Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Cape Cod Community College

Cape Cod Community College's nursing program delivers solid early earnings at $65,350, but Massachusetts nursing graduates typically do better. The program sits at the 40th percentile statewide—meaning 60% of Massachusetts nursing programs produce higher-earning graduates. Compare this to top community college options like Greenfield ($75,914) or Springfield Tech ($75,769), which deliver $10,000+ more annually right out of the gate. Over a career, that gap compounds significantly.

The debt picture offers some consolation. At $18,053, graduates carry manageable loans with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28, meaning less than four months of gross income covers the total debt. That's reasonable for a two-year degree. However, the nearly flat earnings trajectory—just 1% growth from year one to year four—suggests limited advancement potential compared to nurses from higher-performing programs who may access better positions or specializations earlier in their careers.

For Massachusetts families, this creates a straightforward calculation: Cape Cod's nursing program gets you licensed and employed with manageable debt, but other in-state community colleges deliver noticeably better earning potential from day one. If Cape Cod is your local option and housing costs matter, the convenience could justify the earnings tradeoff. But if you can reasonably access Springfield Tech, Greenfield, or Middlesex, the data suggests those programs offer stronger returns on your two-year investment.