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

Coahoma Community College's nursing program launches graduates into solid starting salaries of $69,120—above both the Mississippi median ($67,054) and the national benchmark ($68,409). With debt of just $17,846, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26 means most graduates can comfortably manage their loans. For a community college serving a predominantly low-income student body (59% receive Pell grants), these outcomes represent genuine economic mobility.

The catches: earnings slip about 3% by year four, and the program ranks in the middle tier among Mississippi's 17 nursing programs. Graduates at Mississippi Delta Community College, for instance, earn roughly $5,800 more initially. Still, Coahoma's outcomes beat over half the nursing programs statewide, and the manageable debt load matters significantly—especially for first-generation college students where any loan burden feels substantial.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked) means one or two outliers could skew these numbers considerably. That said, if you're considering Mississippi nursing programs and affordability is a priority, Coahoma delivers what matters most: a nursing credential that immediately pays middle-class wages with debt you can actually handle. Just understand you're trading some earning potential compared to the state's top community college programs.