Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Trevecca Nazarene University

Trevecca's nursing program sits in an interesting middle ground—first-year earnings of $69,533 land above the state median but roughly $5,000 below the national average. While debt figures here are estimated from similar Tennessee programs (around $26,684), the resulting debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38 suggests manageable repayment even if actual borrowing runs slightly higher.

What's more revealing is the competitive context. Trevecca graduates earn less than counterparts from nearby programs like Galen Health Institutes ($76,234) or Baptist Health Sciences ($74,962), though the gap isn't dramatic. For a BSN specifically, these differences in early earnings can narrow quickly as nurses gain experience and pursue specialty certifications—but they matter during those first lean years of loan repayment. The 60th percentile ranking within Tennessee indicates Trevecca holds its own locally, even if it's not commanding the highest starting salaries.

The real calculation here is whether a smaller Christian university environment justifies potentially leaving $4,000-7,000 annually on the table compared to top-performing Tennessee programs. With estimated debt that should be payable within a few years on a nurse's salary, this isn't a financial disaster—but families should verify actual aid packages and compare them directly against programs like Galen or UT-Martin where earnings data shows stronger outcomes.