Data & Insights — Which colleges pay off? November 7, 2026
For nursing, San Jose State pays most San Jose State University registered nursing graduates earn $156k four years out, 73% more than the field's US median of $90k
$140k $145k $150k $155k The axis starts at $137k, not zero: the figures are close and the dots show the differences Median debt at graduation, US$ San Jose State University: $156k San Jose State University $156k not published California State University-East Bay: $151k California State University-East Bay $151k $15k San Francisco State University: $150k San Francisco State University $150k $15k Dominican University of California: $150k Dominican University of California $150k $27k Samuel Merritt University: $148k Samuel Merritt University $148k $20k Sonoma State University: $144k Sonoma State University $144k $13k University of San Francisco: $143k University of San Francisco $143k $25k Pacific Union College: $141k Pacific Union College $141k $30k
Source · College Scorecard, US Department of EducationAbout these figures College Scorecard, US Department of Education (retrieved 2026-09-22). Sample: 1,474 graduates followed across these 8 colleges, of 147,473 graduates of the field the Scorecard follows.
San Jose State University: $156k
California State University-East Bay: $151k
San Francisco State University: $150k
Pacific Union College, last of 8: $141k
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Redrawn with every update, first drawn October 15, 2026.
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