Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at St. John's College-Department of Nursing

Among Illinois's 41 nursing programs, St. John's College lands squarely in the middle—40th percentile statewide—but that median position masks an unusual earnings trajectory. Graduates start at $67,550, about $6,000 below the state's $73,156 median, then see their income actually decline to $61,663 by year four. That backward slide is particularly unusual in nursing, where experience typically commands higher pay and specialized opportunities open up over time.

The debt load of $27,375 is manageable relative to that first-year salary, creating a 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio that won't crush a new graduate. But here's the concern: while you can afford the loans on entry-level pay, that shrinking income by year four suggests graduates may be hitting a ceiling or facing limited advancement at their employers. Compare this to Chamberlain or Governors State, where Illinois nursing grads earn $80,000+ and presumably see more typical upward trajectories.

For an anxious parent, the question is whether your child will stay in the Springfield area after graduation. If local hospitals and care facilities represent the primary job market, these numbers may reflect regional wage realities rather than program weakness. But if mobility is an option, this program's middle-tier performance statewide—combined with that earnings decline—suggests it's worth examining higher-ranked Illinois programs that better position graduates for career growth.