Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Herzing University-Madison

Herzing-Madison nursing graduates start strong at $73,342—above both the state median and the 75th percentile nationally—but earnings drop 9% by year four. Among Wisconsin's 22 nursing programs, this ranks at the 60th percentile, trailing several technical colleges like Blackhawk and Milwaukee Area Tech that deliver similar or better starting salaries with significantly less debt.

The concerning piece here is the $31,509 in median debt, about 65% higher than Wisconsin's typical nursing program debt of $19,000. That said, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 remains manageable, and graduates should be able to handle the payments on a nurse's salary. The earnings dip by year four is puzzling—it could reflect graduates taking less intensive roles, working reduced hours, or temporary career adjustments—but even at $66,789, income remains above Wisconsin's median for this degree.

For families choosing between Wisconsin nursing programs, this becomes a value question: is Herzing worth $12,000+ more in debt than a technical college when career outcomes look similar? The open admissions and high Pell grant enrollment suggest Herzing serves students who might face barriers elsewhere, which has value. But purely from a return-on-investment standpoint, the state's technical colleges offer a stronger financial proposition for most students entering nursing.