Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Cochise County Community College District

Cochise County Community College's nursing program gets graduates earning quickly—$69,412 right away—but falls noticeably short of what nurses typically make elsewhere in Arizona. The state median for associate nursing graduates is $73,629, and several Arizona community colleges see their graduates earning $75,000-$78,000 within the first year. At the 40th percentile statewide, this program lags behind most of its in-state competitors despite Sierra Vista's proximity to major healthcare employers.

The financial picture does have one clear advantage: remarkably low debt. At just over $10,000, graduates owe less than half what's typical for nursing programs either statewide ($22,872) or nationally ($20,751). That translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.15—these loans should be manageable even with the lower-than-average Arizona salary. However, earnings actually edge down slightly by year four rather than growing, which is unusual for a field where experience typically commands higher pay.

For Arizona families, this is a trade-off between accessibility and earning potential. The low debt burden makes this program financially safe, but graduates should recognize they'll likely start $4,000-$8,000 behind peers at other Arizona nursing programs—a gap that apparently doesn't close with time. If your child can attend a higher-performing community college elsewhere in the state, the higher earning potential would easily justify similar or even slightly higher debt loads.