Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at College of Southern Maryland

College of Southern Maryland nursing graduates start strong with $73,576 in first-year earnings—above both the national median and performing in the 60th percentile among Maryland nursing programs. The debt load of $14,500 is manageable, translating to roughly 2.4 months of that initial salary. For an associate's degree program that gets graduates working quickly, this looks like solid value, especially compared to the national average debt of nearly $21,000.

The concern is what happens next. By year four, median earnings drop to $56,985—a 22% decline that's unusual for nursing. This pattern could reflect graduates moving to part-time work, taking breaks for family responsibilities, or shifting to less demanding roles. It's worth noting that several other Maryland community colleges show stronger sustained earnings, with Prince George's Community College graduates earning $89,437 and others clustering around $74,000-$76,000.

For parents, the math still works: low debt and immediate employability make this a financially sensible choice. However, the earnings trajectory suggests your child may need to be strategic about career advancement. If they plan to work full-time and pursue higher positions or specializations, they should actively seek those opportunities rather than assuming earnings will naturally increase with experience. The degree opens doors at a reasonable cost, but long-term earning power may depend on what they do with it.