Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Sentara College of Health Sciences

Sentara College of Health Sciences graduates start strong, earning $76,356 in their first year—slightly above both the state and national medians for nursing programs. With a debt load of $29,250, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38 is manageable by healthcare standards. However, the earnings trajectory tells an unusual story: by year four, median earnings drop to $71,006, a 7% decline that's worth understanding before committing.

This earnings dip could reflect several realities in nursing careers—shift differentials that new grads maximize early on, or career moves that trade higher base pay for better schedules or specialty training opportunities. It's also possible some graduates pursue advanced degrees or switch to lower-paying but less demanding roles after gaining experience. At the 60th percentile among Virginia nursing programs, Sentara sits solidly in the middle tier, trailing schools like Chamberlain and Shenandoah by roughly $10,000 annually but still delivering competitive outcomes.

The numbers suggest this program offers reasonable value, particularly given the relatively low debt burden compared to many nursing schools. Just know you're not looking at automatic salary growth in those crucial early career years. For families prioritizing immediate job placement in healthcare with modest debt, Sentara delivers—just don't expect your child's paycheck to grow significantly during their first few years in the field.