Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Aims Community College

Nursing credentials typically deliver strong financial returns, and the estimated figures here suggest Aims Community College's program follows that pattern. Based on comparable nursing certificate and diploma programs nationally, graduates appear to earn around $66,400 in their first year—solid income for a sub-baccalaureate credential. The estimated $19,250 in debt translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29, meaning roughly three-and-a-half months of gross income would cover the full loan balance. That's manageable by most standards and aligns with Colorado's median debt for similar programs.

The caveat parents should understand: these figures come from peer programs because Aims' graduate cohort was too small for the Department of Education to publish actual outcomes. The national benchmark provides a reasonable estimate, though it's worth noting that other Colorado nursing programs report earnings closer to $70,000—about $3,500 more annually. Whether Aims matches those outcomes depends on factors we can't measure here: clinical placement quality, NCLEX pass rates, and local employer relationships. Nursing is generally recession-resistant with clear career progression, but you're investing based on what similar programs achieve, not verified data from this specific school.

The fundamentals look sound—nursing credentials rarely disappoint financially—but call Aims directly to ask about their NCLEX pass rates and job placement percentages. Those metrics will tell you more about program quality than estimated earnings ever could.