Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at University of the Incarnate Word

University of the Incarnate Word nursing graduates earn substantially less than typical Texas BSN holders—about $12,000 less annually than the state median of $76,677. While the program ranks in the bottom 5th percentile nationally, it performs slightly better within Texas at the 25th percentile, suggesting this is partly about the competitive Texas nursing market where some programs produce graduates earning well into the $90,000s. The debt load of $27,574 is fairly standard, yielding a manageable 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio, but the modest 5% earnings growth over four years means graduates shouldn't expect significant salary jumps early in their careers.

The gap between this program and top Texas performers is striking. West Coast University-Texas and University of Houston-Clear Lake graduates earn nearly $30,000 more annually, and even Austin Community College—a two-year institution—sees its nursing grads out-earning UIW's bachelor's holders by over $23,000. Given that UIW admits 93% of applicants and serves a high proportion of Pell Grant recipients, accessibility appears to be part of its mission, but families should weigh whether that accessibility justifies the earnings difference.

For families committed to UIW for other reasons—location, campus culture, financial aid packages—nursing remains a stable career path with reasonable debt levels. But students purely focused on maximizing nursing earnings in Texas have clearly stronger options, including community colleges that cost less and deliver better financial outcomes.