Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Clark College

Clark College's nursing associate degree graduates earn roughly $16,000 less annually than the typical Washington nursing grad—a significant gap in a state known for strong nursing wages. While first-year earnings of $63,543 beat national figures, they fall short of what you'd expect from most WA programs. Among the 32 nursing schools in Washington, this program ranks in just the 25th percentile. Compare that to nearby community colleges like Highline or Olympic, where graduates start above $84,000.

The upside is remarkably low debt. At $11,446, graduates here carry about half the state median and roughly one-third of the national average for nursing programs. This creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.18—manageable by any measure. Earnings also climb steadily to $76,599 by year four, a healthy 21% increase that suggests stable career progression.

For families, the question comes down to opportunity cost. Your child graduates with minimal debt but potentially sacrifices $10,000-20,000 annually compared to other Washington community colleges. If staying local in Vancouver matters for family or work reasons, the low debt burden makes this workable. But if other in-state options are accessible, several Washington community colleges deliver substantially higher starting salaries with comparable associate degrees—earnings differences that compound significantly over a nursing career.