Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at University of West Alabama

University of West Alabama's nursing program manages to outperform the state median despite serving a predominantly working-class student body, though the small graduate cohort and unusual earnings pattern warrant careful consideration. First-year earnings of $66,312 beat Alabama's median by nearly $3,000 and place graduates in the 60th percentile statewide—a solid showing that suggests graduates are finding reasonably competitive positions. The $25,875 in debt is higher than the state median but still manageable, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39.

The puzzling issue is the 15% earnings drop by year four, falling to $56,375. This decline could reflect several scenarios: graduates moving to part-time positions, relocating to lower-cost-of-living areas, or simply statistical noise given the very small sample size (under 30 graduates). With nursing typically showing earnings stability or growth, this downward trajectory is atypical and hard to interpret confidently.

For parents weighing this option, the program demonstrates it can launch graduates into decent-paying nursing roles initially, and does so with debt levels that won't be crushing. However, the small cohort size means these numbers might not represent a typical graduate's experience. Community colleges like Bishop State and Southern Union deliver stronger outcomes with less debt—worth comparing if your child has those options accessible.