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

Northwest University's nursing program starts strong with first-year earnings of $84,504—well above the national median—but then does something unusual: graduates actually earn less four years later. While that initial salary beats 83% of nursing programs nationwide, it ranks in just the 40th percentile among Washington schools, where the typical nursing graduate earns slightly more. This isn't a small difference either; several state schools like Bellevue College and Saint Martin's University place graduates earning $10,000-$12,000 more annually.

The earnings decline from year one to year four deserves scrutiny. Most nursing graduates see steady income growth as they gain experience, but here the trajectory moves backward by 8%. This could reflect career changes, part-time work shifts, or graduates leaving higher-paying hospital settings. With moderate sample size (30-100 graduates tracked), some variation is expected, but the pattern still warrants consideration.

The debt burden of $25,893 is reasonable—slightly below both national and state medians—and represents just 31% of first-year earnings, which is manageable. However, you're paying Northwest's private school tuition for outcomes that fall in the middle of Washington's nursing options. If your child can gain admission to one of the state's stronger programs, particularly public options like University of Washington-Seattle or lower-cost community colleges with solid placement, you'll likely see better return on investment without the backward salary trajectory.