Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Garden City Community College

Garden City Community College's nursing program sits squarely in the middle of Kansas options—earning at the 40th percentile statewide—but lags behind nationally at just the 15th percentile. First-year earnings of $61,593 fall about $7,000 short of the national median for associate nursing programs, though they're only slightly below Kansas's typical $62,370. More concerning is the backward trajectory: earnings actually drop 6% by year four, suggesting graduates may face challenges advancing or maintaining their initial positions.

The bright spot here is debt. At $16,100, graduates owe considerably less than both state and national norms (around $21,000), creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26. This means the typical graduate could theoretically pay off their loans in about three months of gross income. Compare that to several Kansas programs with similar or higher debt but lower earnings, and Garden City's affordability becomes clearer.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) matters here—these numbers could shift significantly with more data. For families prioritizing low debt over maximizing earnings, Garden City delivers. But if your child is aiming for top nursing compensation in Kansas, programs like Pratt Community College ($70,680) or even nearby Butler Community College ($63,244) show stronger earning potential with only modestly higher debt loads.