Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Baptist Health System School of Health Professions

Baptist Health System's nursing program operates in a challenging middle ground within Texas. While graduates earn nearly $70,000 in their first year—above the national median—they lag behind the typical Texas nursing graduate by about $1,500. More concerning, they fall well below the state's top performers: El Paso Community College and Texas State Technical College place their associate degree nurses in the high $70,000s, while Baptist Health hovers around $70,000. Given Texas's large and varied nursing education market, landing in the 40th percentile suggests room for improvement in clinical partnerships or placement opportunities.

The debt load tells a more complicated story. At $24,812, graduates carry about $5,000 more than the typical Texas nursing student, though the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35 remains manageable—you'd expect to dedicate roughly a third of your first year's salary to debt, which is reasonable for healthcare credentials. The program serves a predominantly working-class population (52% receive Pell grants), which may explain both the higher borrowing and the steady if unspectacular salary progression.

For families prioritizing cost over maximizing earnings potential, this program delivers nursing licensure without crushing debt. However, if your child has options among Texas community colleges, programs like El Paso or Texas State Technical offer similar associate degrees with $8,000-10,000 higher starting salaries—a significant advantage that compounds over a career.