Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Great Bay Community College

Great Bay graduates earn notably more than the typical nursing associate degree holder—placing in the 76th percentile nationally—but those earnings drop by $7,800 over the first four years. That decline is unusual in nursing, where experience typically commands higher pay, and suggests graduates may be starting in specialized or high-intensity roles that later give way to more sustainable positions with lower compensation.

The $28,371 debt load sits above both state and national medians, though it's manageable given first-year earnings of nearly $74,000. Within New Hampshire, Great Bay lands squarely in the middle of the pack at the 60th percentile—behind River Valley and NHTI by about $1,500 annually but still competitive. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38 means graduates should be able to handle loan payments, even as their salaries decline.

The real question is whether that earnings trajectory reflects regional workforce dynamics or program-specific factors. If graduates are taking their first jobs at major medical centers in Portsmouth or Boston and then transitioning to less demanding roles, that's a reasonable career path. But if peers from River Valley and NHTI maintain steadier earnings, the premium price here may not deliver premium long-term value. For families banking on nursing's reliable income growth, this program's backwards trajectory deserves a closer look at where graduates actually end up working.