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

Millikin's nursing program sits in the bottom half of Illinois options, with first-year earnings of $71,848 trailing both the state median ($73,156) and most peer programs. More concerning is the trajectory: by year four, earnings drop to $66,854—a 7% decline when most nursing careers should be gaining momentum. Among the 41 Illinois nursing programs, this ranks in just the 40th percentile, meaning six out of ten alternatives deliver stronger outcomes.

The $27,000 debt load is exactly average for nursing programs, both nationally and in Illinois, yielding a reasonable 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio. You're not overpaying for the credential itself. The real question is why graduates start below the market rate and then move backward. This pattern could reflect regional job market limitations in Decatur, difficulty securing specialty positions that command higher pay, or simply a cohort that values flexibility over income growth. Whatever the cause, it's not the typical nursing earnings arc.

For an in-state family paying private tuition, stronger options exist throughout Illinois. Governors State delivers $80,391 in first-year earnings with similar debt. If your student is set on Millikin's smaller campus environment, understand they're accepting below-average Illinois nursing outcomes—workable financially, but not the career launcher you'd hope for at this price point.