Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Wisconsin Lutheran College

Wisconsin Lutheran College's nursing program lands right at the Wisconsin median for earnings but substantially trails the national figure—nearly $2,300 below what nursing graduates typically earn across the country. The unusual aspect here is the earnings stagnation: graduates actually see their median income dip slightly from year one to year four, hovering around $72,000 throughout. This suggests new nurses here may be starting at close to their ceiling rather than building toward higher-earning specialized roles or leadership positions.

The debt picture offers some consolation. At $27,000, graduates carry manageable loans with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37—meaning they owe about 4.5 months of their first-year salary. This is exactly average both nationally and within Wisconsin, making the financial burden reasonable even if the upside feels limited. The 60th percentile ranking among Wisconsin programs indicates this is a middle-of-the-pack option in-state, though several other schools including UW-Madison and multiple Herzing campuses deliver $3,000-$4,000 more in median earnings with similar debt loads.

For families prioritizing job security and debt control over maximizing income potential, this program checks those boxes. But if you're expecting nursing to provide significant salary growth or above-average earnings for the Milwaukee market, the flat trajectory here is worth weighing carefully against alternatives.