Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Community College of Philadelphia

Community College of Philadelphia's nursing program sits squarely in the middle of Pennsylvania's crowded field—ranking at the 40th percentile statewide—but trails behind both the national median and several nearby community college alternatives. First-year earnings of $63,953 lag the state median by roughly $3,300 and fall well below what similar programs at Montgomery County CC ($78,511) or Lehigh Carbon CC ($78,322) are producing. The debt load of $25,750 is typical for Pennsylvania nursing programs, but when paired with lower initial earnings, it creates a less favorable starting position than many alternatives.

The program does show solid earnings growth, reaching $77,682 by year four—a 22% increase that helps close the gap. For a student already committed to staying in Philadelphia or one receiving significant financial aid (53% of students here receive Pell grants, suggesting strong support for lower-income families), this could work. However, if your child has options at Montgomery County or Lehigh Carbon, those programs deliver $15,000-$20,000 more in first-year earnings with comparable debt, fundamentally changing the financial calculus. Given Philadelphia's competitive nursing market, starting salary matters significantly for building long-term earning power.