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

Rockhurst University's nursing program shows a troubling pattern: graduates start above Missouri's median at $69,011 but see their earnings drop to $63,390 by year four—an 8% decline that's unusual in healthcare. While the program ranks in the 60th percentile among Missouri nursing schools, it falls to just the 20th percentile nationally, suggesting graduates may struggle to compete beyond the local market.

The debt picture offers some relief, with $27,000 matching both state and national medians for nursing programs. However, when paired with declining earnings, this creates a debt-to-income ratio of 0.39 that could worsen over time. Compare this to top Missouri programs like Chamberlain ($83,188) or Research College of Nursing ($75,705), which offer significantly higher starting salaries for similar debt loads.

For families considering Rockhurst, the key question is whether the university's smaller, private environment justifies earning $6,000-20,000 less than graduates from the state's top nursing programs. The declining earnings trend is particularly concerning in a field where experience typically commands higher pay. Missouri families might find better value at the University of Missouri-Columbia, which offers stronger earnings potential at likely lower tuition costs.