Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Loyola University New Orleans

Loyola's nursing program carries an estimated debt load of $41,492—substantially higher than the $28,000 typical for Louisiana nursing programs and 50% above the national median. This matters because nursing is one of the few bachelor's degrees where earnings are relatively consistent across institutions, meaning you're not necessarily paying for significantly better outcomes at a higher price point.

The estimated first-year earnings of $78,000 based on comparable Louisiana programs align with state averages, which is exactly what we'd expect—nursing salaries are largely determined by local market rates, not where you got your degree. Meanwhile, schools like Louisiana State University-Alexandria and University of Louisiana at Lafayette produce similar nursing graduates with dramatically less debt. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53 isn't catastrophic for nursing (the profession's stability helps), but it's higher than necessary when peer programs achieve the same career outcomes for roughly $13,000 less in borrowing.

For a family weighing this decision: nursing is a strong career path with reliable employment, and Loyola may offer campus culture or support services worth considering. But from a pure return-on-investment standpoint, borrowing $40,000+ for earnings you can achieve elsewhere for significantly less debt deserves serious scrutiny. If your child is drawn to Loyola specifically, calculate whether those distinguishing factors are worth roughly $150-200 in extra monthly loan payments for the first decade after graduation.