Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Alexandria Technical & Community College

Alexandria Technical's nursing program graduates start strong at $66,448—right at Minnesota's median—but earnings slide to $59,837 by year four. That 10% decline is unusual in nursing, where early-career professionals typically build earning power through shift differentials, certifications, and experience. The drop suggests graduates may be moving into less lucrative positions, reducing hours, or working in lower-paying healthcare settings as their careers progress.

The bright spot here is debt management. At $20,803, graduates carry about $7,000 less debt than the typical Minnesota nursing graduate, which translates to roughly $80 less in monthly loan payments over a standard repayment period. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31, first-year earnings are more than sufficient to handle loan obligations—most financial advisors consider anything under 1.0 manageable for healthcare professionals.

However, when Minnesota offers nursing programs producing graduates who earn $74,000+ at schools like Minnesota West or Southeast, it's worth asking why earnings at Alexandria plateau below state norms. For a parent, the calculation comes down to whether the lower debt load compensates for potentially missing out on an extra $10,000-15,000 annually. If your student plans to stay in the Alexandria area where cost of living is lower, this program works fine. But if they're eyeing Twin Cities hospitals or specialty nursing roles, stronger-performing programs might justify the additional investment.