Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at College of Coastal Georgia

The 20% earnings drop between year one and year four raises questions about this program's career trajectory. Starting at $73,587 is respectable—just slightly below Georgia's median of $76,557—but sliding to $59,034 by year four puts graduates well behind the typical $74,888 national benchmark. Among Georgia's 37 nursing programs, this lands in the 40th percentile, with schools like East Georgia State and Georgia Highlands producing graduates who earn $25,000+ more annually. That's a significant difference in lifetime earning potential.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $20,543, graduates borrow about $6,000 less than the state median and $6,500 less than the national average. This means the initial debt burden is manageable at just 0.28 times first-year earnings. However, if that earnings decline reflects graduates leaving direct patient care or struggling to advance in their careers, even modest debt becomes harder to justify compared to top-performing programs in the state.

For families weighing this program, the key question is whether there's something about Brunswick's healthcare market or program structure that limits long-term earning power. The combination of below-median Georgia earnings and declining income suggests graduates might face regional constraints or may not be positioned as competitively as peers from stronger programs. If your child can access one of Georgia's higher-performing nursing schools—particularly the state colleges showing consistently strong outcomes—that appears to be a safer investment.