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

Similar nursing programs across Indiana suggest earnings around $66,000 in the first year after graduation, which would put Bethel's program squarely in the middle of the state's competitive ADN landscape. The estimated debt of $26,624—derived from national peer programs—creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41, meaning roughly 5-6 months of gross income to cover borrowing. That's more manageable than Indiana's state median debt of $34,290 for nursing programs, though it's still higher than the national median of about $21,000.

What matters here is the trajectory: earnings appear to plateau quickly, with four-year outcomes barely budging from first-year numbers. That's common in nursing, where RNs reach market wages fast, but it means the financial equation you're evaluating today is likely what it'll look like for years. The 99% admission rate and modest test scores suggest this isn't a selective program, but nursing is one field where program prestige matters less than licensure passage rates and clinical training quality—metrics you'll need to investigate directly with the school.

With actual outcomes data suppressed due to small cohort sizes, ask Bethel for their NCLEX pass rates and how many recent graduates successfully found RN positions within six months. Those concrete numbers matter more than these estimates when you're writing a check.