Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Notre Dame of Maryland University

Notre Dame of Maryland University's nursing program lands graduates in strong starting positions at $83,354—well above the national median and competitive within Maryland's tight nursing market. That starting salary beats 80% of nursing programs nationally and puts graduates at the 60th percentile among Maryland schools, where the state median is already elevated at $79,291. The $26,000 debt load translates to a manageable 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates can realistically pay this off within 4-5 years while covering living expenses.

The concern here is the complete absence of wage growth. Four years out, median earnings actually dip slightly to $82,904—essentially flat when other nursing programs typically see continued increases as nurses gain specializations or move into leadership roles. This stagnation is unusual in a field known for career progression, and it's worth investigating whether graduates are staying in entry-level positions or facing other advancement barriers. Still, even at this plateau, earnings remain solid and competitive.

For parents, the math works: strong starting pay, reasonable debt, and immediate employability in Baltimore's healthcare market. The lack of growth tempers the long-term picture somewhat, but your child would graduate with earning power that exceeds most nursing programs nationwide and enter the workforce without crushing debt. Just recognize you're paying for a strong launch, not necessarily an aggressive trajectory.