Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Methodist College

Methodist College's nursing program lands squarely in the middle of Illinois options—40th percentile statewide—but carries debt levels that rank among the highest 5% nationally. At $46,375, graduates leave with nearly double the typical debt for nursing programs ($27,000), while first-year earnings of $67,809 trail both the state median ($73,156) and national average ($74,888) by roughly $6,000. That's a meaningful gap when you're managing loan payments that will be significantly steeper than your peers'.

The bigger concern is where earnings head from there. Rather than growing with experience, median pay actually drops to $63,485 by year four—a 6% decline that's unusual for nursing. Meanwhile, nearby alternatives like Governors State ($80,391) and Saint Xavier ($78,285) deliver substantially higher earnings, typically with lower debt loads. The school serves a primarily middle- and lower-income student body (56% receive Pell grants), but those students are graduating with debt burdens that will take considerably longer to pay down than at comparable programs.

For families willing to consider other Illinois nursing schools, you'll likely find better combinations of lower debt and higher earning potential. If Methodist College offers unique advantages—location, scheduling flexibility, or specific clinical partnerships—the premium might make sense, but the financial fundamentals don't compare favorably to state alternatives.