Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at William Carey University

William Carey nursing graduates start strong at $73,469, outearning 60% of Mississippi nursing programs and keeping debt manageable at $31,000. But here's the concern: by year four, median earnings drop to $62,497—a 15% decline that bucks the typical career trajectory. While this could reflect graduates shifting to part-time roles or pursuing advanced degrees, it's unusual enough that you'd want to understand what's driving it before committing.

The debt picture offers some reassurance. At $31,000, it's higher than Mississippi's $26,062 median but still reasonable compared to the national benchmark, and the 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio means first-year salary covers the debt comfortably. The program performs solidly within Mississippi, though top performers like Alcorn State ($85,255) and Mississippi University for Women ($74,422) deliver notably stronger outcomes.

If your child is committed to nursing and values William Carey's environment, the initial earnings and debt load make this workable. But the earnings decline creates uncertainty about long-term value—investigate whether the drop reflects career choices by recent cohorts or systemic program factors. For students prioritizing maximum earning power, the in-state alternatives at Alcorn State or MUW warrant serious consideration.