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

Carroll Community College's nursing program launches graduates into strong starting salaries—$74,079 in year one—but then earnings reverse course, dropping 10% by year four. That first-year figure beats 76% of nursing programs nationally and lands squarely at Maryland's 60th percentile, respectable in a state with 16 nursing programs. However, the program trails nearby competitors like Community College of Baltimore County and Harford Community College, both of which offer better earnings trajectories.

The $25,000 debt load sits above both Maryland's typical $18,500 and the national median, though at 0.34 times first-year earnings, it remains manageable—you're looking at roughly four months of gross pay. The earnings decline is the real puzzle here. While some variation is normal, a 10% drop suggests graduates may be moving to part-time work, changing specialties, or facing limitations in advancement opportunities.

For parents evaluating Maryland nursing programs, this one gets your child into the field with solid initial earnings but doesn't appear to position them for the growth seen at top-performing state programs. If staying local to Westminster is important, the program works. But if flexibility exists, Community College of Baltimore County offers both higher starting pay and presumably better long-term prospects for just $2,000 more in median debt.