Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at University of Missouri-Kansas City

UMKC's nursing program presents an unusual financial pattern that deserves careful consideration. Graduates earn $71,150 in their first year—respectable for Missouri, where this ranks in the 60th percentile—but their income actually declines by year four to $67,613. That backward trajectory is puzzling for a field where nurses typically advance into better-paying positions or specializations over time.

The $31,000 debt load is modest by nursing standards, and the 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable. But the real concern is where graduates land compared to alternatives. Within Missouri alone, five nursing programs produce higher-earning graduates, including University of Missouri-Columbia just down I-70. The $5,000+ earnings gap between UMKC and Research College of Nursing or Central Methodist may not sound dramatic, but compounded over a 30-year career, it represents substantial lost income.

For Missouri families seeking in-state tuition, UMKC gets the job done—graduates earn above the state median and avoid crushing debt. But this isn't a program that positions nurses for the higher end of the salary spectrum, either locally or nationally. If your child has the grades for MU-Columbia or one of the stronger programs in the state, the long-term earnings advantage likely justifies shopping around. UMKC works as a solid backup option, but shouldn't be the first choice for nursing in Missouri.