Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Graham Hospital School of Nursing

Graham Hospital School of Nursing graduates enter the workforce with a significant advantage: remarkably low debt. At $28,884, graduates carry about $5,000 less debt than the national median for nursing programs, putting this school in the 11th percentile nationally—meaning 89% of nursing programs saddle students with more debt. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 means graduates owe less than half their first-year salary, a manageable position for most new nurses.

The earnings picture requires more nuance, particularly given the small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked). Starting at $60,300 matches Illinois' median exactly and places the program at the 60th percentile statewide—squarely middle-of-the-pack among Illinois nursing programs. Nationally, it falls to the 16th percentile, about $6,000 below the national median. The unusual earnings dip to $54,676 by year four could reflect the small sample capturing graduates who moved to lower cost-of-living areas, shifted to part-time work, or simply statistical noise from tracking fewer than 30 people.

For Illinois families, especially those attracted by the 100% admission rate and serving a predominantly Pell-eligible student body (73%), this represents an accessible entry point to nursing with minimal debt burden. The lower starting pay compared to national figures is offset by the significantly lighter loan load, though ambitious students might find better long-term earning potential at more competitive Illinois programs.