Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Tennessee State University

Tennessee State's nursing program sits squarely in the middle of Tennessee options—landing at the 40th percentile statewide—but trails the national median by nearly $10,000. For a state where in-state tuition matters, this means graduates earn roughly what you'd expect from a mid-tier Tennessee nursing program, but less than what nursing grads earn at nearby options like Baptist Health Sciences University ($75,000) or University of Memphis ($74,000).

The $31,000 debt load is actually manageable relative to first-year earnings—the 0.47 ratio is well within the "safe" zone that financial aid experts recommend. However, the modest 6% earnings growth over four years suggests limited upward momentum compared to stronger programs where BSN graduates typically see steeper salary trajectories as they gain experience and specialty certifications.

The major caveat here: this data represents fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes likely vary widely. For families already considering TSU for other reasons—its 52% Pell grant population indicates strong financial aid support, and the 93% admission rate makes it accessible—the nursing program won't saddle you with crushing debt. But if your child has options among Tennessee's higher-performing nursing schools, those programs appear to offer meaningfully better earning potential right out of the gate without substantially more debt.