Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Saint Peter's University

Saint Peter's nursing graduates earn $88,259 in their first year—significantly above the national median but below what most New Jersey nursing programs deliver. Among the state's 25 nursing programs, this ranks at the 40th percentile, trailing schools like Montclair State ($104,219) and Kean ($101,039) by $15,000-20,000 annually. That gap matters in a high cost-of-living state like New Jersey, where nurses at peer institutions are capturing more of the market's premium wages.

The debt load of $24,457 is manageable with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28, and the program serves a largely working-class student body (54% receive Pell grants). However, earnings actually decline slightly to $86,630 by year four, suggesting graduates may be locked into entry-level positions or working in lower-paying healthcare settings compared to peers from top-tier New Jersey programs who see continued salary growth.

For families considering this program: it's a solid pathway into nursing with reasonable debt, but not the strongest financial outcome among New Jersey's public and private options. If your child can access programs like Montclair State or Kean—whether through grades, location, or financial aid—those would likely offer better long-term earning potential in the competitive New Jersey healthcare market.