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

UT Permian Basin's nursing program combines remarkably low debt with below-average earnings—but the small sample size makes this a riskier bet than the numbers initially suggest. Graduates leave with just $13,954 in debt, less than half the state median and among the lowest debt loads of any Texas nursing program. However, first-year earnings of $71,681 trail both the state median ($76,677) and national average by roughly $3,000-5,000. Within Texas, this puts the program at the 40th percentile—meaning six in ten nursing programs produce higher-earning graduates.

The debt advantage is substantial enough that the debt-to-earnings ratio (0.19) looks healthy, and new nurses here face minimal financial stress. But the earnings gap is concerning given that nursing typically offers strong starting salaries regardless of school prestige. With fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers may not reflect the typical student experience—small cohorts can be skewed by a few outliers. The 84% admission rate and modest test scores suggest this program serves a regional workforce need in West Texas, where cost of living is lower and may justify the earnings discount.

For families prioritizing minimal debt, this program delivers. But if your child can access Texas's higher-performing nursing schools—where graduates earn $15,000-24,000 more annually—the modest debt savings here may not justify the long-term earnings sacrifice. The small sample size adds uncertainty that cautious families should weigh carefully.