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

Howard nursing graduates start strong at nearly $80,000—well above the national median and just $6,000 short of what Georgetown grads earn. That's impressive positioning for a program serving a substantial population of Pell grant recipients. However, there's a notable gap in the DC market: this program ranks in the 40th percentile among the district's eight nursing schools, with earnings slightly below the local median of $81,044.

The financial fundamentals look solid. A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34 means graduates owe about four months of salary, and the $27,000 debt load matches both national and DC benchmarks exactly. What complicates the picture is the flat trajectory—earnings actually dip slightly to $79,113 by year four. This stagnation is unusual in nursing, where advancement typically brings steady raises.

For families weighing Howard against other DC options, the question becomes whether the university's reputation and network justify earnings that trail competitors like Georgetown and Catholic University by $2,000-6,000 annually. The program launches graduates into solid nursing careers, but parents should recognize they're paying for a selective institution (35% admission rate) that produces middle-of-the-pack outcomes in its local market. If your child can secure admission to one of DC's higher-earning programs, that $5,000 annual difference compounds significantly over a career.