Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Texas A&M University-College Station

Texas A&M's nursing program graduates start strong with $78,297 in first-year earnings—above both the national and Texas medians—but earnings unexpectedly drop to $72,981 by year four. This downward trajectory is unusual for nursing, where salaries typically rise with experience. With a sample size exceeding 100 graduates, this pattern isn't a statistical fluke. The $21,500 median debt is reasonable, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.27, but that initial strong salary proves more vulnerable than the low debt burden suggests.

The program ranks in the 60th percentile among Texas nursing schools, placing it solidly middle-of-the-pack despite Texas A&M's academic reputation. Compare this to top Texas performers like West Coast University-Texas ($95,859) or University of Houston-Clear Lake ($93,001), and the gap becomes clear—graduates here earn $15,000 to $17,000 less annually even at their peak. For a flagship state university, these outcomes feel underwhelming.

The fundamental question is why earnings decline when nurses typically see steady salary progression. If your child attends, they should understand from day one that their immediate post-graduation salary may represent their high-water mark for several years. The low debt softens this concern, but you're still paying for a degree from a prestigious institution that performs no better than the Texas median.