Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Milwaukee School of Engineering

Milwaukee School of Engineering's nursing program generates starting salaries around $74,000—solid for Wisconsin and slightly above the state median—but graduates carry $31,666 in debt, which is notably higher than the $27,000 typical for Wisconsin nursing programs. More concerning is the earnings trajectory: graduates actually earn slightly less four years out than in their first year, bucking the typical career progression pattern. With robust data from 100+ graduates, this trend appears reliable rather than a statistical fluke.

The debt burden here matters more than it might initially appear. While the 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio looks manageable on paper, you're paying a premium over other Wisconsin nursing options without the earnings premium to justify it. Programs at UW-Madison, Herzing, and Ottawa University all produce higher four-year earnings with equal or lower debt loads. At 60th percentile among Wisconsin nursing programs, this places squarely in the middle of the pack—acceptable, but unremarkable given the higher-than-average debt.

The practical reality: your child will likely find steady nursing employment and manageable loan payments, but they'll be paying back more than peers at comparable programs while earning similar salaries. If MSOE offers other compelling reasons to attend—location preference, smaller class sizes, or stronger institutional fit—the financial tradeoff may be worthwhile. Otherwise, several Wisconsin alternatives deliver better value for nursing-focused students.