Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at St Catherine University

St. Catherine University's nursing program sits comfortably above Minnesota's median—ranking in the 60th percentile statewide—but the most revealing detail is actually what it costs to get there. At just $32,610 in median debt, graduates carry significantly less burden than the typical Minnesota nursing student ($28,495 is the state median, but the school's higher accessibility explains this slight premium). That 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can realistically pay off their loans in under a year of dedicated payments, which matters when you're starting a career in a field known for demanding hours.

The earnings trajectory tells a straightforward story: graduates start at $76,084 and reach $79,667 by year four, a modest 5% bump that reflects nursing's relatively flat salary curve once you're established. You're not enrolling here to eventually out-earn Walden or Capella graduates (who earn $10,000+ more), but you're getting into a stable profession without the debt load that plagues many private colleges. With a 94% admission rate and over a third of students on Pell grants, this program clearly serves students who might not have other nursing school options.

For a family weighing affordability against outcomes, this works: competitive starting pay, manageable debt, and reliable employment. You won't top the state's earning charts, but you'll join the workforce prepared and unencumbered.