Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Texas Tech Health Sciences Center's nursing program delivers solid financial outcomes that slightly outperform both national and state averages, though it falls short of being a standout choice in Texas's competitive nursing landscape. With first-year earnings of $77,083—ranking in the 60th percentile among Texas nursing programs—graduates earn about $400 more than the typical Texas nursing graduate and $2,200 above the national average. However, the program sits well behind Texas's top performers, with graduates earning $10,000-18,000 less annually than those from elite in-state programs.

The debt picture is more concerning. At $22,000, graduates carry less debt than both state and national medians, but this program ranks in the 83rd percentile nationally for debt levels—meaning most comparable programs nationwide manage to graduate students with even less debt. The 0.29 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable but not exceptional for nursing. Most troubling is the negative earnings growth, with salaries actually declining slightly by year four, suggesting graduates may hit an early career plateau.

For parents, this represents a safe but unremarkable investment. Your child will likely secure good employment with reasonable debt, but won't maximize their earning potential compared to other Texas options. If Texas Tech is significantly cheaper to attend or offers other compelling advantages, the financial outcomes are solid enough to justify the choice—just don't expect it to be the financial home run that nursing education can be at the state's top-performing programs.