Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Southwest Minnesota State University

Southwest Minnesota State's nursing program lands below the midpoint for Minnesota—ranking in the 40th percentile statewide with first-year earnings of $71,933 compared to the state median of $75,577. That gap matters in a state with 27 nursing programs, where the top performers like Walden and Capella see graduates earning $85,000+. The program does offer one advantage: relatively low debt at $33,560, which translates to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47. That's better than many programs nationally, though Minnesota nursing graduates typically carry even less debt ($28,495 median).

The troubling pattern here is complete earnings stagnation—graduates earn $71,933 both one and four years out. Most nursing careers show meaningful salary progression as nurses gain experience and specialize, but that's not materializing for this cohort. Whether this reflects limited opportunities in Marshall's rural location or other program-specific factors, it suggests graduates may need to relocate or pursue additional credentials to advance financially.

For a family prioritizing staying in Minnesota, this program offers a nursing degree at moderate cost, but your child would likely start behind peers from stronger state programs—a gap that doesn't appear to close over time. If geographic flexibility isn't an issue, look at Minnesota's higher-ranked options first.