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.
College Factual analyzed 46 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.
Leading the list is Saint Marys University Of Minnesota, our #1 for nursing graduate salaries in the The Plains States Region. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winona. Early-career nursing graduates from Saint Marys University Of Minnesota make a median of around $221,819 per year.
Missouri State University Springfield produces some of the highest-paid graduates in nursing, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield typically earn about $219,023 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Newman University earned it the #3 place for nursing. Set in the city of Wichita, Newman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $187,985.
Mount Marty College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Mount Marty College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Yankton. Early-career nursing graduates from Mount Marty College make a median of around $210,720 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of North Dakota earned it the #5 place for nursing. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from University Of North Dakota typically earn about $135,750 annually.
Bryan College Of Health Sciences came in at #6 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, Bryan College Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. Nursing graduates of Bryan College Of Health Sciences earn a median of about $229,080 a year early in their careers.
University Of Kansas earned the #7 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from University Of Kansas typically earn about $174,248 annually.
Barnes Jewish College Goldfarb School Of Nursing ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Barnes Jewish College Goldfarb School Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $129,690.
Winona State University earned the #9 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Winona State University typically earn about $125,129 annually.
Washburn University placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the city of Topeka, Washburn University is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Washburn University make a median of around $126,830 per year.
Clarkson College landed the #11 spot for nursing salaries this year. Clarkson College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Omaha. Nursing graduates of Clarkson College earn a median of about $133,049 a year early in their careers.
University Of Missouri Kansas City came in at #12 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a public institution. Nursing graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of about $115,278 a year early in their careers.
Mayo Medical School earned the #13 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Rochester, Mayo Medical School is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Mayo Medical School make a median of around $152,551 per year.
Graceland University Lamoni placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the rural area of Lamoni, Graceland University Lamoni is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Graceland University Lamoni make a median of around $127,957 per year.
Rockhurst University came in at #15 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Rockhurst University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. Nursing graduates of Rockhurst University earn a median of about $125,080 a year early in their careers.
Research College Of Nursing earned the #16 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, Research College Of Nursing is a private for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Research College Of Nursing make a median of around $120,149 per year.
Walden University earned the #17 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Walden University typically earn about $118,229 annually.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $118,935.
Allen College landed the #19 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the city of Waterloo, Allen College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Allen College typically earn about $125,477 annually.
University Of Iowa placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from University Of Iowa make a median of around $135,774 per year.
Creighton University earned the #21 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Omaha, Creighton University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $133,861.
Capella University placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Capella University typically earn about $117,715 annually.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #23 for nursing graduate earnings this year. University Of Missouri Columbia is a public school located in the city of Columbia. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $111,681.
Augsburg College came in at #24 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Augsburg College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Augsburg College typically earn about $109,022 annually.
University Of Nebraska Medical Center placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. University Of Nebraska Medical Center is a public school located in the city of Omaha. Nursing graduates of University Of Nebraska Medical Center earn a median of about $119,699 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid nursing ranking:
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 · 46 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.
