Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Concordia College at Moorhead

Concordia's nursing program starts strong with first-year earnings of $73,174, but graduates actually earn less four years later—a pattern that's unusual for a field known for steady career progression. This backward trajectory places the program slightly below average among Minnesota's 27 nursing programs, landing at the 40th percentile statewide. When nearby Minnesota State University Moorhead's nursing graduates are earning $78,000 after four years and showing typical upward growth, that $9,000 gap becomes harder to ignore.

The $27,000 debt load is reasonable and matches the national median, translating to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37. For context, nursing programs typically offer strong financial returns, and this debt level won't be overwhelming. However, the declining earnings pattern deserves attention—it could reflect graduates moving into lower-paying specialties, relocating to lower-cost areas, or choosing part-time work, all legitimate choices that may not concern every family.

If your child is committed to Concordia for reasons beyond career earnings—perhaps the Lutheran mission or campus community—this program won't saddle them with crushing debt. But purely from a return-on-investment standpoint, other Minnesota nursing programs demonstrate clearer upward earnings trajectories. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) means these patterns are reasonably reliable, not statistical noise.