Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at University of Pittsburgh-Bradford

Pitt-Bradford nursing graduates launch with solid $72,251 starting salaries but face an unusual earnings trajectory—by year four, median pay actually drops to $67,822. This backward slide is concerning in a field where experience typically commands higher wages, and it places the program below both the Pennsylvania state median ($78,428) and national average ($74,888). Among the 52 nursing programs in Pennsylvania, this ranks at the 40th percentile—squarely in the bottom half.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $27,000, graduates carry manageable loans that represent just 37% of first-year earnings, matching both state and national norms. The program serves a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (46%), making that moderate debt load particularly important. Still, when peer institutions like Immaculata and Villanova place graduates at $85,000+, the earnings gap becomes harder to ignore.

For families weighing this option, the central question is why earnings decline when they should rise. It could reflect regional market constraints in rural Pennsylvania or graduates leaving nursing roles. Either way, this program offers accessible entry to nursing at a reasonable price, but the career trajectory lags behind stronger Pennsylvania nursing schools by a meaningful margin.