Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Saint Ambrose University

Saint Ambrose's nursing program lands in the middle of Iowa's nursing landscape—ranking at the 40th percentile statewide—but trails significantly behind the national benchmark by nearly $9,000 annually. While the $27,000 debt load matches both state and national medians, graduates here earn about $66,000 in their first year, which is $8,000 below what Luther College or Dordt University nursing grads typically make. The 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable, meaning graduates need less than five months of gross salary to cover their student loans.

The concerning pattern is the slight earnings dip by year four, dropping to $65,000 rather than climbing. This stagnation is unusual for nursing, where salary progression is typically steady. Given Iowa's strong nursing job market, this suggests graduates may be clustering in lower-paying settings or facing regional wage constraints. The robust sample size (100+ graduates) confirms this isn't a data fluke.

For families committed to Iowa, this program offers a stable but unremarkable pathway into nursing. The debt is reasonable, and job placement is likely solid given nursing's demand. However, if your child has the grades to get into Luther or Northwestern College—both with admission rates under 70%—those programs deliver $5,000-9,000 more in annual earnings for similar debt. That gap compounds to tens of thousands over a career, making Saint Ambrose the value choice only if those stronger programs aren't accessible.