Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Nightingale College

Nightingale College's nursing bachelor's program produces first-year earnings of $79,449—placing graduates comfortably above Utah's median for nursing programs ($66,420) and in the 69th percentile nationally. That's solid performance, especially given that 43% of students receive Pell grants. However, debt levels based on comparable Utah programs suggest roughly $51,854 in borrowing, nearly double the state median of $22,383 for nursing degrees. This creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65, meaning graduates would owe about eight months' salary.

The bigger concern is the competitive landscape. Top nursing programs in Utah—including Western Governors University and Arizona College of Nursing—report first-year earnings exceeding $85,000, suggesting Nightingale's outcomes fall in the middle tier despite the higher estimated debt load. For a field where licensing requirements are standardized and job opportunities abundant, paying significantly more to attend a program with mid-range outcomes deserves scrutiny.

If this debt estimate holds, your child would face monthly payments around $580 on a standard 10-year plan—manageable on a $79,000 salary, but not ideal when other Utah programs appear to deliver better earnings with substantially less debt. Before committing, get the actual debt figures from Nightingale's financial aid office and compare them carefully against the lower-cost alternatives producing stronger first-year results.