Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at College of Saint Mary

College of Saint Mary's nursing program shows an unusual pattern that warrants careful consideration: graduates earn a respectable $72,738 in their first year, but by year four, those earnings have actually declined to $67,545. This 7% drop is concerning in a field where experience typically commands higher pay. Among Nebraska's 11 nursing programs, College of Saint Mary ranks solidly in the middle (40th percentile), trailing stronger options like Doane University ($80,849) and even falling below the state median of $74,175.

The program does offer one clear advantage: relatively manageable debt. At $37,668, graduates owe about $7,000 more than the state median but still maintain a reasonable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52—meaning the first-year salary covers more than half the total debt. This represents the 9th percentile nationally for debt burden, which is genuinely favorable.

The core question is why earnings drop rather than rise. This could reflect graduates moving to lower-paying nursing specialties, shifting to part-time work, or leaving the profession—none of which suggests strong career momentum. For parents investing in a nursing degree, there are demonstrably better options within Nebraska that start stronger and likely maintain upward earnings trajectories. The debt load is reasonable enough to manage, but you'd be paying similar amounts for middling outcomes when peer institutions show what's possible.