Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Big Bend Community College

Big Bend Community College's nursing program starts strong—graduates earn nearly $80,000 in their first year, placing them in the 90th percentile nationally and right at Washington's state median. At under $20,000 in debt, graduates initially face excellent repayment prospects with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.25. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift considerably with more data.

The puzzling element here is the 23% earnings drop by year four, falling to about $62,000. This downturn is unusual for nursing, where earnings typically grow as professionals gain experience and advance. It's unclear whether this reflects graduates leaving the field, moving to lower-paying rural positions, or simply statistical noise from the limited sample. Among Washington's community college nursing programs, Big Bend sits squarely in the middle—several Seattle-area schools produce graduates earning $4,000-5,000 more annually.

For families in Central Washington seeking accessible nursing training, this program offers a viable entry point with manageable debt. The strong first-year earnings suggest graduates can quickly establish themselves professionally. Just recognize that with such a small cohort, these outcomes may not fully represent what future students will experience, and the earnings trajectory raises questions worth investigating during campus visits.