Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Howard Payne University

For a nursing bachelor's degree, a debt load around $27,000 against first-year earnings of roughly $77,000 represents a manageable investment—but these figures come from peer programs across Texas, not Howard Payne's actual graduate outcomes. The school doesn't have published data because too few graduates were tracked by the Department of Education, which is common at smaller institutions. Based on how similar Texas nursing programs perform, the estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35 suggests graduates could theoretically pay off loans in well under a year's salary, a threshold most financial advisors consider reasonable.

The challenge lies in the comparison. Top-performing BSN programs in Texas are placing graduates in positions earning $88,000 to $96,000 their first year out—roughly $11,000 to $19,000 more annually than what comparable programs to Howard Payne typically produce. That gap matters when you're weighing a private university education in a field where community colleges and regional public universities dominate the state's best outcomes. The school serves a meaningful population (42% receive Pell grants), but nursing is unusual in that cheaper pathways often lead to stronger starting salaries.

The estimated numbers suggest this program wouldn't saddle your child with unmanageable debt, but you're making this decision with limited visibility into Howard Payne's specific track record. If choosing this school, prioritize their NCLEX pass rates and job placement support—outcomes that matter as much as the degree itself in nursing.