Est. Earnings (1yr)
$65,071
Est. from WI median (19 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$18,131
Est. from WI median (16 programs)

Analysis

Wisconsin's nursing programs show surprising consistency in outcomes—the estimated $65,071 first-year salary from comparable programs sits right at the state median, suggesting a well-established regional market for new RN graduates. While top performers like Herzing University-Madison report salaries reaching $73,000+, the estimated figures here suggest outcomes in line with most Wisconsin technical colleges. Keep in mind these are peer-program estimates rather than tracked outcomes for LCO Ojibwe University specifically, so there's inherent uncertainty.

The estimated $18,131 in debt looks manageable against those projected earnings—a 0.28 debt-to-earnings ratio means roughly three months of gross salary to cover the full loan amount. This compares favorably to both the state median ($19,000) and national benchmark ($20,751) for associate nursing programs. For a school serving primarily low-income students (74% receive Pell grants), keeping debt below these benchmarks matters considerably.

The practical calculation: if the earnings estimates hold true, your child would be earning a solid middle-class income immediately after a two-year program, with debt that shouldn't dominate their budget. But without school-specific data, you're betting on LCO Ojibwe University producing outcomes similar to other Wisconsin nursing programs. Given nursing's licensure requirements and clinical training standardization, that's a reasonable assumption—though confirming clinical placement opportunities and NCLEX pass rates would strengthen your confidence.

Where Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing associates's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (22 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe UniversityHayward$6,030$65,071*$18,131*
Herzing University-MadisonMadison$13,420$73,342*$66,789$31,509*0.43
Blackhawk Technical CollegeJanesville$4,170$69,492*$56,953$23,750*0.34
Milwaukee Area Technical CollegeMilwaukee$5,017$69,145*$65,485$27,000*0.39
Bryant & Stratton College-WauwatosaWauwatosa$19,944$68,983*$64,976$33,892*0.49
Waukesha County Technical CollegePewaukee$4,720$68,434*$63,167$23,674*0.35
National Median$68,409*$20,751*0.30
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing graduates

Nurse Anesthetists

Administer anesthesia, monitor patient's vital signs, and oversee patient recovery from anesthesia. May assist anesthesiologists, surgeons, other physicians, or dentists. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.

$132,050/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Nurse Midwives

Diagnose and coordinate all aspects of the birthing process, either independently or as part of a healthcare team. May provide well-woman gynecological care. Must have specialized, graduate nursing education.

$132,050/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Nurse Practitioners

Diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team. May focus on health promotion and disease prevention. May order, perform, or interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work and x rays. May prescribe medication. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.

$132,050/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Medical and Health Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations.

$117,960/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Registered Nurses

Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.

$93,600/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Acute Care Nurses

Provide advanced nursing care for patients with acute conditions such as heart attacks, respiratory distress syndrome, or shock. May care for pre- and post-operative patients or perform advanced, invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.

$93,600/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses

Assess, diagnose, and treat individuals and families with mental health or substance use disorders or the potential for such disorders. Apply therapeutic activities, including the prescription of medication, per state regulations, and the administration of psychotherapy.

$93,600/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Critical Care Nurses

Provide specialized nursing care for patients in critical or coronary care units.

$93,600/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Nurse Specialists

Direct nursing staff in the provision of patient care in a clinical practice setting, such as a hospital, hospice, clinic, or home. Ensure adherence to established clinical policies, protocols, regulations, and standards.

$93,600/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary

Demonstrate and teach patient care in classroom and clinical units to nursing students. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University, approximately 74% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 19 similar programs in WI. Actual outcomes may vary.