Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Bismarck State College

Graduates of Bismarck State's nursing program face an unusual earnings trajectory: they start at $66,335—slightly below both the state and national medians—but see their income drop 14% to $57,299 by year four. This decline is puzzling for nursing, a field typically known for steady career progression. Whether this reflects graduates moving to part-time work, relocating to lower-cost areas, or other career decisions, the pattern makes long-term financial planning uncertain. Among North Dakota's six nursing programs, Bismarck State ranks in the middle of the pack, trailing schools like Dakota College at Bottineau by about $5,000 in starting salary.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $25,382, it's actually below the state median and translates to a manageable 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio at graduation. That's better than many nursing programs nationally. However, the declining earnings curve erodes this advantage—by year four, your child would be earning less while still paying off those loans, tightening the budget considerably.

For families considering this program, the key question is why earnings drop rather than grow. If your child plans to stay in North Dakota and values Bismarck State's lower debt load, this could work—but they should understand they may need to be strategic about their first nursing job to avoid the income decline pattern that graduates here experience.