Compare 741 Nursing Science. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $74,138. Top programs: $139,795+.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Nursing Science tells a different story. Across 742 programs, earnings range from $108,509 to $139,795—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
California State University-East Bay's Nursing Science program leads with graduates earning $139,795, well above the $74,131 average. Dominican University of California follows at $132,781, while San Francisco State delivers $132,542. These outcomes demonstrate that program-level factors drive success more than institutional prestige.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Cal State East Bay graduates borrow $16,544 and face just a 1.9% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. CUNY Lehman College offers even lower burden at 1.7%, proving top programs can also be easily affordable.
Highest program earnings: $139,795
Strong outcomes with 97% acceptance
1.7% payment burden | Excellent
3.6% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $139,795 | 190 | $16,544 | Excellent | $15,738 | Excellent | |
| #2 | $132,781 | 102 | $27,000 | Excellent | $54,119 | Good | |
| #3 | $132,542 | 114 | $15,371 | Excellent | $19,732 | Excellent | |
| #4 | $130,227 | 170 | $15,000 | Excellent | $20,820 | Excellent | |
| #5 | University Of San FranciscoPrivate | $127,245 | 260 | $23,000 | Excellent | $44,413 | Good |
| #6 | Sonoma State UniversityPublic | $124,083 | 67 | $16,705 | Excellent | $27,986 | Excellent |
| #7 | $123,869 | 253 | $15,000 | Excellent | $16,507 | Excellent | |
| #8 | $122,142 | 68 | $12,750 | Excellent | $16,836 | Excellent | |
| #9 | Fresno Pacific UniversityPrivate | $119,148 | 10 | $23,146 | Excellent | $10,725 | Excellent |
| #10 | $115,301 | 130 | $13,807 | Excellent | $11,061 | Excellent | |
| #11 | St. Francis CollegePrivate | $114,191 | 67 | $23,250 | Excellent | $26,794 | Good |
| #12 | Mercy UniversityPrivate | $113,576 | 343 | $19,637 | Excellent | $20,710 | Excellent |
| #13 | Pacific Union CollegePrivate | $112,642 | 39 | $27,500 | Excellent | $23,122 | Good |
| #14 | Cuny Lehman CollegePublic | $112,500 | 197 | $10,950 | Excellent | $11,955 | Excellent |
| #15 | $111,965 | 102 | $14,718 | Excellent | $18,349 | Excellent | |
| #16 | $111,925 | 135 | $13,540 | Excellent | $12,700 | Excellent | |
| #17 | $110,342 | 90 | $13,872 | Excellent | $13,522 | Excellent | |
| #18 | Wagner CollegePrivate | $109,601 | 130 | $25,000 | Excellent | $53,829 | Manageable |
| #19 | $109,153 | 17 | $10,988 | Excellent | $10,068 | Excellent | |
| #20 | Long Island UniversityPrivate | $108,509 | 428 | $23,577 | Excellent | $36,515 | Good |
| #21 | $108,170 | 117 | $16,552 | Excellent | $17,585 | Excellent | |
| #22 | $107,092 | 111 | $10,533 | Excellent | $9,563 | Excellent | |
| #23 | University Of ProvidencePrivate | $106,728 | 142 | $18,750 | Excellent | $10,000 | Excellent |
| #24 | $106,552 | 236 | $14,289 | Excellent | $15,177 | Excellent | |
| #25 | New York UniversityPrivate | $106,295 | 409 | $20,500 | Excellent | $64,795 | Manageable |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
