Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Potomac State College of West Virginia University

Potomac State's nursing program sits right at West Virginia's median for earnings, but there's a puzzling trajectory here. Graduates start at $71,298—already below the national median by about $3,600—then see earnings drop 5% to $67,758 by year four. This backward slide is unusual in nursing, where most programs show consistent growth as new RNs gain experience and certifications. The $26,000 debt load is reasonable and slightly below both state and national medians, yielding a manageable 0.36 debt-to-earnings ratio, but the declining income pattern deserves scrutiny.

Within West Virginia, this program lands squarely in the middle—60th percentile—though several in-state alternatives show stronger outcomes. American Public University System graduates earn $85,161, while even nearby Fairmont State ($77,962) offers a significant premium. The sample size here is solid, so these numbers reflect real patterns rather than statistical noise.

For parents, the question isn't whether this leads to nursing employment—it clearly does—but whether it positions graduates for career advancement. The earnings decline suggests graduates may be staying in lower-acuity settings or facing regional salary constraints. If your child can commute to Fairmont State or another higher-performing program, the extra $6,000-10,000 in annual earnings would compound significantly over a career. If Potomac State is the only accessible option, the debt burden won't crush them, but expect a slower financial start than typical nursing graduates experience.