by our College Data Analytics Team
[Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 83 schools on the early-career earnings of their nursing graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose nursing graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Chamberlain University North Carolina, our #1 for nursing graduate salaries in North Carolina. Set in the city of Charlotte, Chamberlain University North Carolina is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Chamberlain University North Carolina typically earn about $92,768 annually.
Mount Olive College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Set in the rural area of Mount Olive, Mount Olive College is a private not-for-profit institution. Nursing graduates of Mount Olive College earn a median of about $89,517 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Vance Granville Community College one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the town of Henderson, Vance Granville Community College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Vance Granville Community College earn a median of about $81,139 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #4 makes Stanly Community College one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. Stanly Community College is a public school located in the town of Albemarle. Early-career nursing graduates from Stanly Community College make a median of around $75,526 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Cape Fear Community College earned it the #5 place for nursing. Set in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Cape Fear Community College earn a median of about $74,945 a year early in their careers.
South University High Point earned the #6 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. South University High Point is a private for-profit school located in the city of High Point. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from South University High Point typically earn about $90,784 annually.
Bladen Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the rural area of Dublin, Bladen Community College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Bladen Community College typically earn about $83,290 annually.
Cleveland Community College landed the #8 spot for nursing salaries this year. Cleveland Community College is a public school located in the town of Shelby. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,720.
Robeson Community College placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the town of Lumberton, Robeson Community College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Robeson Community College typically earn about $67,249 annually.
Fayetteville Technical Community College earned the #10 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Nursing graduates of Fayetteville Technical Community College earn a median of about $73,268 a year early in their careers.
Richmond Community College earned the #11 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Hamlet, Richmond Community College is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Richmond Community College make a median of around $76,774 per year.
Carolinas College Of Health Sciences placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Carolinas College Of Health Sciences is a public school located in the city of Charlotte. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,786.
Duke University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Duke University make a median of around $82,377 per year.
Winston Salem State University landed the #14 spot for nursing salaries this year. Winston Salem State University is a public school located in the city of Winston-Salem. Early-career nursing graduates from Winston Salem State University make a median of around $89,276 per year.
Fayetteville State University placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville State University is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Fayetteville State University make a median of around $87,767 per year.
Central Piedmont Community College came in at #16 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of about $69,816 a year early in their careers.
Wilson Community College earned the #17 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Wilson, Wilson Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,639.
Brunswick Community College came in at #18 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Brunswick Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Bolivia. Nursing graduates of Brunswick Community College earn a median of about $71,307 a year early in their careers.
Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences came in at #19 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Concord, Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences make a median of around $72,456 per year.
Johnston Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Johnston Community College is a public school located in the town of Smithfield. Early-career nursing graduates from Johnston Community College make a median of around $65,719 per year.
North Carolina Central University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. North Carolina Central University is a public school located in the city of Durham. Nursing graduates of North Carolina Central University earn a median of about $79,100 a year early in their careers.
Western Piedmont Community College earned the #22 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Western Piedmont Community College is a public school located in the city of Morganton. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Western Piedmont Community College typically earn about $75,958 annually.
South Piedmont Community College came in at #23 for nursing graduate earnings this year. South Piedmont Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Polkton. Early-career nursing graduates from South Piedmont Community College make a median of around $70,497 per year.
Forsyth Technical Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Forsyth Technical Community College make a median of around $73,441 per year.
Sampson Community College came in at #25 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Sampson Community College is a public school located in the town of Clinton. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $71,874.
These schools also send nursing graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
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 · 83 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.