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

UT Southern's nursing program sits in an unusual position: it performs better than most Tennessee programs (60th percentile statewide) while lagging the national average. The $67,349 starting salary beats Tennessee's median of $67,094 and keeps debt manageable at $25,683—just 38% of first-year earnings. For families prioritizing in-state tuition and employment, this passes the basic affordability test.

The real concern is what happens after year one. Earnings drop 17% to $55,793 by year four, which is atypical for nursing programs that usually see steady growth as nurses gain experience and certifications. This could reflect geographic limitations in rural Tennessee, where advancement opportunities may be scarce, or it might be a statistical quirk of the small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked). The latter is entirely possible and worth noting—small cohorts can produce misleading trends.

For Tennessee families, particularly those in southern or rural areas where UT Southern's network is strongest, this represents a reasonable path into nursing with below-average debt. But if your child has options at programs like UT-Martin ($71,727) or Memphis ($73,680) with more stable trajectories, those merit serious consideration. The declining earnings pattern needs explanation before committing.