Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Citadel Military College of South Carolina

The Citadel's nursing program graduates earn roughly $13,000 less than typical South Carolina nursing graduates—ranking in just the 25th percentile statewide. That's a significant gap in a state where nursing programs generally perform well, with five SC schools producing graduates earning $75,000 or more in their first year. At $60,791, Citadel nursing graduates trail not only state peers but also fall in the bottom 5% nationally, despite carrying slightly above-average debt at $29,500.

The military college structure may explain some of this gap. Citadel graduates often pursue military nursing positions or public service roles that offer lower initial salaries but valuable benefits and loan forgiveness programs. If your child is interested in military or VA nursing, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49 remains manageable. However, for those seeking traditional civilian nursing positions in Charleston's growing healthcare market, starting nearly $24,000 behind Coastal Carolina graduates creates a real financial disadvantage.

The small sample size here is crucial—with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, this data might not represent typical outcomes. But even accounting for statistical noise, the consistent pattern of underperformance against both state and national benchmarks suggests this program struggles to deliver market-competitive preparation. Unless military service is part of the plan, South Carolina offers significantly stronger nursing programs at similar or lower debt levels.