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 46 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.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Missouri earned the #1 spot for highest-paid nursing graduates in Missouri. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Missouri is a private for-profit institution. Early-career nursing graduates from Chamberlain College Of Nursing Missouri make a median of around $92,768 per year.
Research College Of Nursing came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Set in the city of Kansas City, Research College Of Nursing is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $87,096.
University Of Missouri Kansas City produces some of the highest-paid graduates in nursing, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a public school located in the city of Kansas City. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $96,822.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Nursing graduates of Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn a median of about $110,785 a year early in their careers.
Saint Louis Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Saint Louis Community College earn a median of about $71,595 a year early in their careers.
St Charles Community College earned the #6 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Cottleville, St Charles Community College is a public institution. Early-career nursing graduates from St Charles Community College make a median of around $71,018 per year.
Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences earned the #7 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Fayette, Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $79,090.
Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies came in at #8 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Fayette, Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies is a private not-for-profit institution. Nursing graduates of Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies earn a median of about $79,090 a year early in their careers.
Metropolitan Community College Kansas City ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a public school located in the city of Kansas City. Nursing graduates of Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earn a median of about $77,599 a year early in their careers.
Jefferson College earned the #10 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Jefferson College is a public school located in the rural area of Hillsboro. Nursing graduates of Jefferson College earn a median of about $71,664 a year early in their careers.
Saint Louis University Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $91,541.
University Of Central Missouri came in at #12 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a public institution. Nursing graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of about $93,394 a year early in their careers.
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $83,715.
North Central Missouri College earned the #14 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Trenton, North Central Missouri College is a public institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,614.
Southeast Missouri Hospital College Of Nursing And Health Sciences came in at #15 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri Hospital College Of Nursing And Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,830.
Columbia College Missouri landed the #16 spot for nursing salaries this year. Set in the city of Columbia, Columbia College Missouri is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Columbia College Missouri typically earn about $71,225 annually.
Rockhurst University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the city of Kansas City, Rockhurst University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Rockhurst University typically earn about $83,243 annually.
Missouri Western State University earned the #18 position for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Saint Joseph, Missouri Western State University is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Missouri Western State University earn a median of about $72,447 a year early in their careers.
Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff came in at #19 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Poplar Bluff, Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff earn a median of about $65,332 a year early in their careers.
Southeast Missouri State University landed the #20 spot for nursing salaries this year. Southeast Missouri State University is a public school located in the city of Cape Girardeau. Early-career nursing graduates from Southeast Missouri State University make a median of around $76,051 per year.
Moberly Area Community College came in at #21 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Moberly, Moberly Area Community College is a public institution. After graduating, nursing degree recipients from Moberly Area Community College typically earn about $63,437 annually.
Hannibal Lagrange College placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Located in the town of Hannibal, Hannibal Lagrange College is a private not-for-profit institution. Nursing graduates of Hannibal Lagrange College earn a median of about $68,143 a year early in their careers.
Lincoln University Missouri ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying nursing schools. Located in the city of Jefferson City, Lincoln University Missouri is a public institution. Nursing graduates of Lincoln University Missouri earn a median of about $76,451 a year early in their careers.
Avila University came in at #24 for nursing graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, Avila University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,938.
Barnes Jewish College Goldfarb School Of Nursing placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for nursing. Barnes Jewish College Goldfarb School Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. Students who complete the nursing program here go on to a median salary of roughly $77,233.
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 · 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.