Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Southeast Missouri State University

Southeast Missouri State's nursing program starts strong with first-year earnings of $68,302, but the trajectory should concern you: graduates actually earn *less* four years later, dropping to $63,451. This backward slide is unusual in nursing, where most programs show steady income growth as nurses gain experience and move into specialized or leadership roles. While the program sits right at Missouri's median for nursing schools, it lags significantly behind the state's top performers—Recent Research College of Nursing graduates earn nearly $12,000 more annually.

The $26,000 debt load is reasonable and slightly below both state and national averages, which offers some financial cushion. However, the earning decline means that manageable first-year debt becomes harder to justify as income drops. Among Missouri's 36 nursing programs, this one ranks squarely in the middle—not alarming, but far from your best option in-state.

The data here is clear and based on a robust sample: this program gets graduates into nursing jobs quickly, but something isn't translating into career progression. For a profession with typically strong earnings growth, you'd want to understand why these nurses aren't advancing. If your child is set on Southeast Missouri State, they'll need to be exceptionally proactive about seeking specialty certifications and career development opportunities that this program may not naturally provide.