Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Brigham Young University

BYU's nursing program presents an unusual pattern that deserves scrutiny: graduates earn $62,164 in their first year—below both the national median ($75k) and the state median ($66k)—but then see earnings drop 24% to $47,274 by year four. This inverted trajectory is the opposite of what nursing careers typically deliver. While the program ranks at the 40th percentile among Utah nursing programs (middle of the pack), it sits in just the 5th percentile nationally. Compare that to other Utah options: Western Governors University and Arizona College of Nursing graduates earn over $85,000, while even Utah Tech delivers nearly $70,000.

The silver lining here is debt: at $7,830, BYU keeps borrowing remarkably low (95th percentile nationally), likely due to LDS Church subsidies. That 0.13 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates could theoretically pay off loans in under two months. However, low debt doesn't compensate for a career trajectory that moves backward. Something systematic appears to be happening after graduation—perhaps many graduates shift to part-time work, leave clinical nursing, or face regional wage constraints.

For families prioritizing minimal debt, BYU accomplishes that goal. But if your child intends to work full-time in nursing, the earnings data suggests significant headwinds ahead. Other Utah programs deliver better outcomes without dramatically higher debt loads.