Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Weber State University

Weber State's nursing program sits in an unusual position—while graduates carry remarkably low debt at just $17,811 (far below both national and state medians), their earnings significantly underperform expectations. At $66,085 in the first year, graduates earn about $9,000 less than the national median and slightly below Utah's median for nursing programs, ranking in just the 5th percentile nationally despite being closer to average within Utah.

The debt picture initially looks attractive with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27, but the concerning trend is that earnings actually decline to $64,121 by year four—a 3% drop when most careers see growth. This puts Weber State graduates at a substantial disadvantage compared to Utah's top nursing programs, where graduates at Western Governors and Arizona College earn over $85,000. Even mid-tier programs like Utah Tech produce graduates earning $3,500 more annually.

For parents considering this program, the low debt load is genuinely beneficial and reduces financial stress after graduation. However, the earnings gap compounds over time—that $9,000 annual difference versus national medians could mean $100,000+ in lost lifetime earnings. If your child can gain admission to higher-performing Utah nursing programs, the investment in potentially higher debt may pay off significantly through better career trajectory and earning potential.