Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Northwood Technical College

Northwood Technical's nursing program shows a troubling trajectory: graduates earn $64,281 in their first year—already below Wisconsin's median of $65,071—but then see earnings drop to $60,056 by year four. This backward slide is unusual in nursing, where experience typically commands higher pay. While the 40th percentile ranking among Wisconsin programs might seem middle-of-the-pack, it means graduates here earn roughly $9,000 less annually than peers from the state's top programs, a gap that compounds significantly over a career.

The debt load of $17,499 is at least manageable, representing about three months of first-year salary. However, that relative comfort doesn't offset the core concern: why are earnings declining? This pattern could signal challenges with local job markets in rural northern Wisconsin, difficulty securing full-time positions, or other structural issues. With 22 nursing programs across Wisconsin, stronger alternatives exist even for students prioritizing proximity to Rice Lake.

For families evaluating this program, the question isn't just about initial debt versus starting salary—it's about the career momentum. Nursing should offer steady earning power, and when a program's graduates lose ground financially within four years, that raises red flags about job placement quality and career support.