Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Missouri Valley College

Missouri Valley College's nursing program carries meaningful financial risk compared to alternatives available within the state. While $61,525 in first-year earnings might sound reasonable, it trails the Missouri median for nursing programs by nearly $7,400 and places graduates at the bottom nationally. The debt load of $31,000 is above both state and national norms, creating a less favorable financial picture than most Missouri nursing programs offer.

The gap with top Missouri programs is stark—graduates from Research College of Nursing or University of Missouri-Columbia earn $11,000 to $21,000 more in their first year, even though all lead to the same RN license. At 40th percentile within Missouri, this program performs below average among in-state options where tuition savings often matter most. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift, but they suggest graduates may struggle to match the earning power typical of Missouri nurses.

With multiple stronger nursing programs across Missouri—many at public universities with lower tuition—families should seriously evaluate whether Missouri Valley offers enough in fit or support to justify the tradeoff. The debt burden is manageable at 50% of first-year earnings, but you'd be paying similar amounts for significantly lower returns than peer programs deliver.