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

Missouri nursing programs show considerable variation in outcomes, and while William Woods University's small graduate pool means we're working with estimates here, the figures based on comparable programs suggest a financially sound path forward. The estimated $28,461 in debt aligns closely with both state and national medians for nursing bachelor's programs, indicating typical borrowing levels for this field.

The estimated first-year earnings of $68,874—derived from 28 Missouri nursing programs—fall about $6,000 below the national median but match the state median exactly. This positions the program in the middle tier of Missouri options, below standouts like Chamberlain ($83,188) and Research College of Nursing ($75,705), but substantially above many healthcare fields. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 means graduates would owe roughly five months of their first-year salary, a manageable burden that most nursing salaries can absorb.

The bigger question is whether William Woods can deliver outcomes comparable to the state average it's being measured against. With a 74% admission rate and 30% Pell grant population, the school serves a broad student base, which could mean stronger support systems—or it could mean more variable student preparation. Since these are estimates rather than tracked outcomes for this specific program, you're betting that William Woods performs at least as well as the typical Missouri nursing program. Given nursing's strong job market and the reasonable debt load, that's probably a bet worth taking, but connecting with recent graduates would help confirm whether the program delivers on that promise.