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

Newman University's nursing program presents an unusual earnings pattern that deserves scrutiny. Graduates start at $65,957—already $8,400 below the Kansas median for nursing programs—but then see earnings drop to $55,380 by year four. That's a 16% decline during years when most nurses are building skills and advancing. While the modest debt load of $25,500 keeps this from being a financial disaster, those starting earnings place this program at just the 40th percentile statewide, with nearly every other Kansas nursing program delivering stronger outcomes.

The comparison to nearby programs is stark. Ottawa University and Southwestern College graduates earn $10,000-20,000 more annually, and even the Kansas median sits nearly $13,000 above Newman's four-year figure. For a profession with relatively standardized licensing requirements and typically stable career trajectories, this backward earnings movement is troubling. It could signal difficulties with job placement in higher-paying settings or challenges that emerge as graduates gain experience.

The affordable debt keeps the first-year ratio reasonable at 0.39, but that calculation becomes less favorable as earnings decline. If your child is set on Newman for other reasons—location, campus culture, or specific faculty—the financial risk is manageable. But from a pure return-on-investment perspective, other Kansas nursing programs offer clearer pathways to stronger earning potential with similar or lower debt burdens.