Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Excelsior University

Excelsior's nursing graduates earn $93,000 their first year out—$18,000 above the national median and nearly $4,000 above New York's already strong state average. That places this program in the 95th percentile nationally, though it's worth noting that New York's nursing market is exceptionally competitive, with several programs producing graduates who crack six figures. At the 60th percentile statewide, Excelsior sits comfortably in the upper half of NY nursing programs but trails the state's elite.

The debt picture strengthens the value case: $25,132 is manageable given first-year earnings, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.27. A graduate could theoretically clear this debt in about three months of gross income. However, earnings slip to $88,000 by year four—a 5% decline that's unusual in a field where experience typically commands higher wages. This pattern might reflect the nature of Excelsior's primarily online format serving working nurses who are already established in their careers, potentially pursuing lateral moves or specialized roles rather than traditional advancement.

For parents of traditional students, this program offers solid immediate returns and reasonable debt. The earnings dip shouldn't trigger alarm given the strong starting point, but it does mean career trajectory may matter more than the credential alone. If your child isn't already working in healthcare, verify how clinical placement support works for this distance-learning model.