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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 34 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 University Of Phoenix Arizona, our #1 for nursing graduate salaries in Arizona. Located in the city of Phoenix, University Of Phoenix Arizona is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from University Of Phoenix Arizona typically earn about $109,867 annually.
A rank of #2 makes Grand Canyon University one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Grand Canyon University typically earn about $100,075 annually.
A rank of #3 makes Aspen University one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the city of Phoenix, Aspen University is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $94,023.
Carrington College Mesa produces some of the highest-paid graduates in nursing, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Mesa, Carrington College Mesa is a private for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Carrington College Mesa make a median of around $84,782 per year.
Carrington College Phoenix came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Set in the city of Phoenix, Carrington College Phoenix is a private for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Carrington College Phoenix make a median of around $84,782 per year.
Carrington College Tucson ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Carrington College Tucson is a private for-profit school located in the city of Tucson. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $84,782.
Estrella Mountain Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the suburb of Avondale, Estrella Mountain Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $80,098.
Glendale Community College Glendale Az placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $84,177.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Arizona placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the city of Phoenix, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Arizona is a private for-profit institution. Nursing graduates of Chamberlain College Of Nursing Arizona earn a median of about $92,768 a year early in their careers.
Gateway Community College Phoenix ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Set in the city of Phoenix, Gateway Community College Phoenix is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Gateway Community College Phoenix typically earn about $82,413 annually.
Arizona Western College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Set in the city of Yuma, Arizona Western College is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Arizona Western College make a median of around $77,244 per year.
Arizona College Of Allied Health ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Arizona College Of Allied Health is a private for-profit school located in the city of Tempe. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Arizona College Of Allied Health typically earn about $85,169 annually.
Arizona College Of Nursing Phoenix placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the city of Phoenix, Arizona College Of Nursing Phoenix is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Arizona College Of Nursing Phoenix typically earn about $85,169 annually.
Arizona College Of Nursing Tucson came in at #14 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Tucson, Arizona College Of Nursing Tucson is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $85,169.
Pima Medical Institute Mesa placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the city of Mesa, Pima Medical Institute Mesa is a private for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Pima Medical Institute Mesa make a median of around $80,597 per year.
Pima Medical Institute Tucson landed the #16 spot for nursing salaries this year. Pima Medical Institute Tucson is a private for-profit school located in the city of Tucson. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $80,597.
Mesa Community College landed the #17 spot for nursing salaries this year. Mesa Community College is a public school located in the city of Mesa. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $80,387.
Coconino Community College placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the rural area of Flagstaff, Coconino Community College is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Coconino Community College make a median of around $86,969 per year.
Pima Community College came in at #19 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Pima Community College is a public school located in the city of Tucson. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Pima Community College typically earn about $79,158 annually.
Yavapai College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Set in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Yavapai College typically earn about $76,489 annually.
Arizona State University earned the #21 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Arizona State University typically earn about $91,152 annually.
Arizona State University Skysong placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Arizona State University Skysong is a public school located in the city of Scottsdale. Early-career nursing graduates from Arizona State University Skysong make a median of around $91,152 per year.
Scottsdale Community College came in at #23 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Scottsdale Community College typically earn about $77,569 annually.
Phoenix College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Phoenix College typically earn about $78,522 annually.
Mohave Community College landed the #25 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the rural area of Kingman, Mohave Community College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Mohave Community College earn a median of about $76,679 a year early in their careers.
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 · 34 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.