Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Beaufort County Community College

Similar nursing programs across North Carolina suggest first-year earnings around $67,500, which would leave graduates with a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21—meaning roughly two months of salary to cover the estimated $14,096 borrowed. That's well below the national debt figure of $20,751 for associate nursing programs and positions this as a relatively affordable path into a stable healthcare career.

The curious dip to $58,928 by year four deserves scrutiny. Nursing salaries typically climb with experience, so this backward slide might reflect graduates moving to lower-cost-of-living areas, switching to part-time work, or pursuing further education. It's also possible the small sample size that triggered the data suppression means we're seeing an unrepresentative snapshot. What matters more is that comparable North Carolina nursing programs—which form the basis for these estimates—consistently produce strong outcomes, with top performers placing graduates above $75,000.

For parents weighing this investment, the fundamentals look sound: nursing remains in high demand, the estimated debt burden is modest, and peer programs in the state demonstrate clear earning potential. However, those estimates are drawn from other schools, not Beaufort County Community College's actual track record. If nursing is the goal and the location works, this appears to be a practical choice—just understand you're betting on the program performing like its North Carolina counterparts, not on proven outcomes from this specific campus.