Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Rasmussen University-Wisconsin

This nursing program delivers solid earnings but comes with a concerning lack of career progression. Graduates earn $68,119 in their first year—above Wisconsin's median of $65,071 for nursing programs and ranking in the 60th percentile statewide. However, earnings actually decline slightly to $67,872 by year four, showing zero growth when most careers should be advancing.

The debt picture is notably favorable. At $30,500, graduates owe significantly more than the state median ($19,000) but still maintain a reasonable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45. More importantly, this debt level ranks in just the 15th percentile nationally, meaning 85% of similar nursing programs saddle students with higher debt loads. For a for-profit institution serving many Pell Grant recipients (57%), this restrained borrowing is encouraging.

While the program performs decently within Wisconsin, it falls short of the state's top performers like Herzing University-Madison ($73,342) and several technical colleges that deliver higher earnings with typically lower debt. The flat earnings trajectory suggests graduates may hit an early ceiling, which is unusual for nursing careers that typically offer advancement opportunities.

**Bottom line**: This program offers a reliable path into nursing with manageable debt, but don't expect significant salary growth. If your child values predictable earnings over career advancement potential, this could work—but stronger options exist within Wisconsin.