Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Carson-Newman University

Carson-Newman's nursing program sits in the bottom quarter nationally, with first-year earnings of $56,509 falling nearly $18,000 below the national median and $10,500 below Tennessee's typical nursing graduate. Among Tennessee's 32 nursing programs, this ranks at just the 25th percentile—meaning three-quarters of in-state alternatives deliver stronger starting salaries. For context, University of Memphis nursing graduates earn $17,000 more annually, and even after four years, Carson-Newman graduates barely reach what many Tennessee nursing programs deliver in year one.

The $25,000 debt load looks reasonable in isolation, and the 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates can manage payments. However, this moderate debt becomes less manageable when paired with below-market earnings. Nursing traditionally offers reliable income, but Carson-Newman graduates appear to be entering lower-paying positions or markets compared to peers from other Tennessee programs.

For families paying private university tuition, this creates a significant value gap. Tennessee has strong public nursing options that cost less and deliver substantially higher earnings. Unless Carson-Newman offers compelling non-financial advantages—like location flexibility or a specific clinical network your child needs—you're likely better served exploring the public universities or specialty health institutes that dominate Tennessee's top-performing nursing programs.