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

Georgetown's nursing program produces strong starting salaries—$85,000 puts graduates well above the national median and ahead of most DC programs—but that advantage comes with a puzzle. While sample size limitations make this uncertain, the data shows zero earnings growth between year one and year four, a departure from nursing's typical trajectory. Most concerning is the debt picture: though $17,417 isn't catastrophic, Georgetown ranks in the 95th percentile nationally for debt in this program, meaning 95% of nursing programs nationally manage to send students into the workforce with less debt.

Put practically, Georgetown nursing graduates earn similarly to peers at schools like Catholic University and Howard, but those institutions typically cost less. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21 is manageable—graduates could theoretically pay off loans in about three months of gross income—but the value proposition here hinges on Georgetown's broader benefits rather than nursing-specific outcomes. With a 13% admission rate and prestigious university access, families might justify the cost through networking and institutional reputation.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year. For a family purely focused on nursing ROI, DC offers comparable outcomes at lower cost. But if your child values Georgetown's overall environment and sees nursing as one path among several they might explore, the reasonable debt load keeps this viable.