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

Carrington College-Tucson places graduates into solid nursing salaries—$76,515 in the first year ranks above 80% of nursing programs nationally. However, Arizona students have cheaper options that deliver comparable earnings. The program's $32,969 debt load runs about $10,000 higher than Arizona's typical nursing associate degree, meaning students here are paying a premium price without premium outcomes. Notably, several Arizona community colleges place graduates into similar or better salaries at roughly two-thirds the debt.

The value equation becomes clearer when comparing debt burden: this program's 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio remains reasonable for nursing, and graduates can theoretically pay off their loans in under two years of dedicated repayment. The stagnant earnings from year one to year four ($76,515 to $76,747) suggests nursing wages in this market stabilize quickly, which is actually typical for entry-level nursing positions. With 61% of students receiving Pell grants, the higher debt load disproportionately affects lower-income families.

For Arizona families, the math is straightforward: Estrella Mountain or Glendale Community College deliver essentially the same entry salary at significantly lower cost. Unless geographic constraints make those alternatives impractical, the extra $10,000 in debt here doesn't translate into better career outcomes. Community college nursing programs represent the smarter financial path for most Arizona students.