Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Elmira College

Elmira College's nursing program starts strong with first-year earnings of $76,302, but then takes an unusual turn: by year four, graduates are earning $67,719—an 11% decline when most nursing careers are still climbing. This backward trajectory is the real concern here, especially when you see that New York nursing grads typically earn $89,296 at the median. Elmira ranks in just the 40th percentile among NY nursing programs, meaning six in ten comparable programs in the state produce better outcomes.

The $27,000 debt load is reasonable and matches both state and national medians, making the debt-to-earnings ratio manageable at 0.35. But that initial advantage disappears quickly given the earnings decline. Compare this to top-performing NY programs where graduates earn $110,000+, or even the state median of $89,296—Elmira's four-year earnings fall more than $20,000 short. For context, nearby SUNY programs and NYC schools consistently deliver stronger mid-career earnings.

This pattern suggests graduates may be hitting a ceiling in career advancement or geographic limitations. If your child is committed to Elmira for other reasons, the debt won't sink them—but they'll likely need to be strategic about where they work after graduation and possibly pursue additional credentials to match what peers from stronger NY programs achieve earlier in their careers.