Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Andrews University

Andrews University's nursing program graduates earn about $5,300 less than the typical Michigan nursing graduate—landing in the 40th percentile statewide and just the 22nd percentile nationally. For context, this puts graduates roughly $13,600 behind top Michigan programs like Chamberlain or U-M Flint in first-year earnings. The $31,500 debt load translates to a 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio, which remains manageable for nursing, though it's slightly higher than both state and national norms.

That said, the small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means a few outlier careers could be dragging down or propping up the numbers. Starting at nearly $70,000 isn't disastrous for nursing—it clears the basic financial hurdles—but it's worth questioning why Andrews grads lag behind the state median when Michigan's nursing job market generally pays well. Geographic factors may play a role if graduates aren't landing positions in Detroit or Grand Rapids, where healthcare systems tend to pay more.

For families weighing this choice, the program won't bury your child in debt, but you're likely paying for Andrews' private, faith-based environment rather than a premium earning outcome. If maximizing first-year salary matters most, the state data suggests better-performing alternatives exist within Michigan. If campus culture and smaller class sizes outweigh that $5,000-$10,000 gap, Andrews could still work—just recognize the financial tradeoff upfront.