Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Thomas More University

Thomas More's nursing program sits in an unusual position: it slightly outperforms the Kentucky median by about $400 in first-year earnings and ranks in the 60th percentile statewide, but the trajectory reverses course quickly. By year four, graduates earn $63,765—roughly $7,000 less than where they started and notably below both state and national medians. This downward slide is the opposite of what you'd expect in nursing, where experience typically commands higher pay.

The $28,000 debt load is manageable in absolute terms, with that first-year salary covering it reasonably well. However, the real concern is where graduates stand four years in. While schools like Beckfield College-Florence and University of Pikeville see their graduates earning above $82,000, Thomas More nurses are settling into the low $60,000s. That's not just a gap—it's $15,000-20,000 in annual earning power that compounds over a career.

For families choosing an in-state nursing program, this one carries real opportunity cost. Your child would start at a competitive salary but lose ground compared to peers at stronger Kentucky programs. Unless there are compelling personal reasons to attend Thomas More specifically, the state has multiple options where nursing graduates maintain upward earnings momentum rather than watching it fade.