Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at National American University-Rapid City

National American University-Rapid City graduates nursing students carrying nearly double the typical debt load—$52,969 versus a $27,000 national median—yet their earnings land below both national and state standards. Starting at $69,890, these nurses earn about $5,000 less than the national median and fall slightly below South Dakota's median of $70,622. More concerning, earnings actually decline by graduation year four, dropping to $67,202, while debt payments typically increase as loan deferments end.

The debt burden here is particularly striking: it ranks in the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of nursing programs saddle students with less debt. Even within South Dakota's smaller nursing market, where this program sits at the 40th percentile for earnings, competitors like Augustana and South Dakota State deliver stronger outcomes with considerably less debt. The 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates face student loan obligations equal to three-quarters of their first-year salary—manageable for nursing compared to many fields, but unnecessarily high when state alternatives exist.

For families considering this program, the math is straightforward: you're paying premium prices for below-average results. The 57% Pell Grant rate suggests many students here face financial constraints, making that extra $25,000 in debt particularly consequential. Unless there are compelling geographic or personal circumstances, South Dakota's public nursing programs offer better value propositions with similar career access but substantially lower debt.