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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 5 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 Francis Marion University the top school for nursing graduate earnings in South Carolina. Francis Marion University is a public school located in the rural area of Florence. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $122,003.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of South Carolina Columbia earned it the #2 place for nursing. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public school located in the city of Columbia. Early-career nursing graduates from University Of South Carolina Columbia make a median of around $157,539 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in nursing will find them at Medical University Of South Carolina, which ranked #3. Medical University Of South Carolina is a public school located in the city of Charleston. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Medical University Of South Carolina typically earn about $184,992 annually.
Anderson University Sc produces some of the highest-paid graduates in nursing, landing the #4 spot this year. Anderson University Sc is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Anderson. Nursing graduates of Anderson University Sc earn a median of about $107,986 a year early in their careers.
Clemson University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in nursing, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Clemson University make a median of around $106,513 per year.
This ranking is produced 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 · 5 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.