by our College Data Analytics Team
[Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 47 schools on the early-career earnings of their nursing graduates.
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 Minnesota. 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 $185,599 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Capella University earned it the #2 place for nursing. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a private for-profit institution. Nursing graduates of Capella University earn a median of about $99,484 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in nursing will find them at Minnesota State College Southeast Technical, which ranked #3. Minnesota State College Southeast Technical is a public school located in the town of Winona. Nursing graduates of Minnesota State College Southeast Technical earn a median of about $75,887 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #4 makes Minnesota West Community And Technical College one of the highest-paying schools for nursing. Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a public school located in the rural area of Granite Falls. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Minnesota West Community And Technical College typically earn about $73,703 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Mayo Medical School earned it the #5 place for nursing. Mayo Medical School is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Mayo Medical School typically earn about $152,551 annually.
Rochester Community And Technical College landed the #6 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the city of Rochester, Rochester Community And Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $78,692.
Normandale Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Normandale Community College is a public school located in the city of Bloomington. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Normandale Community College typically earn about $84,586 annually.
Augsburg College placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Augsburg College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Augsburg College typically earn about $86,479 annually.
Minnesota State University Moorhead earned the #9 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Minnesota State University Moorhead typically earn about $88,205 annually.
North Hennepin Community College came in at #10 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $79,612.
The College Of Saint Scholastica came in at #11 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Duluth, The College Of Saint Scholastica is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $84,270.
Walden University came in at #12 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $116,222.
Bemidji State University landed the #13 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Bemidji State University make a median of around $79,411 per year.
Northwest Technical College came in at #14 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Bemidji, Northwest Technical College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Northwest Technical College earn a median of about $70,308 a year early in their careers.
St Olaf College landed the #15 spot for nursing salaries this year. Set in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from St Olaf College make a median of around $81,743 per year.
Minnesota State University Mankato earned the #16 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Minnesota State University Mankato make a median of around $82,073 per year.
Herzing University Minneapolis placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the city of St. Louis Park, Herzing University Minneapolis is a private not-for-profit institution. Nursing graduates of Herzing University Minneapolis earn a median of about $81,525 a year early in their careers.
Rasmussen College Minnesota placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $81,650.
Inver Hills Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the suburb of Inver Grove Heights, Inver Hills Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $77,496.
Saint Cloud State University landed the #20 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Saint Cloud State University earn a median of about $82,809 a year early in their careers.
Anoka Ramsey Community College came in at #21 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Anoka Ramsey Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Coon Rapids. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Anoka Ramsey Community College typically earn about $77,579 annually.
Bethel University Minnesota earned the #22 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Bethel University Minnesota make a median of around $89,477 per year.
Southwest Minnesota State University landed the #23 spot for nursing salaries this year. Located in the town of Marshall, Southwest Minnesota State University is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Southwest Minnesota State University make a median of around $84,871 per year.
Winona State University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Set in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Winona State University make a median of around $80,425 per year.
Metropolitan State University landed the #25 spot for nursing salaries this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Metropolitan State University make a median of around $92,966 per year.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning nursing graduates:
The ranking above is published 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 · 47 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.