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

Nursing certificates typically carry lower debt than bachelor's degrees, and this program's estimated $25,881 in borrowing sits close to the national median for similar credentials. Paired with first-year earnings around $66,000—based on what comparable nursing programs nationally produce—the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 suggests manageable repayment for graduates who enter the field. With 60% of students receiving Pell grants, Carrington serves a population for whom affordable healthcare career pathways matter enormously.

The challenge here is uncertainty. Because actual outcomes for this specific program aren't published (the graduate sample is too small), these figures reflect what peer programs across the country typically deliver. Oregon has only four schools offering this credential level in nursing, and none report public data, making state-specific comparisons impossible. Nursing generally offers stable employment, but certificate programs vary widely in how well they prepare graduates for licensure and competitive positions versus simply meeting minimum requirements.

For parents, the key question is whether this certificate leads directly to RN licensure in Oregon and what the program's actual NCLEX pass rates look like—information the school should provide directly. The estimated debt load won't crush your child if they pass their boards and find work quickly, but without visibility into this program's specific track record, you're making decisions based on what similar programs accomplish elsewhere, not what Carrington-Portland actually delivers.