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

Winona State's nursing program sits squarely in the middle of the pack, with graduates earning slightly above the national median but falling below Minnesota's state average. At $75,313 in first-year earnings, new nurses from this program earn about $400 more than the national median but roughly $260 less than what Minnesota nursing graduates typically make. More concerning is the program's rank in the bottom half (40th percentile) among Minnesota's 27 nursing programs, trailing schools like Saint Mary's ($84,323) and Augsburg ($80,574) by meaningful margins.

The debt picture offers some relief, with graduates carrying $26,252 in debt—below both national and state medians. This translates to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35, meaning graduates can reasonably expect to service their loans on a nurse's salary. However, the slight earnings decline from year one to year four (-4%) suggests graduates may be hitting their earning potential early rather than building toward higher-paying roles.

For Minnesota families, this program represents solid but unspectacular value. Your child will likely find nursing employment and manage their debt comfortably, but they might earn $5,000-10,000 less annually than graduates from stronger in-state programs. If nursing is the goal and admission to higher-ranked Minnesota programs proves difficult, Winona State provides a reliable path to the profession without crushing debt.