Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor's nursing program graduates earn nearly $3,000 above the Michigan median right out of school, placing them solidly in the middle of the pack among the state's 28 nursing programs. The debt load of $29,748 is reasonable—just slightly above typical for Michigan nursing students—creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38. Graduates can realistically pay down their loans within a few years while building their careers.

The concerning element here is the earnings trajectory: graduates actually see their median pay drop by 4% between year one and year four, from $77,680 to $74,629. This backward slide is unusual for nursing, where skills and experience typically command higher wages. It's unclear whether this reflects graduates switching to lower-paying nursing roles, working reduced hours, or simply the limited data sample from this cohort. Given the moderate sample size, the pattern may not represent the typical graduate experience.

For parents evaluating options, this program sits comfortably in the middle tier of Michigan nursing schools—behind University of Michigan-Flint and Chamberlain but ahead of most regional competitors. The initial debt burden won't be crushing, and first-year earnings are strong enough to launch a nursing career. Just don't bank on significant salary growth in the first few years after graduation based on this data.