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

Rowan's nursing program starts strong with first-year earnings of nearly $85,000, but then takes an unexpected turn: graduates earn about $12,000 less by year four. This backward trajectory is unusual for nursing and worth understanding before committing.

The bigger concern is how Rowan stacks up against other New Jersey nursing programs. While it beats the national average, it lags significantly behind the state median of $90,730—landing at just the 40th percentile among NJ schools. Compare that to programs at Montclair ($104,000) or even Ramapo ($95,000), and the gap is substantial. For a family paying New Jersey tuition prices, you're looking at programs that could deliver $15,000-20,000 more in annual earnings. The $25,000 debt load is reasonable, but state universities like Kean and Ramapo are achieving better outcomes with similar debt levels.

The declining earnings pattern might reflect graduates moving into lower-paying settings or reducing hours, which isn't necessarily a negative if it aligns with lifestyle goals. But financially, this program underperforms its in-state peers. If Rowan is the affordable or accessible option, it's still a viable path into nursing with manageable debt. However, if your child can gain admission to the stronger NJ nursing programs, the earnings difference over a career is too large to ignore.