Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Middle Georgia State University

Middle Georgia State's nursing program starts strong with first-year earnings of $72,111—above both state and national medians—but then something unusual happens: earnings drop to $63,578 by year four. This backward trajectory is atypical for nursing, where graduates typically see steady income growth as they gain experience and potentially move into specialized or supervisory roles. The 60th percentile ranking among Georgia nursing programs confirms this is a solid but not exceptional performer in a competitive state market.

The debt picture offers some relief. At $24,650, graduates borrow more than the state median but still maintain a manageable 0.34 debt-to-earnings ratio based on that initial salary. This means your child could theoretically pay off the entire loan with about four months of their first-year income. The 41% Pell grant rate suggests the program serves many students from modest financial backgrounds who are successfully launching nursing careers.

The real question is what drives that earnings decline. It could reflect graduates moving to part-time work, relocating to lower-cost areas, or shifting to less lucrative nursing specialties. For comparison, technical colleges like West Georgia Tech and Chattahoochee Technical place graduates who earn $10,000-$14,000 more annually. If staying in Georgia and maximizing earnings matters most, explore those alternatives. But if your child values the traditional college environment at Middle Georgia State, the program still launches nursing careers—just watch that salary trajectory carefully.