Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Edison State Community College

The immediate earnings from Edison State's nursing program look reasonable at first glance—$62,930 puts you solidly in employed-nurse territory with manageable debt. But here's what should concern you: within four years, graduate earnings actually drop to $57,620, a pattern that runs counter to typical career progression. While this downward trajectory could reflect graduates shifting to part-time work or relocating to lower-cost areas, it suggests something unusual is happening with this cohort that warrants investigation.

Within Ohio's nursing landscape, this program sits squarely in the middle—40th percentile among 54 schools—but falls short of strong in-state alternatives. Nearby Sinclair Community College, for example, reports graduates earning $69,403, while the state median is $64,169. The debt load of $21,420 is actually lower than Ohio's typical $26,952, which provides some cushion, but you're still paying similar amounts for notably weaker earnings outcomes.

For an associate's nursing degree, you want to see earnings climb as nurses gain experience and certifications. The fact that this program's graduates earn less four years out than they do immediately after graduation is a red flag worth understanding before committing. At minimum, talk to the program about where their graduates work and why the earnings trajectory differs from peers across Ohio.