Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Boston College

Boston College's nursing program delivers one of the lowest debt burdens you'll find anywhere—just $13,250 versus a national average of $27,000—but the earnings picture is more complicated. While graduates earn above the national median ($78,934 versus $74,888), they actually trail the Massachusetts median of $79,780, landing at the 40th percentile among state nursing programs. That means more than half of Massachusetts nursing schools produce higher-earning graduates, including several less selective institutions like Framingham State ($95,426) and Laboure College ($86,071).

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.17 is exceptional, meaning graduates owe less than two months of their first-year salary. This gives Boston College nursing grads financial flexibility right out of school. However, with modest 6% earnings growth over four years and mid-pack positioning in a competitive Massachusetts nursing market, families should understand they're paying for Boston College's prestigious name and campus experience rather than premium nursing career outcomes.

The bottom line: If your child is drawn to BC's Jesuit education and campus culture, the nursing program won't burden them with debt. But if maximizing nursing income is the priority, several Massachusetts state schools offer better returns without BC's selective admissions hurdles or higher overall cost of attendance.