Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at University of North Dakota

University of North Dakota's nursing program starts strong with graduates earning $73,097 in their first year—beating the state median and keeping debt manageable at $25,792. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.35, meaning graduates earn nearly three times what they owe. For North Dakota families, this program ranks squarely in the middle of the pack, outperforming half of the state's nursing programs while coming in slightly below Mayville State and Rasmussen.

The concern is what happens next. Earnings drop to $64,294 by year four, a 12% decline that's unusual for nursing and suggests graduates may be shifting to lower-paying roles, reducing hours, or leaving the profession entirely. While nursing offers flexibility that some value over raw earnings, this trajectory means early-career income may not reflect long-term earning potential. The robust sample size confirms this pattern is real, not a statistical fluke.

For parents weighing options, UND nursing delivers solid initial outcomes with reasonable debt, but the earnings slide warrants a conversation with your student about career goals. If they're committed to bedside nursing in North Dakota, starting at $73K with under $26K in debt works. But if maximizing income matters, Mayville State's graduates earn $4,400 more annually with similar debt levels—a difference that compounds significantly over a career.