Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Adams State University

Adams State's nursing program shows unusual earnings volatility that should raise questions, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers may not tell the full story. Graduates start at $70,926—below both the Colorado median ($74,906) and national average ($74,888)—then see earnings drop 7% to $65,617 by year four. This backward trajectory is uncommon in nursing, where experience typically brings higher pay.

The $31,000 median debt sits right at Colorado's program average, yielding a manageable 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio initially. However, that ratio becomes less favorable as earnings decline rather than grow. Among Colorado's 18 nursing programs, Adams State ranks in the 40th percentile—solidly mid-pack but trailing competitors like Metro State ($77,333) and Regis ($76,736) by significant margins.

The challenge here is distinguishing between a small-sample anomaly and a genuine concern about career outcomes. If these numbers represent a real pattern, graduates might be taking lower-paying positions after gaining experience, or leaving the field altogether. For families considering this remote mountain campus, visit to understand post-graduation support and ask directly about where recent graduates are working. At these price and outcome levels, stronger-performing programs within Colorado exist without significantly more debt.