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

Mercer's nursing graduates start strong with first-year earnings of $76,787—slightly above both Georgia's median ($76,557) and the national benchmark. The $29,161 median debt load is manageable at 38% of first-year income, and this ranks better than nearly two-thirds of nursing programs nationally for student debt burden. With a robust sample size, these numbers reliably reflect graduate outcomes.

The concerning pattern emerges in year four, when median earnings drop to $70,738—an 8% decline that's unusual for nursing, where specialization typically drives pay increases. This backward trajectory is particularly notable given that Georgia's top nursing programs (like East Georgia State and Georgia Highlands) place graduates earning $83,000+. Mercer ranks around the 60th percentile among Georgia programs, meaning 40% of in-state nursing schools deliver stronger returns.

For the debt relative to earnings, this program remains financially reasonable—you're not looking at a crisis scenario. However, if your child could access one of Georgia's higher-performing nursing programs, particularly the state colleges that achieve $82,000-$84,000 outcomes with similar or lower debt, that would represent better value. Mercer's private school experience comes at an opportunity cost: comparable or better nursing earning power is available through more cost-effective Georgia options.