Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa

Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa's nursing program stands out for one key reason: exceptionally low debt burden. At $33,892, graduates carry significantly more debt than the Wisconsin median of $19,000, but this still places the program in the 5th percentile nationally for debt—meaning 95% of similar programs nationwide saddle students with more debt.

The earnings picture is solid but unremarkable. First-year graduates earn $68,983, which beats Wisconsin's median by nearly $4,000 and ranks in the 60th percentile statewide. However, earnings actually decline to $64,976 by year four, a 6% drop that's concerning for long-term financial planning. While the program performs at the national median for earnings, Wisconsin nursing programs generally pay less than the national average, so this relative success locally doesn't translate to exceptional national performance.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49 is manageable—graduates earn roughly twice their debt load in their first year. For families seeking a nursing degree with reasonable debt exposure, this program delivers. Just be aware that unlike many careers, peak earning potential appears to come immediately after graduation rather than building over time.