Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Plymouth State University

Plymouth State's nursing program sits squarely in the middle of New Hampshire's nursing landscape—literally at the 40th percentile statewide—with first-year earnings of $72,906 trailing both the state median ($76,644) and top performers like Southern New Hampshire ($85,600). That's roughly $13,000 less annually than what graduates from the strongest programs in the state are earning. The $27,000 debt load is typical for nursing programs, yielding a manageable 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio, but the return feels underwhelming given that nursing is supposed to be a reliable career path.

What's more puzzling is the earnings dip to $69,745 by year four—a 4% decline when most nursing graduates see steady increases as they gain experience and specializations. With fewer than 30 graduates in the data set, this could reflect where a handful of individuals ended up rather than a true program weakness, but it's still worth noting. Compare this to UNH's nearby program at $77,271, which offers stronger initial outcomes at a flagship institution.

For a family choosing among New Hampshire nursing programs, Plymouth State won't break the bank but won't open as many doors either. If your child has options at UNH or SNHU, the earnings gap suggests those might be worth the comparison. If Plymouth State offers other compelling reasons to attend—location, fit, scholarship money—the debt burden isn't prohibitive, but don't expect this nursing degree to outperform the state average.