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

Saint Xavier's nursing graduates start strong at $78,285—ahead of both the Illinois median ($73,156) and national benchmark ($74,888), ranking at the 60th percentile statewide. That's respectable positioning in a competitive market, though programs like Chamberlain and Governors State do push closer to $80,000. The debt load of $27,188 is perfectly in line with state and national norms, creating a manageable 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio that most families would find reasonable.

The complication appears in year four, when median earnings dip to $74,864—essentially matching the national average but representing a 4% decline from year one. This pattern isn't unusual in nursing, where new graduates often start in higher-paying hospital settings before some transition to different specialties or work arrangements, but it does mean earnings don't build the way parents typically expect. With 56% of students receiving Pell grants, Saint Xavier clearly serves working-class families who need that strong starting salary to manage debt quickly.

For an Illinois family, this program delivers solid value: your child will likely earn above the state median from day one with debt that won't overwhelm their budget. Just understand that nursing careers don't always follow a steady upward trajectory—specialty choice and work setting matter more than years of experience for many RNs.