Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University

Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University produces BSN graduates who earn substantially above the national average right after graduation, but trail the Louisiana state median by about $1,500. More concerning: within four years, earnings drop 13% to $66,918—a pattern that places this program in the bottom half (40th percentile) among Louisiana nursing programs. Meanwhile, top performers in the state like Dillard and Chamberlain maintain earnings well into the $80,000s, suggesting the earnings decline here isn't simply a Louisiana nursing market phenomenon.

The good news is debt. At $39,565, graduates carry significantly less than you'd expect for a private university nursing program—this sits in just the 5th percentile nationally for debt burden. That translates to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52, meaning first-year earnings cover nearly twice the amount borrowed. For families worried about monthly loan payments, this makes the program more affordable than the sticker price might suggest.

The key question is why earnings decline so sharply when most nursing careers follow the opposite trajectory. It could reflect part-time work choices, geographic factors in the Baton Rouge market, or career paths that don't leverage the full earning potential of a BSN. If your child plans to work full-time in a hospital setting and stay in Louisiana, compare carefully against programs like UL Lafayette or Louisiana Christian, which cost similarly but appear to maintain stronger earning trajectories.