Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Rutgers' nursing program delivers solid earnings that significantly outperform national benchmarks but fall short within New Jersey's competitive nursing landscape. With median first-year earnings of $87,594, graduates earn $13,000 more than the national average and rank in the 89th percentile nationally. However, this same performance places them in just the 40th percentile among New Jersey nursing programs, where the state median is $90,730. Several in-state competitors like Montclair State ($104,219) and Kean University ($101,039) produce graduates earning $15,000-20,000 more annually.

The program's debt profile is reasonable at $28,000—close to both national and state medians—creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32. However, the earnings trajectory raises concerns, with a slight decline from year one to year four rather than the growth typically expected in nursing careers. This "early peak" pattern suggests graduates may be hitting their earning potential quickly but not advancing as rapidly as peers from higher-performing programs.

For families considering this program, Rutgers offers a reliable path to solid nursing earnings with moderate debt, but you're paying premium tuition for middle-tier results within New Jersey. If your child can gain admission to Montclair State or Kean University, those programs offer significantly better earning potential for similar debt levels.