Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Kent State University at Trumbull

Kent State Trumbull's nursing program presents a concerning financial picture that should give parents pause. While graduates start with reasonable earnings of $67,000, their income actually declines to $62,436 by year four—a troubling 7% drop that runs counter to typical career progression. This places the program in just the 13th percentile nationally for nursing earnings, meaning 87% of similar programs produce better-paid graduates.

The program performs better within Ohio, ranking at the 40th percentile among state nursing schools, but still falls short of the state median of $70,327. When compared to top Ohio nursing programs like Chamberlain ($83,188) or Kettering College ($79,505), the earnings gap becomes stark—graduates here earn $13,000-20,000 less annually. The debt load of $26,250 is reasonable and slightly below national averages, resulting in a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39.

The declining earnings trajectory is the most troubling aspect of this program. While nursing typically offers stable career growth, something appears to be limiting advancement opportunities for these graduates. Given Ohio's competitive nursing education landscape and the availability of higher-performing programs at similar debt levels, parents should seriously consider alternatives that offer better long-term earning potential for their child's nursing career.