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

Kansas students pursuing nursing have several options that deliver significantly stronger outcomes than KU's program. With first-year earnings of $65,347, KU nursing graduates earn roughly $3,000 less than the state median and trail the national average by nearly $10,000. That 5th percentile national ranking is stark—this program underperforms 95% of nursing programs nationwide. Even within Kansas, where nursing salaries run below the national average, KU sits near the middle of the pack at the 40th percentile.

The debt picture offers some relief. At $20,500, graduates carry about $6,500 less than typical Kansas nursing students, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31. That's genuinely affordable for a starting nurse's salary. However, the earnings disadvantage compounds over time—the modest 5% growth to $68,800 by year four suggests limited advancement, and KU grads still trail peers from Ottawa University or Southwestern College by $7,000+ annually.

For Kansas families, this creates a clear math problem: several in-state nursing programs deliver $10,000 more in annual earnings while charging similar or only slightly higher tuition. Unless KU offers compelling non-financial advantages for your child, those extra earnings elsewhere would offset any tuition difference within the first year of work. The lower debt is nice, but it doesn't compensate for consistently trailing the market.