Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Mount Vernon Nazarene University

Mount Vernon Nazarene's nursing program starts strong but follows an unusual trajectory: new graduates earn $69,303—just slightly below the Ohio median—but by year four, earnings drop to $61,341. This 11% decline is atypical for nursing, where salaries usually rise steadily with experience. At just under $27,000 in debt, the financial burden is manageable (you could theoretically pay it off in less than five months of first-year salary), but the earnings decline deserves scrutiny. Among Ohio's 66 nursing programs, this one ranks at the 40th percentile, placing it solidly in the middle of the pack statewide but well below top performers like Chamberlain ($83,188) or Kettering College ($79,505).

The downward earnings pattern could reflect graduates moving from higher-paying hospital positions to lower-stress outpatient settings, or perhaps workforce interruptions common in nursing. It's worth investigating whether this reflects graduate choice or limited career advancement opportunities. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) suggests these numbers are reasonably reliable, though individual outcomes will vary.

The debt load won't burden your child, but the earnings trajectory makes this a less compelling investment than stronger Ohio programs. If your child is drawn to Mount Vernon Nazarene for community or mission fit, the financial risk is low—but purely from an earnings perspective, other Ohio schools deliver better returns for similar debt.