Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Rose State College

Rose State College graduates start strong in nursing—first-year earnings of $76,453 place them above 80% of nursing programs nationally and ahead of the Oklahoma state median. The $16,900 debt load is reasonable, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.22. But here's the complication: by year four, earnings drop to $65,205, a 15% decline that's unusual in a field where most nurses see steady or rising pay.

This earnings drop matters because it suggests graduates may be working intense schedules early on—likely picking up overtime or night shifts that boost initial pay—then scaling back to more sustainable hours. While Rose State ranks at the 60th percentile among Oklahoma nursing programs (behind schools like Connors State and Murray State), the strong start combined with manageable debt still represents solid value. Your graduate walks out of school earning $76,000 against less than $17,000 in debt, which even accounts for later earnings adjustments creates financial breathing room most associate degree holders don't get.

The investment works if your child understands they're entering a demanding field where that impressive starting salary reflects the work's intensity. The debt is low enough that even with earnings settling at mid-60s, loan payments remain manageable—and that's still well above what most two-year degrees deliver.