Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Watts College of Nursing #766 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $77,794, placing Watts College of Nursing in the 85.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Watts College of Nursing #456 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Watts College of Nursing #766 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 48.0 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private nonprofit nursing college in Durham, North Carolina, Watts College of Nursing serves a specialized student population focused on health professions. The institution enrolls approximately 124 undergraduates, with 35.1% receiving Pell Grants. Where Watts College of Nursing performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Watts College of Nursing #317 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 78.6 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $77,794, placing Watts College of Nursing in the 85.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. This strong earnings performance reflects the institution's focus on nursing and health professions, fields with consistent labor-market demand and clear career pathways that translate into solid financial outcomes for graduates. Access and mobility round out the composite profile. Watts College of Nursing sits in the 3.3 percentile for access and the 61.5 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a specialized health professions institution, the college serves students with a clear professional focus and delivers outcomes aligned with the stability and earning potential of nursing and related health careers.
Watts College of Nursing's cost structure and affordability profile reflect its position as a specialized health-sciences institution. Without access to detailed income-band net-price data in the current payload, the affordability narrative must focus on debt outcomes and repayment capacity for the typical graduate. Median peer debt at comparable institutions stands at $25,000, providing a benchmark for understanding borrowing patterns in nursing and health-professions education. Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $23,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $77,794, debt service and repayment capacity depend heavily on the specific nursing or health-professions pathway chosen. A downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning health-professions clusters projects four-year earnings of $88,910, while an upside scenario reflecting higher-earning specializations reaches $88,910. These scenario ranges matter because nursing and health-professions graduates often see meaningful salary variation by specialty, geography, and employer type — factors that shape whether federal student debt remains comfortably serviceable or requires income-driven repayment consideration. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning and monthly-payment estimates — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Watts College of Nursing is a good fit for students seeking a focused health-professions education in NC, particularly those interested in nursing and related clinical fields. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $77,794, placing Watts College of Nursing in the 85.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Watts College of Nursing #317 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution serves a significant share of Pell-eligible students — 35.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants — making it an accessible option for low-income students pursuing nursing careers. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Health, and the institution's small size means fewer program options outside its core focus. Students whose interests align with nursing will find strong outcomes and focused support.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
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This is the Watts College Of Nursing hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Watts College of Nursing's program portfolio is concentrated in health-related fields, reflecting its specialized mission as a nursing-focused institution. Nursing is the dominant program, with 48 graduates annually.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 48 students, the institution delivers outcomes aligned with healthcare workforce demand and career stability in the nursing and allied health sectors. The strength of Watts College of Nursing's program mix lies in its depth within Health professions.
Nursing and related health-science programs dominate the graduate pipeline, positioning students for direct entry into a labor market with sustained demand and wage growth. This concentration means that program-level outcomes reflect the earnings and mobility patterns of healthcare professionals, where four-year earnings tend to be stable and predictable relative to broader institutional portfolios.
Healthcare professions are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly into licensed, regulated roles with clear career ladders. Unlike grad-school-dependent fields where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory, nursing and allied health graduates typically move into full-time employment immediately, making four-year earnings a reliable signal of labor-market outcomes.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) framework shows sustained national demand for nursing and healthcare professionals, supporting the long-term stability of outcomes for Watts College of Nursing graduates.
Watts College of Nursing's cost structure and affordability profile reflect its position as a specialized health-sciences institution. Without access to detailed income-band net-price data in the current payload, the affordability narrative must focus on debt outcomes and repayment capacity for the typical graduate.
Median peer debt at comparable institutions stands at $25,000, providing a benchmark for understanding borrowing patterns in nursing and health-professions education. Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $23,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $77,794, debt service and repayment capacity depend heavily on the specific nursing or health-professions pathway chosen. A downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning health-professions clusters projects four-year earnings of $88,910, while an upside scenario reflecting higher-earning specializations reaches $88,910.
These scenario ranges matter because nursing and health-professions graduates often see meaningful salary variation by specialty, geography, and employer type — factors that shape whether federal student debt remains comfortably serviceable or requires income-driven repayment consideration. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning and monthly-payment estimates — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Watts College of Nursing earn median 4-year earnings of $77,794, placing Watts College of Nursing in the 85.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. This figure runs above the $57,042 median at comparable institutions.
Azimuth ranks Watts College of Nursing #317 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings trajectory reflects the institution's concentration in health professions, where demand remains strong and career pathways lead to stable, well-compensated roles.
Nursing represents the institution's primary economic focus, combining substantial graduate cohorts with solid early-career earnings. As a specialized health-focused institution, Watts College of Nursing channels students into fields where employers actively recruit and where four-year earnings reflect the value of professional credentials and licensure.
The program portfolio aligns closely with NC's healthcare workforce demand, supporting both institutional outcomes and regional labor-market fit.
