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

Kean University's nursing program punches above its weight, launching graduates into six-figure earnings that exceed 95% of nursing programs nationwide. That $101,039 first-year salary is 35% higher than the national median and beats New Jersey's already strong median by more than $10,000—impressive for a relatively accessible public university.

The tradeoff here is what happens next. Earnings drop to $94,150 by year four, a 7% decline that's unusual for nursing. This could reflect career choices like transitioning to less intensive roles or moving away from high-paying hospital positions. Still, even with this dip, graduates maintain strong earning power with manageable debt of $20,750—a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.21 that beats the field standard. Within New Jersey, this program sits at the 60th percentile, trailing slightly behind regional leaders like Montclair State and Saint Elizabeth, but the difference isn't dramatic given Kean's lower cost structure.

For families seeking value in nursing education, Kean delivers immediate financial results that justify the investment. The earnings decline warrants a conversation about long-term career goals, but graduates enter the workforce earning substantially more than most of their peers nationally while carrying below-average debt. That's a solid foundation, even if the trajectory isn't perfectly upward.