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

The $42,650 debt load at Fortis College-Columbus immediately stands out—more than double Ohio's median for nursing programs and roughly twice the national average. While graduates start at $69,200 (ranking in the 60th percentile among Ohio nursing programs), that advantage vanishes as earnings drop to $63,932 by year four. This backward trajectory is particularly concerning when you're carrying debt that represents 62% of your first-year income.

Context matters here: two-thirds of Fortis students receive Pell grants, suggesting this program serves lower-income students who may have fewer financial cushions. The debt burden becomes even more problematic when you consider that comparable Ohio programs like Sinclair Community College produce similar earnings ($69,403) at presumably much lower cost as a public institution. The earnings decline suggests either new grads are commanding premium entry wages that don't hold, or they're picking up overtime hours early in their careers that aren't sustainable.

For a two-year nursing degree, you want your debt to pay off quickly. At Fortis-Columbus, you're starting with a debt load that would be high even for a bachelor's program, combined with earnings that peak immediately and then decline. Unless there are compelling reasons to choose this specific program—location, schedule flexibility, or specialized connections—the financial math points toward exploring Ohio's community college nursing programs instead.