Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Idaho State University

Idaho State's nursing program sits right at the state median for earnings, but that position masks a troubling reality: the state's nursing salaries lag considerably behind the national average. At $66,863 in first-year earnings, graduates earn about $8,000 less than the typical nursing graduate nationally—landing in just the 12th percentile. Meanwhile, debt loads run higher than average at $32,500. More concerning is the earnings trajectory: rather than growing with experience, salaries actually decline 5% by year four, dropping to $63,213.

The relative position matters here. While Idaho State ranks 60th percentile within Idaho, that's partly because most Idaho nursing programs struggle compared to national standards. Boise State grads earn nearly $13,000 more in their first year, and Lewis-Clark State also shows significantly stronger outcomes. For families comparing options, the gap is substantial enough to warrant serious consideration, especially since the debt burden is similar across these programs.

The 0.49 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable, and nursing provides job security that many fields don't. However, if your child can access Boise State or Lewis-Clark State—whether through transfer pathways or direct admission—the financial advantage compounds significantly over a career. For students already committed to ISU for other reasons, this program works, but it shouldn't be the first choice based purely on return on investment.