Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Carrington College-Mesa

Carrington College-Mesa's nursing program charges significantly more than typical Arizona community college programs but delivers earnings right in line with what you'd get at Estrella Mountain or Glendale Community College. Graduates start at $76,515—strong compared to the national average, but only middle-of-the-pack within Arizona where nursing already pays well. The real issue is the $33,000 in debt, which runs about 50% higher than the state median and nearly double the national average for associate nursing programs.

That debt level transforms what should be a straightforward career launch into a more complicated financial picture. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43, graduates face manageable but not trivial loan payments—roughly equivalent to six months of earnings over the life of the loan. Compare this to nearby community colleges offering similar outcomes at $23,000 in debt, and you're looking at an extra $10,000 in borrowing for essentially the same starting salary. The flat earnings trajectory from year one to year four suggests graduates hit their stride immediately but don't see the kind of income growth that would help justify the premium price tag.

For families who can afford the convenience or program structure that Carrington offers, the outcomes are solid enough—82nd percentile nationally means most nursing grads elsewhere earn less. But if cost is a significant concern, Arizona's community college nursing programs deliver comparable results at substantially lower debt levels.