Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Southwestern Adventist University

Southwestern Adventist's nursing program produces graduates earning $76,795 in their first year—solidly above the national median and right at Texas's median for nursing programs. The debt load of $31,000 is manageable, translating to a 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio that's considerably better than most nursing programs nationwide. For a school serving nearly 40% Pell-eligible students, these outcomes demonstrate strong career preparation without crushing financial burden.

The program's positioning in the Texas market is worth noting: it ranks in the 60th percentile statewide, meaning graduates out-earn those from roughly half of the state's 73 nursing programs. However, there's a significant gap between this program and Texas's top performers—schools like West Coast University and University of Houston-Clear Lake place graduates earning $15,000-$19,000 more annually. The earnings also flatten completely between years one and four, suggesting early career momentum doesn't translate into rapid advancement.

For families prioritizing stable employment with reasonable debt over maximum earning potential, this program delivers. Your child will enter a profession with strong job security and graduate with debt they can realistically manage on a nurse's salary. Just don't expect the outsized earnings that Texas's top nursing programs achieve—those typically come with either higher admission barriers or significantly higher tuition costs.