Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at The University of Tennessee-Martin

UT-Martin's nursing program launches graduates into solid $71,727 starting salaries—above Tennessee's median for nursing programs and ranking in the 60th percentile statewide. However, by year four, earnings drop to $65,594, a concerning 9% decline that suggests graduates may be leaving the profession, shifting to lower-paying roles, or facing regional wage constraints. This runs counter to what typically happens in nursing, where earnings usually rise with experience.

The debt picture is reasonable at $25,231, translating to a 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio that's manageable for a field with steady demand. That said, several Tennessee programs deliver stronger outcomes—Strayer, Galen, and Baptist Health Sciences all report earnings above $74,000 with similar or lower debt burdens. The moderate sample size adds some uncertainty to these figures, but the backward earnings trajectory is hard to ignore.

For families prioritizing accessible nursing education in West Tennessee, UT-Martin offers a viable path with controllable debt. But the earnings decline warrants closer investigation: talk to recent alumni about their career paths and whether staying in the Martin area limits advancement opportunities. If your child plans to relocate to Nashville or Memphis after graduation, they might benefit from programs with stronger regional networks in those markets.