Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Vincennes University

Vincennes University's nursing program sits in an uncomfortable middle ground—affordable compared to some alternatives, but delivering earnings well below what Indiana nursing graduates typically achieve. At $62,778 in the first year, graduates earn about $9,000 less than the state median, placing this program at just the 40th percentile among Indiana nursing programs. More concerning, earnings actually decline to $60,154 by year four, while nurses from stronger Indiana programs typically see increases during this period. The top five nursing programs in the state all produce graduates earning $74,000 or more within a year of graduation.

The $23,000 debt load is reasonable—$4,000 below both state and national medians—which provides some cushion against the weaker earnings trajectory. That keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio manageable at 0.37, meaning graduates can theoretically pay off their loans in under half a year's salary. However, this advantage feels less meaningful when you consider that nurses from Purdue Northwest, for instance, graduate with similar debt but earn $15,000 more annually.

For families prioritizing nursing as a career, this program's placement in the bottom 5th percentile nationally is hard to justify when stronger Indiana options exist at comparable cost. The earnings gap compounds year after year, potentially costing graduates tens of thousands in lost income over a career. Unless location-specific factors make Vincennes the only viable option, Indiana families should explore the higher-performing programs that deliver significantly better financial outcomes.