Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Stephen F Austin State University

Stephen F. Austin's nursing program sits in an unusual position: graduates launch with solid $74,683 starting salaries and manageable $25,125 debt, but earnings actually decline slightly over the next three years. That's the opposite trajectory from what you'd typically see in a growing field like nursing.

The bigger concern is how this program stacks up regionally. Among 73 Texas nursing programs, it ranks in just the 40th percentile—meaning graduates at University of Houston-Clear Lake earn $20,000 more annually, and even Austin Community College's program delivers $13,000 higher salaries. The first-year earnings are essentially identical to the national median, suggesting this program doesn't offer any particular advantage despite Texas generally having strong nursing markets.

The debt load is reasonable at about 5 months' salary, and the 88% admission rate makes this an accessible option. But you're paying for a four-year degree that produces similar outcomes to many two-year programs while underperforming the Texas median by $2,000-3,000 annually. For a Texas family, other in-state options deliver substantially better returns. This could make sense if your child specifically wants the Nacogdoches campus experience, but purely as a financial investment in a nursing career, stronger programs exist at similar or lower costs throughout the state.