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

Carlow's nursing program graduates start at $70,269, which lags both the Pennsylvania median ($78,428) and national benchmark by roughly $4,000-$8,000—placing it in just the 40th percentile statewide. More concerning: earnings actually decline to $66,260 by year four, an unusual pattern in nursing where experience typically increases value. For context, Pennsylvania's top nursing programs see graduates earning $85,000-$87,000, suggesting Carlow grads may face limited access to higher-paying hospital systems or specialty roles.

The debt picture offers modest relief. At $28,500, borrowing aligns closely with state and national medians, producing a manageable 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio. With 41% of students receiving Pell grants, Carlow clearly serves working-class families who need credentials that translate to stable paychecks. The robust sample size confirms these aren't statistical flukes—this is the typical Carlow nursing graduate's trajectory.

The bottom line: This program gets you licensed and employed as a nurse, but doesn't position you competitively within Pennsylvania's nursing market. If your child has admission offers from schools like Drexel or Thomas Jefferson, those $15,000-$20,000 higher starting salaries compound significantly over a career. Carlow makes sense primarily if finances demand staying local in Pittsburgh or if other programs aren't accessible—it's a functional path to nursing, not an optimal one.