Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Nebraska Wesleyan University

Nebraska Wesleyan nursing graduates start strong at $76,333—comfortably above both the national median ($74,888) and Nebraska's median ($74,175) for the program. They're entering the workforce competitive with peers from across the state, including those from pricier private schools like Creighton. The $27,000 debt load translates to a manageable 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe roughly four months' salary.

The challenge is sustainability: earnings slip to $73,776 by year four, a 3% decline that breaks from the typical nursing career trajectory. This could reflect the local market dynamics in Lincoln and Nebraska's smaller cities, where nursing salaries may plateau without specialization or advanced credentials. Still, these graduates aren't struggling—they're earning competitively and managing debt that's exactly at the national median for nursing programs.

For families weighing in-state options, Nebraska Wesleyan sits squarely in the middle of the pack. It costs less in debt than the state average ($30,875) while delivering slightly better initial outcomes. If your daughter is set on nursing and wants a smaller private school environment without Creighton's price tag, the financial picture here is sound. Just understand that salary growth isn't baked into these early years, so career advancement may require additional certifications or moving into specialized areas like surgical nursing or nurse management.