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

Nazareth's nursing program shows initial promise with first-year earnings of $76,684, but that figure tells only half the story. By year four, graduate earnings drop to $68,455—a concerning 11% decline that runs counter to typical career trajectories. More troubling is how this program compares within New York: while it performs around the national median, it lands in just the 40th percentile among NY nursing programs, where the state median sits at $89,296. That's a $21,000 gap compared to what other New York nursing graduates typically earn.

The $27,000 in median debt is manageable relative to first-year earnings, yielding a reasonable 0.35 debt-to-income ratio. However, this calculation looks less favorable when considering the earnings decline and the higher-paying alternatives across New York. Schools like CUNY Medgar Evers and York College are producing graduates who earn $40,000-$45,000 more annually than Nazareth graduates by year four—a substantial difference that compounds over a career.

For a New York family, this program presents a value gap. The tuition investment doesn't appear to translate into the earning power that other state nursing programs deliver, and the backward earnings trajectory raises questions about career progression or market positioning. If staying in New York for nursing, look closely at SUNY options and other programs where graduates see earnings growth rather than decline.