Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Southwest University at El Paso

Texas nursing programs show significant variation in debt loads, and the estimated $43,010 here is notably higher than what most comparable BSN programs require students to carry. While peer programs in the state typically burden graduates with around $25,697 in debt, similar programs at this school type suggest borrowers here face nearly $17,000 more—a concerning gap when first-year earnings appear consistent with state norms around $76,677.

That debt level matters because it directly affects how manageable the early career years feel. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56, graduates would be looking at annual loan payments that consume a larger share of their nursing salary than is typical. For context, the national median debt for BSN programs is just $27,000, making the estimated burden here roughly 60% higher than what most nursing students nationwide are managing.

The saving grace is that nursing salaries in Texas hold steady, and the estimated earnings here align with the state median. However, with 79% of students receiving Pell grants, the elevated debt particularly impacts families who can least afford it. Before committing, compare actual debt outcomes at programs like Austin Community College District or Texas A&M-Central Texas, where similar nursing credentials likely come with substantially lower price tags while still producing strong earning graduates.