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

Georgia State's associate nursing program charges significantly more than comparable options in the state while delivering earnings solidly in the middle of the pack. With $30,000 in median debt—57% higher than the state median—graduates pay a premium that technical colleges in the system simply don't require. Six Georgia schools produce graduates earning $75,000+ with median debts under $20,000, making them objectively stronger investments for the same credential and career path.

The earnings themselves are respectable: $73,883 puts graduates above the national median and at the 60th percentile statewide. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 is manageable compared to many programs. But the real question is whether a university setting justifies the extra $10,000+ in loans when Chattahoochee Technical College graduates earn $12,500 more annually while carrying less debt. The slight earnings dip by year four suggests no meaningful wage premium emerges from the GSU degree over time.

For families choosing between nursing programs in Georgia, this becomes a question of priorities. If campus life and the university experience matter deeply, GSU delivers reasonable outcomes. But if maximizing your child's financial position is the goal, the state's technical colleges offer the same nursing license with stronger earnings and dramatically less debt. That's a hard gap to justify when both paths lead to the same RN credential.