Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Wright State University-Lake Campus

Wright State-Lake Campus sits right at Ohio's median for nursing graduate earnings, which sounds middling until you notice the troubling trajectory. Graduates start at $70,327—solidly middle-of-the-pack nationally—but by year four, earnings drop to $63,145. That's a 10% decline during years when most nursing careers are gaining momentum. Among Ohio's 66 nursing programs, this ranks at the 60th percentile for starting salary, meaning it outperforms 60% of in-state options despite falling well below the national median.

The debt load of $25,987 is manageable—slightly below both state and national averages—giving this program a reasonable 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio. That's the good news. The concern is what happens after that first year. While some earnings volatility in nursing data can reflect career transitions or part-time work, a consistent downward trend suggests graduates may struggle to advance or retain higher-paying positions compared to peers from programs like Chamberlain or Kettering, where Ohio nursing grads start above $79,000.

For Ohio families, this program offers an affordable entry point into nursing at exactly the state median wage, but the backward earnings movement demands explanation. Before committing, parents should ask the school directly about graduate employment patterns and whether alumni typically remain in the Celina area, where local market conditions might explain the unusual salary decline.