Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Eagle Gate College-Murray

Similar nursing programs in Utah suggest first-year earnings around $64,000, which places Eagle Gate College in the middle of the state's pack. That's about $4,500 below the national median for associate-degree nursing programs, though Utah's nursing market appears to pay less overall than other states. The more puzzling pattern here is that earnings appear to dip by graduation year four to roughly $56,500—an unusual trajectory for a field where experience typically increases pay.

The debt picture looks manageable at an estimated $28,000, yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44. That's higher than Utah's typical nursing debt of about $18,000, and also above the national median of roughly $21,000. For context, nearly half of students here receive Pell grants, suggesting many come from lower-income backgrounds where every dollar of additional debt matters. Paying an extra $10,000 compared to peer programs means an extra year or more of loan payments.

Your child would likely find work after this program—nursing remains in high demand—but the combination of estimated higher debt and below-national earnings should prompt a hard look at alternatives. Salt Lake Community College, for instance, appears to produce similar or better outcomes with potentially lower costs. Given that all these figures are based on comparable programs rather than Eagle Gate's actual graduate outcomes, ask the school directly about their graduates' employment rates and starting salaries before committing.