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

Huntington's nursing program presents an unusual challenge: graduates start strong with $71,934 in first-year earnings—above Indiana's median—but see their income drop to $52,889 by year four. This 26% decline is the opposite of what typically happens in nursing, where experience and specialization usually drive salaries upward.

The initial debt load of $31,000 (about $4,000 above state and national medians) looks manageable against first-year earnings, but becomes more burdensome if that income trajectory continues downward. Within Indiana, this program ranks at the 60th percentile—solidly middle-of-the-pack—but sits considerably below top performers like Chamberlain ($83,188) and Purdue Northwest ($77,691). The sample size is moderate, which provides reasonable confidence in the data, though the earnings decline pattern demands explanation: are graduates shifting to lower-paying nursing specialties, moving to part-time work, or leaving the field?

For parents, the key question is sustainability. If your child wants a traditional nursing career with growing earning power, this program's outcomes suggest potential obstacles that aren't evident at schools where earnings rise over time. The manageable debt is a plus, but nursing programs should launch careers that gain momentum, not lose it. Consider programs with more conventional earnings patterns unless there's a compelling reason to choose Huntington specifically.