Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at The University of Texas at Austin

UT Austin's nursing program delivers below-average outcomes for Texas—a surprising result given the institution's prestige. While first-year earnings of $75,095 match the national median, they fall short of Texas's $76,677 median and lag significantly behind top in-state programs. More concerning, this program ranks in just the 40th percentile among Texas nursing schools, meaning 60% of nursing programs in the state produce higher earners. Meanwhile, public alternatives like Austin Community College ($88,105) and Texas A&M-Central Texas ($88,036) show substantially stronger earnings potential at likely lower cost.

The debt picture offers one bright spot: graduates leave with $19,651, well below both state and national medians. However, the minimal debt advantage doesn't offset the earnings gap, especially as salaries actually decline slightly by year four rather than growing. This suggests graduates may be accepting lower-paid positions or facing limited advancement opportunities compared to peers from other Texas nursing programs.

For Texas families paying in-state tuition, this creates an uncomfortable calculation. You're getting a UT degree with relatively low debt, but your graduate will likely earn $13,000-20,000 less annually than peers from less selective programs. Given nursing's standardized licensing and the strength of other public options across Texas, the UT brand doesn't translate to marketplace advantage in this field. Consider whether the campus experience justifies accepting below-median Texas nursing outcomes.