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

Marian University's nursing program starts with a first-year salary of $71,223—reasonably competitive for Wisconsin—but then graduates watch their earnings drop to $65,714 by year four. That's an 8% decline during what should be peak earning years for nurses, and it's a pattern worth understanding before committing to this program.

The earnings data tells a complicated story. At $71,223, new graduates earn slightly below Wisconsin's median of $72,463 and land in just the 40th percentile among the state's 28 nursing programs. More concerning is the backwards trajectory: while most nurses see steady income growth through their twenties, Marian graduates are earning $6,000 less after four years. This could reflect geographic challenges in the Fond du Lac area, retention issues, or graduates leaving bedside nursing earlier than typical. The $27,000 debt load is exactly average, so at least you're not overpaying for these outcomes.

For context, University of Wisconsin-Madison nursing graduates start at $75,513 and likely maintain steadier growth, while several Herzing campuses also outperform Marian's first-year numbers. If your child is committed to staying in the Fond du Lac area for personal reasons, this program provides a viable path to nursing licensure with manageable debt. But if flexibility exists, other Wisconsin programs offer stronger financial trajectories without necessarily costing more.