Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at College of Western Idaho

College of Western Idaho's nursing program shows strong initial earnings at $74,246—above both the national median and most Idaho programs—but there's an unusual pattern here. By year four, graduate earnings drop to $65,843, falling below the state median. This backward trajectory is uncommon in nursing, where experience typically commands higher pay. It could reflect graduates moving to part-time roles, relocating to lower-cost-of-living areas, or the quirks of tracking a small cohort (under 30 graduates makes these numbers less reliable).

The debt picture offers some reassurance: at $27,790, it sits right at Idaho's median and well below the national average. That 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio against first-year income is manageable, even if earnings soften later. Among Idaho's eight nursing programs, this ranks solidly middle-of-the-pack—not matching the $82,000+ starts at Carrington or North Idaho College, but comfortably ahead of programs in Eastern Idaho.

For an anxious parent, the key question is whether that earnings decline signals something systemic or just statistical noise from a small sample. If your student plans to stay in the Boise area and work full-time, the initial earning power justifies the investment. Just understand you're not buying into one of Idaho's premium nursing programs—this is a solid middle-tier option where the value depends heavily on what comes after that first year.