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

University of Delaware nursing graduates earn strong starting salaries at $81,286, beating the national median by nearly $6,400 and placing them in the 76th percentile nationally. However, within Delaware's tight nursing market of just four programs, UDel sits in the middle of the pack—ranking third behind Wilmington University and Delaware Tech-Terry, both of which produce graduates earning around $86,500. For out-of-state families paying significantly higher tuition, this is worth noting: Delaware's community college delivers comparable outcomes at a fraction of the cost.

The debt load of $26,522 is manageable with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33, meaning graduates owe roughly four months of their first-year salary. The real question is the earnings trajectory: graduates see essentially flat earnings between year one and year four, while debt sits slightly above the state median. This suggests UDel's nursing program gets students to a solid income quickly, but may not offer the same advancement trajectory as competing Delaware programs where students report similar or higher earnings.

For Delaware residents, this is still a sound choice—strong starting pay with reasonable debt. For out-of-state families, the value proposition weakens considerably when compared to what Delaware's public alternatives deliver at lower cost. If your child is already set on UDel for other reasons, the nursing program won't derail their finances, but it's not the standout the price tag might suggest.