Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at CUNY Medgar Evers College

An Associate's in Nursing from Medgar Evers College carries an estimated debt of $16,529—well below both the state median ($24,957) and national average ($20,751) for nursing programs. That relatively light debt load matters because while similar New York nursing programs suggest first-year earnings around $73,415, you're making an investment decision based on estimates rather than this school's actual graduate outcomes.

The real picture emerges in year four, when Medgar Evers reports actual earnings of $87,009. That's solid growth and confirms the program delivers on nursing's core promise of stable, well-compensated work. Still, it's worth noting that some NYC-area nursing programs report first-year earnings above $90,000, suggesting location and clinical placement networks can significantly impact starting salaries. For a student already living in Brooklyn and seeking an affordable entry into nursing, the lower debt here provides meaningful cushion if those first-year earnings come in below the state estimate.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23 translates to manageable monthly payments even at the conservative estimate, making this a defensible choice for students who need to minimize borrowing. Just understand you're betting on peer program performance rather than a track record specific to Medgar Evers—the school's small graduate cohort means the Department of Education can't publish their actual early-career numbers.