Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University
Associate's Degree
lco.eduAnalysis
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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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $6,030 | $65,071* | — | $18,131* | — | |
| $13,420 | $73,342* | $66,789 | $31,509* | 0.43 | |
| $4,170 | $69,492* | $56,953 | $23,750* | 0.34 | |
| $5,017 | $69,145* | $65,485 | $27,000* | 0.39 | |
| $19,944 | $68,983* | $64,976 | $33,892* | 0.49 | |
| $4,720 | $68,434* | $63,167 | $23,674* | 0.35 | |
| National Median | — | $68,409* | — | $20,751* | 0.30 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing graduates
Nurse Anesthetists
Nurse Midwives
Nurse Practitioners
Medical and Health Services Managers
Registered Nurses
Acute Care Nurses
Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
Critical Care Nurses
Clinical Nurse Specialists
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
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.