Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Shawnee State University

Shawnee State's nursing program trails most Ohio nursing schools significantly—earning $64,169 at the state median versus $52,594 here one year out, placing this program in just the 25th percentile statewide. When virtually every other Ohio nursing program launches graduates into $69,000+ salaries, that $12,000-$17,000 gap matters, especially considering the debt load is $8,000 higher than Ohio's typical nursing program. Even against the lowest-ranked programs nationwide, this one sits in the bottom 5th percentile.

The debt picture compounds the concern. At $34,884, graduates here borrow about $14,000 more than the national median for associate nursing programs, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66—workable for nursing but less comfortable than the field typically offers. Earnings do grow 19% to $62,298 by year four, which helps, but that still lags behind what most Ohio nursing graduates earn in their first year.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked) means these numbers could shift with more data, but the pattern is consistent: lower starting pay, higher debt, weaker positioning versus state alternatives. For Ohio families, nearby community colleges like Sinclair or established nursing schools like Mercy College show substantially stronger outcomes at lower cost. Unless geography makes Shawnee State the only viable option, the numbers suggest looking elsewhere for nursing training in Ohio.