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

Butler Community College's nursing program starts strong with first-year earnings of $63,244, but the concerning slide to $55,171 by year four—a 13% drop—demands explanation. This isn't typical for nursing, where skills and experience usually command higher pay. Among Kansas nursing programs, this ranks at the 60th percentile, meaning it performs solidly within the state but lags considerably behind the national median of $68,409. With over 100 graduates in the dataset, this pattern is statistically reliable, not a fluke.

The $24,750 debt load is manageable relative to first-year earnings (0.39 ratio), but that comfort zone shrinks as earnings decline. The question becomes whether graduates are leaving hospital positions for lower-paying settings, reducing hours, or facing other career interruptions. For a two-year degree, the immediate payoff is decent, but you'd expect nursing careers to trend upward, not downward. Comparing to top Kansas performers like Pratt Community College ($70,680) suggests some programs maintain stronger earning trajectories.

If your child plans to work full-time in acute care settings throughout Kansas, this program provides reasonable entry. But the earnings trajectory raises red flags about either employment patterns or regional market constraints. Before committing, investigate whether Butler's clinical partnerships and job placement align with high-paying hospital systems rather than lower-wage nursing home or clinic positions.