Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at University of Rio Grande

The debt load here demands attention: $52,750 represents nearly double the state median for nursing bachelor's programs in Ohio. While similar programs across the state suggest first-year earnings around $70,000—making that debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75 technically manageable—you're looking at significantly higher borrowing costs than most Ohio nursing students face. The national benchmark of $27,000 in median debt tells the same story: graduates from this program are carrying roughly twice the typical burden.

Nursing degrees generally deliver solid earning potential, and the estimated $70,000 starting salary aligns with Ohio's median for the field. But when comparable programs at Kettering College or Galen College of Nursing produce similar or better outcomes with half the debt, the financial calculus shifts. That extra $25,000 in loans translates to years of additional monthly payments, even with nursing's stable income trajectory.

If your child is committed to University of Rio Grande for specific reasons—location, smaller campus environment, or existing scholarships that could lower these costs—nursing remains a profession with strong employment prospects. But without significant aid to bring that debt figure down, you're essentially paying a premium for this particular program when more affordable paths to the same RN license exist across Ohio.