Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University's nursing program delivers solid early earnings at $76,782 but shows a concerning pattern: graduates actually earn less four years later ($75,641), bucking the typical career growth trajectory. While the starting salary beats the national average by about $2,000, it significantly underperforms compared to other Arizona nursing programs, ranking in just the 40th percentile statewide where the median is $84,178.

The debt picture is mixed—at $24,276, it's lower than both national and state averages, creating a reasonable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32. However, graduates are taking on debt in the 77th percentile nationally, meaning most nursing students elsewhere graduate with less debt. When you compare NAU to top Arizona programs like University of Phoenix ($98,826) or Grand Canyon University ($92,781), the earnings gap becomes stark—NAU graduates earn $15,000-20,000 less annually.

For an anxious parent, the key concern here is the earnings stagnation combined with Arizona's competitive nursing market. While your child will likely find employment (nursing has strong job security), they'll be earning significantly less than peers at other Arizona schools and may not see the typical career progression. Given the modest debt load, this isn't a financial disaster, but there are clearly better nursing programs within the state that offer stronger earning potential.