Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Southern University and A & M College

Southern University's nursing program shows a puzzling pattern: graduates earn nearly $80,000 in their first year—beating both the Louisiana median ($78,065) and placing them in the 70th percentile nationally. But by year four, those earnings drop to $65,490, an 18% decline that's hard to explain. This trajectory is unusual in nursing, where earnings typically climb steadily with experience. It could reflect graduates moving into lower-paid specialties, reducing hours, or other factors, but it's a question worth investigating before committing.

The debt picture offers some reassurance. At $39,678, graduates borrow roughly $11,500 more than typical Louisiana nursing students, but the strong first-year earnings keep the debt-to-income ratio at a manageable 0.50. The sample size is robust, so these aren't fluky numbers. Among Louisiana's 20 nursing programs, Southern ranks solidly in the middle—behind schools like Dillard ($86,585) and UL Lafayette ($80,416), but still competitive.

For families considering this program, the first-year earnings suggest graduates can find solid initial employment. However, the income decline by year four is atypical enough to warrant questions during campus visits about career trajectories and why recent graduates might see decreasing earnings. If your child can explain that pattern and still find the program appealing, the modest debt load makes this a workable choice, especially for students seeking an HBCU experience in Louisiana.