Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

UNH's nursing program starts strong with first-year earnings of $77,271—above both state and national medians—but graduates see their income slip to $71,346 by year four. This backward trajectory is unusual in nursing, where most programs show steady earnings growth as nurses gain experience and certifications. Among New Hampshire's nine nursing programs, UNH lands squarely in the middle (60th percentile), trailing SNHU by over $14,000 and falling behind smaller competitors like Saint Anselm and Colby-Sawyer.

The $27,000 debt load is reasonable and creates a manageable 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio initially. However, that declining salary trend means graduates are earning less at the four-year mark than they were as new nurses, which raises questions about career progression or whether UNH grads are shifting into lower-paying specialties. With 100+ graduates in the data set, this pattern appears consistent rather than anomalous.

For an 87% admission rate flagship university, parents might expect stronger outcomes. The program isn't a financial disaster—nursing generally offers solid employment—but it's not delivering the upward mobility you'd hope for from New Hampshire's premier public institution. If your child is comparing nursing programs in-state, the private schools are producing better earnings outcomes despite likely higher sticker prices.