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

Cleveland State Community College's nursing program shows strong first-year earnings at $69,229—landing solidly above Tennessee's median for nursing associates and competitive with peer programs statewide. Based on comparable programs at Tennessee community colleges, graduates here likely face around $13,500 in debt, yielding a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.20. That's considerably better than the typical nursing associate nationally, who graduates with over $20,000 in debt.

The concerning wrinkle appears four years out, where earnings drop to $54,404—a 21% decline that's unusual in a field known for wage growth. This could reflect several realities: nurses shifting to part-time work, moving into lower-paying specialties, or transitioning out of bedside roles. It might also simply be statistical noise from a small sample. What matters practically is that year-one earnings still support the debt burden comfortably, even if longer-term trajectories remain unclear.

For families weighing this investment, the math works in the short term. An associate's in nursing remains one of the most reliable paths to middle-class earnings with minimal debt, and Cleveland State appears to deliver on that promise initially. The uncertainty around year-four outcomes shouldn't derail the decision, but it does mean parents shouldn't assume automatic wage progression—flexibility may matter more than career ladders for these graduates.