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

Wright State's nursing program shows an unusual earnings pattern that deserves attention: graduates earn $70,327 in their first year but see that drop to $63,145 by year four—a 10% decline. While the $26K in debt is manageable (the ratio of 0.37 means you'd need about four months of gross income to pay it off), the backwards trajectory raises questions about whether early graduates face challenges advancing or retaining positions in the competitive Dayton-area healthcare market.

Context matters here. Against national nursing programs, Wright State lands at just the 25th percentile for earnings—well below the $75K national median. But zoom into Ohio, and the picture shifts: this program sits at the 60th percentile statewide, performing solidly among Ohio schools. Still, Ohio itself appears to be a lower-paying state for nursing, and Wright State trails the state's top performers (like Chamberlain at $83K or Kettering at $80K) by substantial margins. The 95% admission rate suggests accessibility, but not necessarily selectivity that correlates with stronger outcomes.

The fundamental trade-off: you're getting affordable nursing credentials that lead to immediate employment, but potentially at the cost of earning power and career momentum. For families prioritizing quick entry into nursing with minimal debt in the Dayton region, this works. But if your child has options at Ohio's stronger-performing programs, the $10K-$13K annual earnings difference compounds significantly over a career.