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

Indiana State's nursing program shows a troubling earnings pattern that deserves careful examination: graduates earn $72,381 in their first year but see that figure drop to $64,077 by year four—an 11% decline when most nursing careers show steady growth. While the program ranks at the 60th percentile among Indiana nursing schools, this initial earnings advantage doesn't hold up over time.

The debt load of $30,155 sits slightly above both state and national medians, but the real concern is what happens after graduation. That earnings decline could signal graduates are taking lower-paid positions as they gain experience, facing local market constraints in the Terre Haute area, or moving into roles with fewer advancement opportunities. For context, top Indiana programs like Chamberlain University show graduates earning $83,188—about $11,000 more than ISU's first-year figure.

The math here creates uncertainty: a 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio looks manageable in year one, but if earnings continue their downward trend, loan payments become increasingly burdensome. With 39% of students receiving Pell grants, many families are counting on this degree to deliver consistent financial returns. Unless your child has strong ties to the Terre Haute region or specific reasons to attend ISU, programs at Purdue Northwest or University of Saint Francis offer similar debt loads with stronger and more stable earning trajectories.