Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

UT Health Science Center San Antonio's nursing program starts strong with $70,826 in first-year earnings, but graduates actually earn less over time—dropping to $67,660 by year four. This backwards trajectory is unusual for nursing, where experience typically commands higher pay. Among Texas nursing programs, this ranks at the 40th percentile, falling well short of the state median of $76,677 and trailing significantly behind top performers like West Coast University-Texas ($95,859) and University of Houston-Clear Lake ($93,001).

The debt picture offers some consolation. At $24,439, graduates carry slightly less debt than both state and national medians, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35. With 35% of students receiving Pell grants, the program serves a significant population of lower-income students who benefit from this relatively modest debt load.

For parents considering this program, the key concern isn't affordability—it's earnings potential. While graduates start at decent salaries, the declining earnings pattern and below-median performance within Texas suggest limited career advancement opportunities. Given that Texas has 73 nursing programs to choose from, families should seriously consider higher-performing alternatives that offer both strong starting salaries and earnings growth, especially since many competing programs carry similar debt levels.