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

Cleveland Community College's nursing program produces first-year earnings of $73,173—placing it above both the state and national medians for associate degree nursing programs. However, estimated debt of around $14,000 (based on comparable North Carolina programs) creates a manageable debt burden with a 0.19 ratio to earnings, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in less than three months of gross income.

The real concern here is the earnings trajectory. While many nursing programs show stable or growing earnings, this program's graduates see a 10% decline from year one to year four, dropping to $66,071. This isn't typical for nursing, where experience usually commands higher pay. It could reflect graduates moving to part-time work, changing specialties, or leaving bedside nursing—but without actual data from this specific program, it's hard to know what's driving the pattern. Other North Carolina community college nursing programs like Robeson and Stanly maintain stronger earnings through year four.

The strong initial placement suggests Cleveland Community College prepares graduates who can secure solid nursing positions right away. But if you're banking on income growth to justify the investment, the estimated data pattern raises questions about whether this program's graduates follow typical nursing career paths. The debt is manageable enough that the downside risk is limited, but don't count on significant salary increases in the first few years.