Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College's nursing program shows an unusual pattern: graduates earn $62,002 in their first year, then see their income drop to $51,846 by year four—a 16% decline that runs counter to typical career progression. While the program enters the middle of the pack among Kentucky nursing schools (40th percentile statewide), first-year earnings trail both the state median of $64,845 and the national median by about $6,400. The saving grace is debt—at $13,137, graduates owe roughly half what typical Kentucky nursing students carry, creating a manageable 0.21 debt-to-earnings ratio.

The earnings decline deserves serious attention. Most nurses see steady income growth as they gain experience, but this program's graduates move in the opposite direction. This could reflect employment patterns specific to the Elizabethtown healthcare market, part-time work trends, or graduates moving into lower-paying specialties. Either way, parents should understand their child might be earning less four years out than in their first job—unusual for any healthcare field.

For Kentucky families seeking an affordable entry into nursing, the low debt makes this program accessible, and that $62,000 starting salary isn't negligible. But the backward earnings trajectory and below-average performance compared to other state programs suggest looking closely at alternatives like Morehead State or Sullivan University, both of which offer stronger earnings potential without dramatically higher debt.