Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Anne Arundel Community College

Based on peer nursing programs across Maryland, Anne Arundel's associate degree in nursing appears positioned right in the middle of the pack—estimated first-year earnings of $73,334 match the state median exactly, while estimated debt of $17,698 comes in slightly below it. The 0.24 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates earning the typical Maryland RN salary could realistically pay off their loans within three to four years, which is competitive for healthcare training programs.

What's harder to gauge is whether Anne Arundel's program delivers the same value as Maryland's standout community college nursing programs. Prince George's Community College graduates, for instance, earn $89,437 in their first year—$16,000 more than what comparable Maryland programs typically produce. Even nearby Community College of Baltimore County shows stronger first-year outcomes at $75,725. The fact that earnings actually dip slightly by year four (to $71,342) is unusual for nursing and raises questions about career trajectory or whether graduates are finding the right positions.

The fundamentals look reasonable—nursing programs reliably lead to jobs, and the estimated debt burden isn't crushing. But without actual graduate outcomes from Anne Arundel specifically, parents should press the school for placement rates and starting salary data for recent cohorts. If Anne Arundel's true outcomes fall closer to the top Maryland programs rather than the median, this becomes a strong investment; if they track below, the higher earners elsewhere might justify looking around.