Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

University of Washington-Tacoma's nursing program delivers strong graduate outcomes while keeping debt remarkably low—a combination that's increasingly rare in higher education. With median debt of just $18,750 compared to the national average of $27,000, graduates enter the workforce with significantly less financial burden while still earning $86,212 in their first year, placing them in the 86th percentile nationally.

Within Washington state, the program holds solid middle ground among 19 nursing programs, ranking in the 60th percentile for earnings. While graduates don't quite match the $97,000+ starting salaries at top-tier programs like Bellevue College or Saint Martin's University, they're earning competitively with much less debt. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22 is excellent—meaning graduates can theoretically pay off their loans with just over two months of gross salary.

The slight earnings dip from year one to year four (-2%) is minor and likely reflects normal market fluctuations rather than career trajectory concerns. For families prioritizing financial prudence, UW-Tacoma offers an attractive value proposition: graduates enter a high-demand field with strong earning potential and manageable debt loads, setting them up for long-term financial stability in nursing careers.