Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Pacific Lutheran University

Pacific Lutheran's nursing graduates start strong at nearly $82,000—well above the national median—but there's a catch that matters for Washington families. While this program ranks in the 77th percentile nationally, it falls to just the 40th percentile among Washington nursing programs, where the state median is $85,000. More concerning is the earnings trajectory: graduates see a 6% decline from year one to year four, dropping to $76,825, while many nursing careers show steady growth during this period.

The debt picture offers some relief. At $29,000, it's reasonable for a nursing degree—lower than 63% of similar programs nationally—and the 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe about four months' salary. That's manageable, particularly given nursing's stable employment prospects. However, Washington students might reasonably ask why they're paying more debt than the state median ($23,225) while earning less than state peers.

The comparison to other Washington programs is stark: community colleges like Bellevue and Olympic are producing graduates who earn $10,000-$15,000 more annually. For families prioritizing return on investment, PLU's nursing program delivers a solid career but not an exceptional one by Washington standards. If cost and location flexibility allow, exploring programs higher on the state earnings list could yield significantly better outcomes.