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

King University's nursing program performs better within Tennessee than its national ranking suggests. While graduates earn below the national median at $68,012 in their first year, this places them squarely at the 60th percentile among Tennessee nursing programs—meaning they out-earn the majority of Tennessee nursing graduates. The $25,000 debt load is also manageable, particularly given steady earnings growth to $73,580 by year four.

The gap between state and national performance matters here because most nursing jobs are state-licensed and geographically bound. King graduates compete primarily in the Tennessee market, where they're positioned above average despite the program serving a predominantly lower-income student population (42% receive Pell grants). The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 means graduates can reasonably expect to pay off loans while building their careers.

The caveat: if your child is considering higher-ranked Tennessee programs like Strayer ($81,061) or Galen Nashville ($76,234), those deliver meaningfully better outcomes. But among Tennessee's 32 nursing programs, King represents a solid middle-tier option that won't saddle graduates with excessive debt. For families prioritizing affordability and in-state employment, this program does what it needs to do—it produces nurses who can comfortably service their debt while entering a stable profession.