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 34 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying nursing schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose nursing graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Rasmussen College Kansas, our #1 for nursing graduate salaries in Kansas. Set in the city of Topeka, Rasmussen College Kansas is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $79,526.
A rank of #2 makes Ottawa University Kansas City one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the city of Overland Park, Ottawa University Kansas City is a private not-for-profit institution. Nursing graduates of Ottawa University Kansas City earn a median of about $76,207 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in nursing will find them at Ottawa University Online, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Overland Park, Ottawa University Online is a private not-for-profit institution. Nursing graduates of Ottawa University Online earn a median of about $76,207 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Newman University earned it the #4 place for nursing. Located in the city of Wichita, Newman University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Newman University make a median of around $113,536 per year.
Labette Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Set in the town of Parsons, Labette Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,527.
University Of Kansas ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from University Of Kansas make a median of around $107,410 per year.
Seward County Community College And Area Technical School placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the town of Liberal, Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Seward County Community College And Area Technical School make a median of around $69,255 per year.
Highland Community College Highland earned the #8 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Highland Community College Highland is a public school located in the rural area of Highland. Early-career nursing graduates from Highland Community College Highland make a median of around $68,661 per year.
Kansas Wesleyan University earned the #9 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Kansas Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Salina. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Kansas Wesleyan University typically earn about $74,557 annually.
Washburn University placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the city of Topeka, Washburn University is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Washburn University earn a median of about $74,200 a year early in their careers.
University Of Saint Mary came in at #11 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Leavenworth, University Of Saint Mary is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from University Of Saint Mary typically earn about $81,617 annually.
Fort Hays State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Set in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $88,428.
Fort Scott Community College came in at #13 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Fort Scott Community College is a public school located in the town of Fort Scott. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Fort Scott Community College typically earn about $85,451 annually.
Johnson County Community College placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Johnson County Community College typically earn about $70,557 annually.
Kansas City Kansas Community College earned the #15 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, Kansas City Kansas Community College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Kansas City Kansas Community College earn a median of about $70,948 a year early in their careers.
Baker University placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Baker University is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Baldwin City. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Baker University typically earn about $72,987 annually.
Midamerica Nazarene University placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the suburb of Olathe, Midamerica Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Midamerica Nazarene University make a median of around $84,300 per year.
Neosho County Community College placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Neosho County Community College is a public school located in the town of Chanute. Early-career nursing graduates from Neosho County Community College make a median of around $70,233 per year.
Garden City Community College earned the #19 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Garden City, Garden City Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $68,161.
Manhattan Area Technical College placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the city of Manhattan, Manhattan Area Technical College is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Manhattan Area Technical College make a median of around $71,499 per year.
Cloud County Community College placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the rural area of Concordia, Cloud County Community College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Cloud County Community College typically earn about $68,252 annually.
Pittsburg State University came in at #22 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Pittsburg State University earn a median of about $75,413 a year early in their careers.
Dodge City Community College came in at #23 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Dodge City Community College is a public school located in the town of Dodge City. Nursing graduates of Dodge City Community College earn a median of about $63,427 a year early in their careers.
Butler Community College landed the #24 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the town of El Dorado, Butler Community College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Butler Community College typically earn about $63,700 annually.
Hesston College placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Hesston College is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hesston. Early-career nursing graduates from Hesston College make a median of around $68,338 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid nursing ranking:
This ranking is produced 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 · 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.