Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at George Washington University

George Washington University's nursing program delivers solid earnings that beat the national average by about $4,300, but there's a notable disconnect when compared locally. While GWU nursing graduates earn well above the typical nursing graduate nationwide (68th percentile), they actually underperform within DC's competitive nursing market, ranking in just the 40th percentile among the district's eight programs. This suggests you're paying for a prestigious name but not necessarily getting the best nursing outcomes in your own backyard.

The debt picture is reasonable at $26,500, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33. However, the earnings trajectory raises questions—graduates see essentially no income growth from year one to year four, with median salaries holding steady around $79,000. This stagnation is unusual for a healthcare field and contrasts with the typical career progression you'd expect from a $60,000+ annual degree.

For families considering this investment, you're looking at a program that will launch your child into a well-paying career but may not justify GWU's premium in a market where Georgetown delivers $5,700 more in starting salary and even local competitors like Howard perform nearly as well. The strong sample size gives confidence in these numbers, making this a case where the GWU brand doesn't translate to superior nursing career outcomes.