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

Emporia State's nursing program places graduates nearly $14,000 behind the Kansas median for BSN programs—a significant gap that puts it in the bottom half statewide despite ranking 40th percentile. New nurses here start at $60,066, substantially below what graduates earn from comparable Kansas programs like Ottawa University ($76,207) or Southwestern College ($75,181). The nationwide picture is even starker: this program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally.

The debt load of $24,440 is actually lower than both state and national medians, which helps offset the earnings disadvantage. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41, graduates face manageable monthly payments. However, modest 5% earnings growth over four years means the income gap with peers doesn't close much over time—you're starting behind and staying there relative to other nursing graduates.

For families considering this program, the core question is whether the lower tuition justifies accepting earnings that trail most Kansas nursing programs by $8,000-$16,000 annually. That difference compounds to six figures over a career. If your child can access one of the higher-performing Kansas BSN programs—particularly the Ottawa University campuses or Southwestern—the lifetime earnings advantage likely outweighs any additional upfront cost. Emporia State's nursing program isn't financially disastrous, but Kansas families have demonstrably better options.