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

Augustana nursing graduates enter the workforce earning more than the typical South Dakota nurse but less than the national average, landing at the 60th percentile statewide. The $72,237 starting salary slightly edges out competitors like USD and SDSU, but falls about $2,600 below the national median for nursing programs. What's more puzzling: earnings actually decline to $69,254 by year four, suggesting graduates may move into lower-paying roles or work reduced hours as their careers progress.

The $27,000 median debt creates a manageable 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio—you're looking at roughly one semester's pre-tax income to cover the full loan balance. That's reasonable for a nursing degree and matches both national and state debt norms. With robust data from 100+ graduates, these patterns are reliable, not statistical noise.

The real question is what happens after that first year. While starting salaries suggest solid preparation, the earnings trajectory reverses what you'd normally expect from career advancement. For families prioritizing immediate employability at acceptable debt levels, Augustana delivers that. But if you're banking on steady income growth through the mid-career years, the four-year numbers don't support that expectation. Consider whether your child plans to stay in South Dakota long-term—the geographic market appears to compress nursing salaries compared to national averages.