Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Union Adventist University

Union Adventist's nursing graduates start strong at $75,244—above both state and national medians—but earnings drop 11% by year four to $66,629. This backward trajectory is unusual in nursing, where salaries typically rise with experience, and it places graduates well below Nebraska's top programs like Doane ($80,849) and Creighton ($77,587) by that same four-year mark.

The financial fundamentals are solid: at $31,000 in median debt, borrowers face manageable repayment relative to that first-year salary (0.41 ratio), and the debt level sits comfortably below the 75th percentile nationally. The program ranks in the 60th percentile among Nebraska nursing schools for earnings, positioning it as a middle-tier option in the state. With a 100% admission rate and relatively low Pell enrollment, Union Adventist provides accessible entry to the nursing profession without the debt burden seen at many competitors.

The real question is what's driving that earnings decline. Whether it's graduates moving to lower-paying specialties, relocating to different markets, or hitting an early career plateau, parents should investigate placement patterns. For students planning to stay in Nebraska and prioritize low debt over maximum earning potential, this works. But families expecting steady income growth through the mid-career years should dig into where these graduates actually land after four years.