Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Central Methodist's nursing program delivers solid first-year earnings of $73,569, which beats the Missouri median by over $4,600 and ranks in the 60th percentile statewide—a meaningful advantage for students planning to work in-state. The $27,000 median debt load is reasonable, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 that allows graduates to pay down loans without financial strain. That said, the program sits just below the national median for nursing programs, so students with options at higher-ranked Missouri schools like Chamberlain ($83,188) or Research College of Nursing ($75,705) might find better earning potential elsewhere.

The concerning element here is the earnings trajectory: graduates see a 6% decline from year one to year four, dropping to $69,048. This could reflect normal career plateaus, regional wage constraints in Missouri's smaller healthcare markets, or graduates moving into lower-paying specialties. With a robust sample size giving confidence in these numbers, the pattern deserves attention. However, even with that decline, graduates still earn more than the typical Missouri nursing program graduate four years out.

For families weighing cost against outcomes, this program offers above-average performance within Missouri at a moderate debt level, making it a reasonable choice—especially for students committed to staying in-state. Just understand that the strongest earnings happen right after graduation, not several years down the road.