Best Nursing Programs at Christian Colleges of 2026

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota tops this list because its registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing program has the highest median earnings one year after graduation among the programs that match this list. It reports $249,362 for graduates of that program, with 87 graduates reporting earnings. Median debt for the program is n/a.

The figures are program-level, not school-level. That matters here: a school's overall earnings can hide a strong program or lift a weak one. This list compares the program itself, then shows the school's net price and completion rate beside it so you can see the whole picture.

The list is built from the College Scorecard field-of-study file. It reports median earnings one year after graduation for graduates of a named program, plus median debt for that program. One program per school is shown: the school's highest-earning program that matches this list.

Net price and completion describe the whole school, not the program. A low net price is a school-level figure. A high completion rate is a school-level figure. Use them as context, not as a program guarantee.

One published figure orders the list: median earnings one year after graduation for the matching program. There is no composite score and no editorial adjustment. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates reporting earnings are left out because a median from a small group swings too much to compare.

For this nursing list, the matching programs are limited to nursing programs at Christian colleges. A school can have more than one matching program. The highest-earning one is the one shown. No school can pay to be included or to move up.

These are the highest-ranked programs, ordered by median earnings one year after graduation.

1. 01

   Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

   Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Master's Degree

   $249,362 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 64% completion and $20,422 average net price.

   Program earnings

   $249,362

   Program debt

   n/a

   School completion

   64%

   Graduates reporting

   87

2. 02

   Lourdes University

   Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Master's Degree

   $248,960 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 39% completion and $21,245 average net price.

   Program earnings

   $248,960

   Program debt

   n/a

   School completion

   39%

   Graduates reporting

   21

3. 03

   Gannon University

   Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Master's Degree

   $237,113 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 71% completion and $24,443 average net price.

   Program earnings

   $237,113

   Program debt

   n/a

   School completion

   71%

   Graduates reporting

   44

4. 04

   Texas Wesleyan University

   Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Master's Degree

   $216,030 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 38% completion and $16,168 average net price.

   Program earnings

   $216,030

   Program debt

   n/a

   School completion

   38%

   Graduates reporting

   139

5. 05

   University of Scranton

   Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Master's Degree

   $200,941 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 82% completion and $32,132 average net price.

   Program earnings

   $200,941

   Program debt

   n/a

   School completion

   82%

   Graduates reporting

   39

6. 06

   Newman University

   Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Master's Degree

   $188,757 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 53% completion and $17,430 average net price.

   Program earnings

   $188,757

   Program debt

   n/a

   School completion

   53%

   Graduates reporting

   34

7. 07

   La Salle University

   Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Master's Degree

   $168,225 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 60% completion and $19,758 average net price.

   Program earnings

   $168,225

   Program debt

   n/a

   School completion

   60%

   Graduates reporting

   76

8. 08

   University of San Francisco

   Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Master's Degree

   $143,003 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 66% completion and $30,496 average net price.

   Program earnings

   $143,003

   Program debt

   n/a

   School completion

   66%

   Graduates reporting

   269

Median program debt is $27,000 for the programs on this list. That is debt for graduates of the named program, not the whole school. A low debt figure can mean lower tuition, more grant aid, or a shorter program. Ask the school which one drives the number.

The median program on this list reports $84,253 one year after graduation. The top program reports $249,362. Earnings one year out are an early signal, not a lifetime total. They vary by field, by role, and by how many graduates go on to further study.

Read the program earnings next to the program debt and the school's completion rate. A high earnings number with very high debt is a different story from a moderate earnings number with low debt. The right comparison is the one that matches the career you actually want.

Nursing programs at Christian colleges prepare students for the NCLEX and for clinical work. The strongest programs have accredited curricula, reliable clinical placements, and a clear path from the degree level you are starting to the license or role you want.

1. 01Is the nursing program accredited by CCNE or ACEN?
2. 02How are clinical hours arranged, and can they be completed near you?
3. 03What is the program's first-time NCLEX pass rate?

Nursing programs can hold CCNE or ACEN accreditation. State boards of nursing also approve programs. Ask which agency covers the degree you want, and check the state board's pass-rate data.

Institutional accreditation is the baseline. It is a review by an agency the U.S. Department of Education recognizes, and it is what makes a school eligible for federal student aid. The schools on this list are in the College Scorecard, which covers institutions that participate in that aid system. Ask the school which agency accredits the program you want, and check the agency at CHEA or the College Scorecard.

Once a program is accredited, these are the questions worth answering before you apply.

1. 01Does the program lead to the credential, license, or next degree you actually want?
2. 02What are the clinical, practicum, residency, or portfolio requirements, and can you complete them near you?
3. 03What will you pay after grants, and how much debt do graduates of this program carry?
4. 04What do graduates of this program earn, and how many graduates are behind that figure?
5. 05Can you transfer credit, and how long will the program take?

This page ranks nursing programs by one published figure. The rest of the hub uses the same rule and the same federal data.

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