Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Delta State University

Delta State's nursing program sits squarely in the middle of Mississippi's nursing landscape—landing at the 40th percentile statewide with first-year earnings of $68,221. That's about $1,700 below the Mississippi median and nearly $7,000 behind the national median. More concerning, graduates here trail in-state competitors significantly: Alcorn State grads earn $17,000 more, and even Mississippi University for Women alumni start $6,200 higher. For a state where nursing salaries already lag national averages, Delta State represents the lower half of an already modest market.

The debt picture offers the program's clearest advantage. At $23,590, graduates carry about $2,500 less than the Mississippi median and $3,400 below the national average. This translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35—manageable by any standard and well below the threshold that typically causes financial stress. Combined with open admissions and a 43% Pell grant population, Delta State clearly serves students who might not access nursing education elsewhere.

The tradeoff is straightforward: lower debt in exchange for below-average starting pay in an already low-wage state. If your child can attend one of Mississippi's stronger nursing programs without substantially higher costs, that's probably worth pursuing. But if Delta State offers the most accessible path to a nursing license, the modest debt load means graduates won't be financially hampered even with earnings at the state's lower end.