Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Rochester University

Rochester University's nursing program faces a puzzling earnings trajectory that merits careful consideration. Graduates start at $72,825—below both the Michigan median ($74,851) and national average—but more troubling is the 8% earnings decline by year four. While modest drops can occur as some nurses shift to part-time work or specialized roles, this pattern places the program at the 40th percentile among Michigan's 28 nursing programs, well behind in-state alternatives like Chamberlain University-Michigan ($83,188) or University of Michigan-Flint ($80,029).

The one bright spot is debt: at $35,500, it's higher than Michigan's median but still reasonable given nursing's earning potential, translating to a manageable 0.49 debt-to-earnings ratio. For context, many nursing programs carry similar or heavier debt burdens while delivering stronger salary outcomes.

The small sample size here is crucial—with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could shift dramatically with just a few data points. If your child is considering Rochester, request more recent placement data directly from the school and ask specifically about the career paths of recent graduates. At this price point, Michigan offers multiple nursing programs with stronger documented outcomes and larger track records.