Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Goshen College

Goshen College's nursing program presents an unusual pattern that warrants careful consideration: graduates earn a strong $71,791 in their first year—matching the Indiana median exactly and placing the program at the 60th percentile statewide. However, by year four, median earnings drop to $56,147, a 22% decline that's difficult to explain through typical career progression. This backward trajectory could reflect graduates moving into lower-paying specialties, shifting to part-time work, or geographical relocation, but it's a notable red flag when most nursing careers show steady upward momentum.

The program's value proposition hinges entirely on whether that first-year earning power holds. At $27,000 in debt—right at both state and national medians—the initial debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38 is manageable and suggests graduates can handle their loans comfortably if they maintain those early salaries. The program serves a substantial population of first-generation college students (37% receive Pell grants) and delivers respectable outcomes for an open-access institution.

For families banking on nursing's typically reliable career ladder, Goshen's earnings trajectory is concerning. If your daughter can secure one of the higher-paying positions that some graduates clearly find—pushing toward what top Indiana programs like Chamberlain ($83,188) deliver—this could work out fine. But the data suggests that outcome isn't typical here. Ask the program directly about job placement patterns and whether graduates are staying in Indiana's stronger nursing markets.