Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Glen Oaks Community College

Glen Oaks' nursing program graduates enter the field with impressively low debt—just $13,764 compared to the Michigan median of $22,818—but earn roughly $4,000 less than typical Michigan nursing graduates in their first year. That gap widens as graduates' earnings actually decline 8% by year four, dropping to $59,222. This unusual trajectory raises questions about whether graduates are securing full-time RN positions or facing local market constraints in this rural Michigan community.

The debt advantage is genuine and substantial. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21, graduates can manage their loans comfortably even with below-average earnings. However, the program sits in the 40th percentile among Michigan nursing programs—meaning six in ten alternatives deliver stronger earnings. Nearby Jackson College and Mid Michigan College graduates earn $11,000-$16,000 more annually, a significant difference that compounds over a career.

The small sample size here matters. With fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could shift considerably with different cohorts. For a family prioritizing minimal debt in a rural setting, this could work, but students with geographic flexibility should compare outcomes at Michigan's stronger nursing programs, which typically deliver both higher earnings and manageable debt loads.