Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Queens University of Charlotte

Queens University graduates begin their nursing careers with strong salaries—$73,479 places them at the 60th percentile among North Carolina nursing programs. But the trajectory tells a different story: by year four, earnings drop to $66,132, a 10% decline that's particularly unusual in nursing, where experience typically commands higher pay. While the debt load of $31,757 is manageable at a 0.43 ratio to first-year earnings, the backward earnings momentum raises questions about whether graduates are finding opportunities that leverage their bachelor's degree, or whether they're competing for the same positions as associate degree nurses at lower pay points.

The program sits squarely in the middle nationally (42nd percentile) but performs better relative to other North Carolina options. Still, top programs in the state like Chamberlain ($83,188) and University of Mount Olive ($81,493) show significantly higher starting earnings—over $8,000 more annually. For a private university charging enough to generate above-average debt, Queens isn't delivering the premium outcomes you'd hope for.

The takeaway: this program provides entry into nursing without crushing debt, but the declining earnings pattern suggests graduates may not be advancing as expected. If your child is considering Queens, investigate where recent graduates are working and whether the network supports career progression. In North Carolina's competitive nursing market, stronger-performing programs exist at both higher and lower price points.