earnings in Kentucky. Located in the town of Frankfort, Kentucky State University is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Kentucky State University typically earn about $86,642 annually.
A rank of #2 makes Pikeville College one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. Pikeville College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Pikeville. Nursing graduates of Pikeville College earn a median of about $77,986 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at National College Lexington earned it the #3 place for nursing. National College Lexington is a private for-profit school located in the town of Pikeville. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,979.
A rank of #4 makes Sullivan University one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. Sullivan University is a private for-profit school located in the city of Louisville. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Sullivan University typically earn about $80,453 annually.
A rank of #5 makes Galen College Of Nursing Louisville one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the city of Louisville, Galen College Of Nursing Louisville is a private for-profit institution. Nursing graduates of Galen College Of Nursing Louisville earn a median of about $87,077 a year early in their careers.
Galen College Of Nursing Arh came in at #6 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Hazard, Galen College Of Nursing Arh is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $78,480.
University Of The Cumberlands earned the #7 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Williamsburg, University Of The Cumberlands is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from University Of The Cumberlands typically earn about $84,511 annually.
Gateway Community And Technical College landed the #8 spot for nursing salaries this year. Gateway Community And Technical College is a public school located in the suburb of Florence. Nursing graduates of Gateway Community And Technical College earn a median of about $74,820 a year early in their careers.
Kentucky Christian University landed the #9 spot for nursing salaries this year. Set in the town of Grayson, Kentucky Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Kentucky Christian University typically earn about $79,646 annually.
Thomas More College earned the #10 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Crestview Hills, Thomas More College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Thomas More College make a median of around $83,087 per year.
Frontier Nursing University came in at #11 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Frontier Nursing University is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Versailles. Nursing graduates of Frontier Nursing University earn a median of about $118,469 a year early in their careers.
Beckfield College Florence came in at #12 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Florence, Beckfield College Florence is a private for-profit institution. Nursing graduates of Beckfield College Florence earn a median of about $67,487 a year early in their careers.
Morehead State University placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Morehead State University is a public school located in the town of Morehead. Nursing graduates of Morehead State University earn a median of about $70,085 a year early in their careers.
Eastern Kentucky University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Eastern Kentucky University is a public school located in the town of Richmond. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $88,919.
Big Sandy Community And Technical College earned the #15 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a public school located in the town of Prestonsburg. Early-career nursing graduates from Big Sandy Community And Technical College make a median of around $68,496 per year.
University Of Kentucky placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. University Of Kentucky is a public school located in the city of Lexington. Early-career nursing graduates from University Of Kentucky make a median of around $78,321 per year.
Union College Kentucky ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the town of Barbourville, Union College Kentucky is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Union College Kentucky typically earn about $72,614 annually.
Bellarmine University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Bellarmine University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Louisville. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Bellarmine University typically earn about $79,825 annually.
Ashland Community And Technical College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Ashland Community And Technical College is a public school located in the city of Ashland. Nursing graduates of Ashland Community And Technical College earn a median of about $67,041 a year early in their careers.
Jefferson Community And Technical College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Jefferson Community And Technical College is a public school located in the city of Louisville. Nursing graduates of Jefferson Community And Technical College earn a median of about $68,555 a year early in their careers.
Northern Kentucky University placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $96,710.
Western Kentucky University landed the #22 spot for nursing salaries this year. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median of about $73,266 a year early in their careers.
Maysville Community And Technical College placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Maysville Community And Technical College is a public school located in the rural area of Maysville. Nursing graduates of Maysville Community And Technical College earn a median of about $67,466 a year early in their careers.
Somerset Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the town of Somerset, Somerset Community College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Somerset Community College earn a median of about $69,162 a year early in their careers.
Murray State University came in at #25 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Murray State University is a public school located in the town of Murray. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,353.
These schools also send nursing graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
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 · 41 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.