Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Fortis College-Columbia

Fortis College-Columbia's nursing program faces a significant debt problem that undermines otherwise solid earnings. With $42,650 in median debt—roughly double both the state median ($24,649) and national median ($20,751)—graduates carry a burden that peers at nearby community colleges largely avoid. First-year earnings of $69,200 match South Carolina's median for nursing programs, placing it squarely in the middle of the pack statewide (60th percentile). But students at Tri-County Technical College or Greenville Technical College earn $3,000-$4,500 more annually while typically graduating with half the debt.

The earnings trajectory adds another concern: median pay drops to $63,932 by year four, an 8% decline that's unusual in nursing where experience typically commands higher wages. This pattern, combined with the fact that 74% of students receive Pell grants, suggests graduates may be starting from a disadvantaged position and struggling to advance. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62 means you're looking at roughly five years of aggressive repayment to clear these loans.

For a parent weighing this program, the math is straightforward: South Carolina's technical colleges deliver comparable or better outcomes at half the cost. Unless location makes those alternatives impractical, the debt burden here is simply too high for a credential that delivers middle-of-the-road results.