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

Bethel's nursing program sits in an interesting sweet spot: it performs solidly within Tennessee while carrying manageable debt. At $71,315 in first-year earnings, graduates earn more than the state median ($67,094) and rank in the 60th percentile among Tennessee nursing programs—meaning they're outearning most in-state peers. The $25,000 debt load, combined with that starting salary, creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35, which translates to roughly four months of gross income to cover total student debt.

The national comparison shows more modest results—31st percentile—but that context matters less for nursing, where regional healthcare markets and licensure drive most employment decisions. Within Tennessee's healthcare landscape, Bethel's outcomes trail larger programs like Strayer and Galen but compete closely with established state universities like UT-Martin. The program serves a meaningful population (31% Pell recipients) while maintaining financial accessibility through its relatively low debt burden compared to national nursing programs (75th percentile for debt means lower than many peers).

For a Tennessee family looking at nursing programs, this represents a viable path: competitive in-state earnings with debt that won't dominate early career finances. The 97% admission rate means access isn't a barrier, making this a realistic option for students who might not gain admission to more selective programs but still want solid nursing employment prospects.