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

Among Kentucky's 23 nursing programs, Campbellsville sits near the middle for starting salaries but trails significantly behind national standards. First-year graduates earn $65,518—about $9,000 below the state median and roughly $10,000 below what nursing graduates typically make nationwide. More concerning, earnings actually dip slightly by year four rather than growing with experience, dropping to $64,318. For perspective, the top-performing Kentucky programs like Beckfield College-Florence and University of Pikeville place graduates earning $17,000-$18,000 more annually.

The $28,500 debt burden appears manageable at first glance—it's close to both state and national medians for nursing programs. But when you're earning $5,000-$10,000 less each year than peers from other Kentucky schools, that gap compounds significantly over a career. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 means roughly half a year's salary goes toward loans, which isn't terrible but doesn't provide much cushion given the below-average earning potential.

If your child is committed to Campbellsville for other reasons, they'll still become a registered nurse with reasonable debt. However, several Kentucky alternatives offer substantially better financial outcomes while likely requiring similar debt loads. Given nursing's standardized credentialing, where you graduate matters primarily for earning power—and here, Campbellsville underperforms both state and national peers.