Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Ursuline College

Ursuline's nursing program graduates earn $69,155 in their first year—below both the national median ($74,888) and just under Ohio's median ($70,327)—but the more troubling pattern is what happens next. Four years out, median earnings drop to $60,480, a 12% decline that's unusual for nursing. With $35,000 in debt (30% above both state and national norms), graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio that starts at 0.51 but worsens as earnings fall. For context, several Ohio nursing programs produce first-year earnings above $75,000, with Chamberlain grads earning $83,188.

The earnings decline warrants scrutiny. Nursing typically offers stable or growing wages as professionals gain experience and specializations. This backward trajectory could reflect graduates moving into lower-paid nursing roles, leaving bedside positions before building seniority, or facing competitive disadvantages in the Cleveland-area job market. Whatever the cause, it creates a difficult financial picture: instead of growing income helping pay down that above-average debt load, graduates face tighter budgets over time.

If your child attends here, plan for the higher debt burden and understand that initial earnings may represent the high-water mark rather than a starting point. The 84% admission rate and solid sample size give confidence in these numbers—this is the actual graduate outcome. For nursing specifically, Ohio offers multiple programs with stronger earnings trajectories and lower debt, which deserve serious consideration before committing.