Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Delgado Community College

Delgado's nursing program delivers strong first-year earnings of $75,597—outpacing both national and state medians—but comes with a crucial caveat: graduates earn about $13,000 less by their fourth year out. That's an unusual trajectory for nursing, where earnings typically hold steady or climb. The program's debt load of $35,330 sits well above Louisiana's median ($27,259) and significantly exceeds the national average, though the 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable thanks to that solid starting salary.

Within Louisiana's 14 nursing programs, Delgado ranks around the 60th percentile for earnings—respectable but not exceptional. You're paying more than at programs like Fletcher Technical or Baton Rouge Community College (which have similar starting salaries but lower debt loads), yet not quite reaching the earnings of Southern Shreveport's top-ranked program. For families where 62% of students receive Pell grants, that extra debt matters.

The declining earnings pattern deserves investigation. It could reflect anything from career path choices to healthcare market dynamics in New Orleans. If your child plans to stay in New Orleans long-term, research whether that earnings dip is region-specific or program-specific. The strong starting salary provides breathing room to manage the debt, but this isn't the clear financial win that some Louisiana community college nursing programs offer.