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

University of North Georgia's nursing program produces graduates who earn slightly above the national median starting at $75,412, but there's a puzzling trajectory here: earnings actually drop to $70,003 by year four. This decline is unusual in nursing, where experience typically commands higher pay. While the program sits near the national median, it underperforms against Georgia's stronger nursing market—landing at just the 40th percentile among the state's 37 programs. Top community colleges in Georgia are producing graduates who out-earn UNG nurses by $10,000-$14,000 annually, suggesting you might find better value closer to home.

The financial picture offers one clear advantage: at $19,743, debt loads here run about $7,000 below Georgia's median and well under the national average. That low debt keeps the stress manageable—you're looking at roughly three months of income to cover the full loan balance. Still, the combination of below-state-median earnings and that backward slide by year four raises questions about whether graduates are finding optimal positions or staying in lower-paying roles.

For an anxious parent weighing options, this is a safety school with safety-school outcomes. Your child will become a nurse and carry reasonable debt, but several Georgia schools deliver stronger earning potential at similar or lower cost. If UNG is your in-state choice for other reasons—location, campus fit, admission certainty—the program works. But if maximizing nursing income matters, those community colleges and regional universities at the top of Georgia's list deserve serious attention.