Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at University of Arizona

University of Arizona nursing graduates start strong at $78,168—well above the national median—but this masks a puzzling reality: earnings actually slip slightly by year four, and the program ranks in just the 40th percentile statewide. When Arizona's median for nursing programs sits at $84,178, and competitors like University of Phoenix ($98,826) and Grand Canyon ($92,781) deliver significantly higher earnings, this flagship university is underperforming its own state's nursing market by roughly $6,000 annually.

The debt picture looks excellent at first glance—$21,500 is substantially lower than both state and national medians, creating a manageable 0.28 debt-to-earnings ratio that most graduates should handle comfortably. However, that advantage becomes less compelling when you realize Arizona nursing graduates elsewhere are earning an extra $500+ monthly while often starting from similar or only modestly higher debt loads.

For in-state students paying resident tuition, this program offers a safe path into nursing with minimal financial burden. But parents should understand they're not getting the earnings premium you'd expect from Arizona's flagship university. If your child can access Grand Canyon or even Arizona College of Nursing, the 15-20% higher earnings could justify exploring those options, particularly if scholarships narrow the tuition gap.