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

Northwestern College's nursing program delivers exactly what Iowa families should hope for: above-state-average starting salaries with manageable debt. At $71,479 first-year out, graduates earn more than the typical Iowa nursing grad ($67,362) and land squarely in the middle of the state's top programs—trailing only Luther and Dordt by small margins. The $27,000 debt load translates to a 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe roughly what they'll earn in five months of work.

The program does trail the national nursing median by about $3,400, which explains its 32nd percentile ranking nationally. But that national comparison matters less than it might seem—nursing salaries vary significantly by region, and Iowa's lower cost of living means graduates here aren't competing for the same six-figure starting positions available in coastal markets. What counts is that Northwestern grads enter the workforce earning more than 60% of Iowa nursing programs produce.

For families keeping their child in-state (where that 87% admission rate and relatively low Pell percentage suggest many students come from), this represents solid value. Your graduate will start earning immediately, carry reasonable debt, and enter a profession with clear job security. The numbers work.