Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Concordia University-Wisconsin

Concordia University-Wisconsin's nursing program produces graduates earning slightly below the national median but right at Wisconsin's average—landing in the 40th percentile statewide. With first-year earnings of $72,393 and debt of $28,750, the financial fundamentals are solid: you're looking at a debt load that's just 40% of first-year income, which is manageable by nursing standards. However, earnings barely budge over the next three years, growing just 2% to $73,729, while several other Wisconsin nursing programs—including UW-Madison and multiple Herzing campuses—place graduates $3,000-$4,000 higher from the start.

The program isn't underperforming dramatically, but it's firmly middle-of-the-pack in a state with 28 nursing options. The debt is reasonable and the immediate employment outcomes get graduates working as RNs at respectable wages. The concern is the flat trajectory: if your child is taking on nearly $29,000 in debt, other Wisconsin programs deliver both higher starting salaries and likely better long-term earning potential for similar cost.

If your child is already committed to Concordia for campus culture or location reasons, this won't derail their nursing career. But if you're comparison shopping among Wisconsin nursing programs, the numbers suggest looking first at UW-Madison or the Herzing campuses, where graduates start stronger financially right out of the gate.